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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns that we're now just 89 seconds away from midnight, signaling an unprecedented level of risk. Ekspansio / Getty ImagesThe Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS) has moved the second hand of its Doomsday Clock to just 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe in the 78 years of its monitoring.
In its annual update on January 28, 2025, the BAS revealed its decision was driven not only by the ongoing dangers of the war in Ukraine but also by the escalating threat of nuclear escalation. The current time, described by the BAS as "the closest it has ever been to catastrophe," also reflects concerns over climate change, biological threats from infectious diseases, and disruptive technologies.
The statement further asserts: "The risks we’ve outlined are significantly intensified by a major threat multiplier: the widespread dissemination of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories, which erode the communication ecosystem and make it increasingly difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood."
What Is the Doomsday Clock?
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists points to events like North Korea's test-launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as one of the key reasons for moving the clock forward. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesFounded in 1947 by scientists from the University of Chicago who had worked on the Manhattan Project, the Doomsday Clock is a global symbol for how close humanity is to the brink of catastrophe. Its purpose is to alert the world to the dangers that threaten the survival of our planet.
The Doomsday Clock serves as a powerful symbol, widely recognized for its role in highlighting existential threats to humanity and the Earth. Each year, the Bulletin's Science and Security Board updates the clock to send a clear warning to the global community.
"The Doomsday Clock is sounding an alarm for all of humanity. We are teetering on the edge of disaster," said Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a 2023 statement. "But our leaders are failing to act swiftly and on a scale that would ensure a peaceful and sustainable planet. From reducing carbon emissions to reinforcing arms control agreements and preparing for future pandemics, we know what must be done. The science is indisputable, yet political resolve is insufficient."
In 2020, the Bulletin advanced the Doomsday Clock by 20 seconds, moving it from two minutes to 100 seconds before midnight, signaling an increasingly dangerous world.
The closest the clock had been to midnight prior to this was in 1953, when it stood at two minutes to midnight. This was after both the United States and the Soviet Union had tested hydrogen bombs and were embroiled in a nuclear arms race.
Between 2015 and 2016, the clock remained at three minutes to midnight, its closest position since the early 1980s. However, in 2017, the Bulletin moved the minute hand forward by 30 seconds to 11:57:30 due to growing concerns over nuclear weaponry, climate change, and the increasing assault on reliable sources of information.
Why We're Closer Than Ever to Global Catastrophe
The emergence of viral zoonotic diseases, like monkeypox, contributed to the decision to adjust the Doomsday Clock in 2023. Photo by NurPhoto via Getty Images.The War in Ukraine
- Russia's invasion of Ukraine has undermined international norms and principles of conduct.
- Russia continues to threaten the use of nuclear weapons.
- The conflict risks spiraling out of control, with potentially catastrophic consequences.
Nuclear Weapons
- START, the final remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Russia and the United States, is set to expire in 2026.
- China is continuing to enhance its nuclear capabilities.
- North Korea has escalated its testing of intermediate and long-range missiles, with U.S. officials warning that the country may be preparing for its seventh nuclear weapons test.
- Iran is further advancing its uranium enrichment programs.
Climate Crisis and Bio Threats
- Global carbon dioxide emissions reached an unprecedented high in 2022.
- Extreme weather events continue to impact the planet, and many of these events are increasingly attributed to climate change.
- Severe floods and droughts are disrupting harvests, threatening global food security.
- The frequency and diversity of infectious disease outbreaks have risen sharply since 1980.
- Over half of all infectious outbreaks now stem from zoonotic diseases, increasing the risk of future pandemics.
- Laboratory accidents remain a concern, and it is easier than ever to access and alter pathogens, raising the potential for more pandemics.
- The likelihood of biological warfare involving Russia rises as the conflict in Ukraine becomes more unpredictable.
The 2023 statement by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists editor John Mecklin stated, in part:
Since its inception, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which is currently led by 10 Nobel laureates, has moved the Doomsday Clock 25 times. Each adjustment marks the organization's assessment of the world's survival prospects in light of political, environmental, and technological changes. The primary factors influencing the clock's movements are the state of nuclear weapons and global climate change.
However, all hope is not lost. Visit The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' website to explore some of the BAS-suggested actions that the world must take to reverse the ticking of the Doomsday Clock.
The furthest the hands of the Doomsday Clock have been from midnight was in 1991, marking the end of the Cold War. During this time, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first agreement to propose reductions in the two nations' nuclear arsenals. This milestone led the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists to set the clock to 17 minutes to midnight.
