The Doomsday Clock is Now Set at 85 Seconds to Midnight: Here’s What It Signifies.

The Doomsday Clock

Established in 1947 amid the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the Doomsday Clock serves as a symbolic gauge of how close humanity is to global annihilation, with midnight representing the moment when Earth may become unlivable. Last year, its hands moved to 89 seconds to midnight, down from the 90 seconds set in 2023 and 2024, citing a lack of sufficient action on global challenges such as nuclear threats, climate issues, biological dangers, disruptive technologies, and misinformation. “Every second of delay in reversing course,” reported SABS members, “increases the likelihood of a global disaster.”

Even Closer to Midnight

Rather than responding to this alert, the United States, Russia, China, and other major nations have adopted even more aggressive and nationalistic stances this year. “The alarming trends in nuclear threats, climate change, disruptive technologies like AI, and biosecurity are coupled with another concerning shift: the rise of nationalistic autocracies globally,” stated SABS president Daniel Holz. “Our most significant challenges demand international trust and collaboration, and a world that divides into ‘us versus them’ will leave all of humanity more exposed.”

Time Is Running Out

As global dangers escalate, the SABS report points to a lack of effective leadership. “Hard-won global agreements are deteriorating, speeding up a destructive great power competition and undermining the international collaboration essential to mitigating nuclear war risks, climate change, biotechnology misuse, the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence, and other catastrophic risks,” the organization noted in a press release. “Too many leaders have become complacent and indifferent, frequently adopting rhetoric and policies that exacerbate rather than alleviate these existential threats.”

The Seconds That Remain

Though it serves as a stark reminder of the world’s fragility as it approaches a critical juncture, the Doomsday Clock also signifies that there is still opportunity for action, to steer humanity back from the edge. For instance, the United States and Russia could reignite discussions on limiting their nuclear stockpiles, while multilateral agreements and national regulations could be put in place to minimize the risk of artificial intelligence contributing to biological threats. The US Congress could offer incentives and investments aimed at swiftly decreasing fossil fuel use, while the United States, Russia, and China could commence talks to set guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in their military forces, especially in nuclear command and control systems.

“National leaders, particularly those from the United States, Russia, and China, must take charge in discovering a path away from the brink,” the experts concluded. “Citizens must demand that they do so.”

This story was originally published in WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.