World Edges Closer to Catastrophe: Doomsday Clock at 85 Seconds

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced on January 27, 2026, that its symbolic Doomsday Clock has moved to 85 seconds to midnight. This alarming adjustment marks the closest humanity has ever been to a global catastrophe, according to reports from Popular Mechanics and CBS News. The decision underscores a period of unprecedented global instability and peril.

This critical shift is primarily driven by escalating risks from nuclear war, the intensifying climate crisis, and the uncontrolled proliferation and use of artificial intelligence. The Economic Times reported that these dangers, alongside misinformation, are pushing humanity toward global threats.

The Doomsday Clock, established in 1947, serves as a stark metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation, with midnight representing a theoretical global catastrophe. History Hit notes that the clock was initially devised to convey the urgency of nuclear threats in an easily understandable format.

A significant factor contributing to this heightened danger is the increasing aggression and nationalism observed among major world powers. pbs stated that Earth is closer to destruction as countries like Russia, China, and the U.S. become "increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic."

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists also highlighted a critical breakdown in international cooperation, emphasizing the collapse of global understandings necessary to address these existential threats. SBS News reported that "hard-won global understandings are collapsing," accelerating a "winner-takes-all great power competition."

Experts, including Alexandra Bell, President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, stress the urgent need for action. Bell told CBS News that "humanity has not made sufficient progress on the existential risks that endanger us all," urging leaders to do better.

• Historical Context and Evolution of the Doomsday Clock: The Doomsday Clock was conceived in 1947 by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, to warn the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Initially set at seven minutes to midnight, its focus has broadened over the decades to include other human-made existential threats like climate change and disruptive technologies, as detailed by Britannica and The Sunday Guardian.

• Escalating Nuclear Threats: Nuclear risks are intensifying due to expiring arms control treaties and ongoing conflicts. Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, noted that the New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire, potentially leading to a runaway nuclear arms race, according to Popular Mechanics and Time Magazine. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions between India and Pakistan, further exacerbate these dangers, SBS News reported.

• Deepening Climate Crisis: The climate crisis continues to worsen, with 2025 projected to be one of the warmest years on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNEP. Reports indicate rising greenhouse gas concentrations and extreme weather events, including droughts, heatwaves, and floods, as highlighted by CBS News. The failure of nations to adopt meaningful agreements to combat global warming contributes significantly to this dire outlook.

• Uncontrolled Artificial Intelligence Risks: The uncontrolled development and use of artificial intelligence present new and complex threats. CNN reported that AI's potential for spreading disinformation, its increasing use in military applications, and the lack of adequate regulation are major concerns. Experts warn of risks ranging from widespread unemployment to AI-enabled terrorism and even humanity losing control of its own creations, according to a report cited by Information Age.

• Breakdown of Global Cooperation and Rise of Nationalism: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists points to a significant decline in international trust and cooperation, replaced by increasing aggression and nationalism among global powers. Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin's science and security board, stated that if the world splinters into a "us-versus-them, zero-sum approach," the likelihood of global loss increases, as reported by pbs. Recent geopolitical events, such as the U.S. intervention in Venezuela, underscore a shift towards nihilistic geopolitics, according to Al Jazeera.

• Call to Action and Solvability of Threats: Despite the grim assessment, the Bulletin emphasizes that these existential threats are human-made and, therefore, solvable. Alexandra Bell, President and CEO of the Bulletin, stated that "change is both necessary and possible," urging the global community to demand swift action from their leaders, people.com reported. The organization believes that concerted international efforts can still turn back the hands of the clock.