85 seconds to go: Scientists update the Doomsday Clock

In 2026, the symbolic Doomsday Clock was moved even closer to the notional “Midnight,” which represents global catastrophe. It now shows 85 seconds left, the most alarming value in the project’s history and indicates an unprecedented level of threat to humanity.

The update took place on January 27 in the United States. According to American media, scientists decided to move the hands forward an additional four seconds, recording a record-breaking proximity to the imaginary moment of civilization’s self-destruction. To understand the dynamics, in 2025 the Doomsday Clock stood at 89 seconds to midnight, and in 2023 and 2024, at 90 seconds.

The purpose of the Doomsday Clock is to clearly demonstrate how close humanity has come to self-destruction under the influence of global threats. Scientists cite nuclear weapons, accelerating climate change, and rapid technological advances, the consequences of which are not yet fully understood, as key factors. However, experts believe progress in reducing these risks remains extremely limited.

Alexandra Bell, head of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, noted that the combined pressure from nuclear risks, the climate crisis, and technological challenges continues to intensify. She emphasized that every second now matters, and time for effective decision-making is dwindling.

The Doomsday Clock project was founded in 1947 by American scientists who participated in the creation of the first atomic bomb. Among the idea’s proponents were such eminent figures as Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer. The initiative was supported by the scientific journal Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which still oversees this symbolic indicator.

The position of the hands is revised annually and depends on the overall global situation. The higher the level of international tension and global threats, the closer the Clock approaches Midnight—the notional apocalypse.

Initially, the calculations primarily considered the risks of nuclear war; later, climate factors were added, and in recent years, the impact of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, has been added. The project’s authors emphasize: The Clock does not claim to be an accurate forecast of the future; its main purpose is to draw the attention of society and politicians to the need for urgent and informed decisions.

We previously wrote that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity within 10 years.

To be continued…