Doomsday Clock Moves Closer to Midnight in 2026

Scientists warn humanity is closer to self-annihilation than ever before

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced that the 'Doomsday Clock' has moved closer to midnight, now standing at 85 seconds to midnight. The clock, which serves as a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to global catastrophe, has been adjusted to reflect growing concerns over nuclear weapons, climate change, and biological threats.

Why it matters

The Doomsday Clock is a widely recognized and respected indicator of the world's proximity to potential disaster. Its movement closer to midnight is a stark warning that the risks facing humanity have increased, underscoring the urgent need for global cooperation and action to address the most pressing threats to our survival.

The details

The Doomsday Clock is now four seconds closer to midnight than it was in 2025, when it was set at 89 seconds to midnight. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit media organization comprised of world leaders and Nobel laureates, cited nuclear weapons, climate change, and biological threats as the three biggest concerns driving the decision to move the clock closer to midnight.

  • The 2025 Doomsday Clock time was revealed on January 28, 2025.
  • The 2026 Doomsday Clock time was announced on January 27, 2026.

The players

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

A nonprofit media organization comprised of world leaders and Nobel laureates that maintains and adjusts the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to global catastrophe.

Albert Einstein

One of the founders of the Doomsday Clock, along with Manhattan Project director J. Robert Oppenheimer and University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons.

George H.W. Bush

The former U.S. president who, along with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, announced reductions in the nuclear arsenals of their respective countries, leading to the Doomsday Clock being adjusted to its farthest point from midnight in 1991.

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What’s next

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists will continue to monitor global events and threats, and may adjust the Doomsday Clock again in the future if the risks to humanity change.

The takeaway

The movement of the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight is a sobering reminder of the urgent challenges facing humanity, from nuclear weapons to climate change and emerging biological threats. This underscores the need for global cooperation and decisive action to address these existential risks and ensure a safer, more sustainable future for all.