Doomsday Clock Moved to 85 Seconds to Midnight, Closest Ever

Overview

• It is a four‑second move from last year’s 89 seconds and the third step closer in four years.
• The Bulletin’s science and security board set the time after consulting an advisory committee that includes Nobel laureates.
• Rising nuclear competition among the United States, Russia and China, ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and accelerating AI‑driven disinformation were cited as key drivers alongside climate pressures.
• The imminent expiration of the New START treaty on February 5 removes the final constraint on U.S.–Russia strategic arsenals, heightening fears of a renewed arms race.
• At the announcement, Alexandra Bell and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa urged urgent arms‑control renewal, AI governance, and stronger international cooperation to reduce catastrophic risk.