A group of scientists has moved the Doomsday Clock to just 85 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been due to international conflicts, climate conditions, and technologies like AI.
On 27 Jan 2026 GMT+7, scientists from The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS), based in Washington D.C., USA, announced that the Doomsday Clock’s hand was adjusted to 85 seconds before midnight.
The 'midnight' time represents the moment when humanity causes the Earth to become uninhabitable. The 85 seconds before midnight mark is the closest to midnight ever since BAS created the Doomsday Clock in 1947 as a symbol showing how near humanity is to global destruction.
After remaining still in 2023–2024, the clock’s hand has moved closer to midnight for two consecutive years due to insufficient progress in addressing global challenges such as nuclear risks, the climate crisis, biological threats, and advances in 'world-transforming technologies' like AI.
Additionally, the scientists noted that the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories also threatens human survival.
“Humanity has not made sufficient progress in coping with existential risks that endanger all of us,” Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of BAS, explained the reasons behind this year’s clock adjustment.
“The Doomsday Clock is a communication tool showing how close we are to self-inflicted global destruction. The threats we face from nuclear weapons, climate change, and world-transforming technologies are all increasing. Every second counts, and our time is running out.”
“It is a hard truth to accept, but this is the reality we face,” Bell added.
Last year, BAS set the clock at 89 seconds to midnight and warned that nations must shift toward international cooperation and urgently address the most critical existential risks.
“Instead of heeding this warning, major powers have become more aggressive, confrontational, and nationalist,” Dr. Daniel Holz, chair of BAS’s Science and Security Board, said during a briefing on Tuesday.
“Conflicts intensified in 2025, with multiple military operations involving nuclear-armed states. Moreover, the last treaty limiting U.S.-Russia nuclear arsenals is set to expire on 4 Feb, marking the first time in over half a century without any barrier to unchecked nuclear arms competition.”
Dr. Holz further highlighted, “Severe dangers remain in the biosciences, especially emerging fields like synthetic mirror life development, despite repeated warnings from scientists worldwide.”
“The international community still lacks coordinated plans, and the world remains unprepared for biological threats that could cause catastrophic damage.”
“Rapid growth and use of AI, combined with regulatory gaps, fuel the spread of false and misleading information, significantly undermining efforts to manage these threats and worsening other impending disasters,” Dr. Holz stated.
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Source:cnn