On January 27, scientists in the U.S. moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to Midnight, symbolizing a hypothetical global catastrophe. This is the most dangerous value in the history of the project and signals an increase in risks created by humanity itself. CNN reports.
Compared to previous years, the hands are moving increasingly faster. In 2025, they showed 89 seconds to Midnight, and in 2023 and 2024, 90 seconds. The sharpest shift occurred in 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when the time was reduced by 10 seconds.
The Doomsday Clock and global threats
Time to Midnight reflects the level of danger humanity faces due to its actions. It concerns not only nuclear weapons but also climate change and the rapid advancement of technologies without adequate control. As emphasized by the President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Alexander Bell, risks are rising, and time for response is diminishing.
What the Doomsday Clock measures
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since 1947 - the threat of global nuclear war
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since 2007 - the impact of climate change
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in recent years - risks from emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence
The Doomsday Clock project was initiated in 1947 by American scientists involved in the creation of the atomic bomb. Among the ideological inspirers were Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer. Its aim is not to provide an exact measure of threats but to draw attention to problems that could lead to catastrophe.
The safest period was considered to be 1991, when, after signing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the U.S. and the USSR, the hands were moved 17 minutes away from Midnight. Since then, the measure has been relentlessly decreasing.
It should be noted that according to Bloomberg analyst and Professor Henry Kissinger, Hale Brand, the rise of China, Russian aggression, and American unreliability could contribute to a new wave of nuclear proliferation.