Doomsday Clock 2026: Scientists Set New Time — 85 Seconds to Midnight
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On January 27, 2026, scientists moved the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than ever before, setting it at 85 seconds to midnight — the closest the symbolic measure has ever been to a global catastrophe since its creation in 1947.
The announcement was made by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a respected group of experts who monitor existential threats to humanity and aim to raise global awareness about the risks facing civilization.
🕰️ What the New Time Means
The Doomsday Clock isn’t a literal countdown — instead, it serves as a symbolic warning showing how close the world may be to self-inflicted disaster due to human behavior and technological risks. Midnight represents global catastrophe, and the closer the clock gets, the more urgent the warning.
At 85 seconds to midnight, the clock is now closer to catastrophe than at any point in its nearly 80-year history.
🌍 Why Scientists Moved the Clock
Experts cited several major threats that pushed the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight this year:
🔥 Intensifying Nuclear Risks
Ongoing geopolitical tensions and the looming expiration of key nuclear arms treaties raise the specter of renewed arms races among major powers.
🌡️ Climate Crisis
Record heat, rising sea levels, and faltering global climate action contribute to the perception that the world is not doing enough to avert environmental catastrophe.
🤖 Disruptive Technologies
Unregulated advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and biotech present new dangers, including misinformation, misuse, and long-term destabilizing effects.
🪖 Global Conflict and Fragmentation
Conflicts ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East, alongside rising nationalism and fracturing international cooperation, add to the worsening risk landscape.
📊 What This Tells the World
The Bulletin’s message is clear: global risks are escalating and leaders must act urgently. In the official 2026 statement, board members stressed that progress on nuclear disarmament, climate agreements, and technological safeguards has not kept pace with the threats.
Despite the grim warning, the clock’s creators emphasize that it isn’t a prediction of doom — it’s a call to action. Solutions like renewed diplomatic engagement, multilateral treaties, and stricter tech governance could move the clock backward.
🕯️ A History of the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947 by scientists involved in the Manhattan Project to warn about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Over time, its scope expanded to include climate change, emerging technologies, and other man-made threats.
Historically, the clock has been adjusted 26 times based on expert judgment about changes in global risks. This year’s setting at 85 seconds marks the closest approach to midnight ever recorded.
🧭 What Comes Next
As the world grapples with heightened global risks, scientists and observers alike hope that the 2026 Doomsday Clock update will inspire policymakers and the public to take collective action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity — including nuclear disarmament, climate policy, and ethical governance of emerging technologies.
Doomsday Clock 2026
Doomsday Clock time set
85 seconds to midnight
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
global catastrophe warning
existential threats to humanity