The Doomsday Clock doesn’t measure literal time — rather, it is a metaphor representing humanity’s proximity to existential catastrophe from threats caused by human actions or failures. Midnight represents global disaster, such as devastating nuclear war, runaway climate breakdown, or uncontrolled technological hazards. (WUSF)
When the Bulletin set the Clock to 89 seconds to midnight in January 2025, it was the closest it had ever been in its ~78-year history, edging closer than the previous year’s 90-second mark and significantly closer than the 17 minutes to midnight seen at the end of the Cold War in 1991. (Patch)
Key factors cited in the 2025 assessment included:
- Escalating nuclear risks and geopolitical conflicts. (WUSF)
- Climate change and insufficient progress on emissions reductions. (WUSF)
- Growing uncertainties and dangers from artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies. (WUSF)
- Biological threats and misinformation undermining global responses. (WUSF)
The Bulletin stressed that moving the clock even a single second closer reflects a deterioration in global safety and that collective human action still matters. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
Why the clock moved closer — and even further in 2026
In 2026, the clock was pushed to 85 seconds to midnight, breaking its own record and underlining a trend of rising global hazards. Scientists highlighted worsening tensions among major powers, erosion of arms control agreements like New START, and the expanded role of AI in militaries and information environments. (TIME)
Global climate impacts, weakened international cooperation, and increased nationalism were also cited as compounding risks requiring urgent closure through diplomacy and policy. (The Washington Post)
Statistical and historical context
| Year | Clock Setting | Context |
| 1947 | 7 minutes to midnight | Inaugural setting after WWII. (Wikipedia) |
| 1991 | 17 minutes | After end of Cold War. (Wikipedia) |
| 2018 | 2 minutes | Nuclear tensions and governance risks. (Wikipedia) |
| 2020 | 100 seconds | Added technology and climate concerns. (Wikipedia) |
| 2023 | 90 seconds | Ongoing nuclear, climate, tech threats. (Wikipedia) |
| 2025 | 89 seconds | Closest ever before 2026 update. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists) |
| 2026 | 85 seconds | Current and new record setting. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists) |
What actions could move the clock farther from midnight
According to the Bulletin’s 2026 statement and expert commentary, concrete steps that could reverse existential risk trends include:
🔹 Nuclear Risk Reduction
- Resuming U.S.–Russia nuclear dialogue and reviving arms control treaties. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
- Preventing new nuclear tests and reducing stockpiles across all nuclear-armed states. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
🔹 Climate Action
- Transitioning rapidly off fossil fuels with supportive policy incentives. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
- Strengthening international climate agreements and emissions targets.
🔹 Technology Governance
- Creating international guidelines and limits on AI in military contexts and biological research. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
- Multilateral agreements to mitigate misuse of emerging technologies.
🔹 Global Cooperation
- Revitalizing diplomatic channels and rebuilding trust among major powers. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
- Strengthening institutions that can manage global challenges collaboratively.
Experts note that historic moves such as the 1991 pullback to 17 minutes from midnight — following strategic arms reductions — demonstrate that policy decisions can meaningfully decrease existential risk. (News Channel 3-12)
Interpretation and implications
While the exact number of seconds on the Doomsday Clock doesn’t correspond to a calculable probability of disaster, its annual repositioning is designed to draw public and policymaker attention to evolving global threats. Its record-close setting reflects scientific concern over worsening trends — but also underscores that real-world governance and cooperation can move humanity farther from catastrophe if decisive action is taken. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
Bottom Line: “89 seconds to midnight” was less a precise forecast and more a stark warning about the combined dangers of nuclear escalation, climate disruption, and unregulated technologies. Scientists emphasize that steps such as arms control, climate mitigation, and technology governance could push the clock back — reducing existential risks before it metaphorically strikes midnight. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)
