Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds from Midnight

Atomic scientists have moved the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than at any point in history, warning that humanity faces an unprecedented convergence of nuclear, technological and geopolitical risks. The symbolic clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight, underscoring what experts describe as a global failure of leadership and restraint.

Why the clock was moved forward

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists cited aggressive posturing by major nuclear powers, including Russia, China and the United States, alongside the erosion of nuclear arms control frameworks. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising tensions in East Asia, and the shadow of nuclear escalation were highlighted as key drivers. Scientists noted that diplomatic mechanisms meant to reduce nuclear risks are weakening or collapsing, increasing the probability of miscalculation.

Nuclear risks and arms control breakdown

Experts expressed alarm over the possible return of explosive nuclear weapons testing and growing proliferation concerns. The last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, the New START treaty, is nearing expiry, with uncertainty over its extension. The Bulletin warned that the risk of nuclear weapon use is now “unsustainably and unacceptably high”, driven by military operations conducted under nuclear deterrence conditions and renewed great power competition.

Artificial intelligence and climate threats

Beyond nuclear dangers, scientists pointed to the unregulated integration of artificial intelligence into military systems. Concerns include AI-enabled escalation, misuse in biological research and the rapid spread of disinformation. Climate change remains an amplifying threat, worsening instability and humanitarian stress. According to the Bulletin, these interconnected risks compound one another, accelerating humanity’s proximity to catastrophe.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
• Midnight symbolises a global catastrophic event, including nuclear war.
• New START limits deployed nuclear warheads of the US and Russia.
• AI risks now feature alongside nuclear and climate threats in global security assessments.

Geopolitics, nationalism and information disorder

The Bulletin warned that rising nationalism and “winner-takes-all” geopolitics are undermining international cooperation. Conflicts involving nuclear-armed states, tensions over Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula, and instability in the Western Hemisphere were cited as major concerns. Scientists also flagged the erosion of trust in science and media, warning that technology-driven disinformation and weak governance are accelerating global risks and pushing the clock ever closer to midnight.