Atomic scientists moved the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight today, warning that growing nuclear dangers, armed conflicts, and artificial intelligence risks are pushing the world toward catastrophe.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the clock at 85 seconds to midnight, four seconds closer than last year and the nearest point ever recorded. The Chicago-based nonprofit created the clock in 1947 to signal how close humanity stands to self-destruction.
Scientists cited aggressive postures by nuclear powers, including Russia, China, and the United States, alongside weakening nuclear arms control frameworks.
Moreover, ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have intensified global instability. At the same time, experts raised alarms over the rapid and unregulated integration of artificial intelligence into military systems, warning it could aid biological threats and fuel global disinformation campaigns. Climate change also remains a persistent risk factor.
Arms Control Under Strain
Bulletin President and CEO Alexandra Bell said the clock reflects a worldwide failure of leadership. She noted that rising neo-imperial tendencies and authoritarian governance models continue to heighten global dangers. According to Bell, nuclear risks showed no improvement in 2025, as diplomatic frameworks weakened, proliferation concerns grew, and threats of renewed nuclear testing resurfaced.
Bell pointed to Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and India-Pakistan border tensions as conflicts unfolding under the shadow of nuclear weapons. She also highlighted tensions on the Korean Peninsula, China’s pressure on Taiwan, and heightened strain in the Western Hemisphere since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to office.
Meanwhile, the New START treaty between the United States and Russia expires on February 5. Although President Vladimir Putin proposed extending its limits for one year, Washington has not formally responded. Analysts remain divided, especially after Trump ordered steps toward resuming U.S. nuclear weapons testing, ending a decades-long pause. Bell warned that renewed testing would most benefit China as it expands its arsenal.
