The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic indicator that shows how close humanity is to a potential global catastrophe, with midnight representing the end of the world. The clock’s hands are moved closer to or farther from midnight based on assessments of various risks, including nuclear conflict, climate change, and other existential threats.
The experts responsible for adjusting the clock consider several factors, such as the threat of nuclear war and catastrophic climate events, and then decide whether to keep the current setting or shift the time closer to or further from midnight.
In 2025, the clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest it has ever been before this year’s update. In 2026, it has been moved even closer, to 85 seconds, the nearest it has ever been in history.
What happens if the clock hits midnight? It would signal that a catastrophic event, such as nuclear war or a natural disaster, has occurred, potentially leading to the extinction of humanity.
The 2026 update, announced on January 27, shows the clock at 85 seconds to midnight, with scientists citing global threats like war, climate change, and artificial intelligence as reasons for this decision. This is the closest the clock has been to midnight since its creation in 1947 and reflects increased fears about humanity’s future.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which maintains the clock, described 2025 as a “bleak” year, emphasizing the rise in risks like climate change and international conflicts. Alexandra Bell, the organization’s president and CEO, highlighted the “failure of leadership” worldwide, stating that the clock’s message is clear: catastrophic risks are increasing, cooperation is waning, and urgent action is needed from global leaders.
The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947, after the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded. Its first depiction was a clock designed by artist Martyl Langsdorf, symbolizing the threat of nuclear war. Over time, as new dangers emerged—such as hydrogen bombs, the Cold War, and climate change—the clock’s setting has fluctuated, sometimes moving closer to or farther from midnight. For example, it was set to two minutes to midnight in 1953, during the height of nuclear tensions, and was moved back to 17 minutes in 1991 following the Cold War’s end and arms reduction treaties.
The clock’s setting is determined annually by the Science and Security Board, which considers two main questions: whether humanity faces greater risks this year compared to last, and whether those risks are greater than in the overall 79-year history of the clock. The answers to these questions guide the decision on where to set the clock for the upcoming year.
