Doomsday Clock Ticks To 85 Seconds Before Midnight, Its Closest Ever

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the symbolic clock to its most dire position in its 75-year history.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:55am

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has set the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been to the theoretical point of annihilation. The Chicago-based nonprofit cited aggressive behavior by nuclear powers, fraying nuclear arms control frameworks, ongoing conflicts, unregulated AI integration into military systems, and climate change as reasons for moving the clock four seconds closer than last year.

Why it matters

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the threats to humanity and the planet. Its movement closer to midnight is a stark warning about the growing dangers facing the world, including the risk of nuclear war, climate change, and other existential threats. This is the third time in four years the clock has been moved closer to midnight, indicating a rapidly deteriorating global security situation.

The details

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit organization founded by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project, has maintained the Doomsday Clock since 1947 as a way to convey threats to humanity and the planet. The clock is now set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the theoretical point of annihilation. The Bulletin cited factors such as the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between the US and Russia, the New START treaty, as well as ongoing conflicts, the integration of unregulated AI into military systems, and the worsening effects of climate change.

  • The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 during the Cold War.
  • The clock is now set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to the theoretical point of annihilation.
  • The last remaining nuclear arms pact between the US and Russia, the New START treaty, expires on February 5, 2026.

The players

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

A Chicago-based nonprofit organization founded by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project. The organization maintains the Doomsday Clock as a symbolic representation of threats to humanity and the planet.

Alexandra Bell

The president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

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What they’re saying

“In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction.”

— Alexandra Bell, President and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (slashdot.org)

What’s next

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists will continue to monitor global threats and may move the Doomsday Clock again in 2027 if the situation continues to deteriorate.

The takeaway

The Doomsday Clock's movement to its closest point ever to midnight is a stark warning about the growing dangers facing the world, including the risk of nuclear war, climate change, and other existential threats. This underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and action to address these critical issues and ensure the survival of humanity.