Doomsday Clock 2026: Atomic scientists set new time
Doomsday Clock 2026: Atomic scientists set new time
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/science/doomsday-clock-2026-time-wellness
Publish Date: 2026-01-27 10:16:00
Source Domain: www.cnn.com
- The Doomsday Clock, created by scientists at the dawn of the nuclear age, now reads 85 seconds to midnight — closer than ever before — highlighting humanity’s precarious position on the brink of global catastrophe.
- The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sets the clock time annually based on perceived risks including nuclear threats, climate change, biological threats, and advances in disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence.
- The 2025 adjustment reflects insufficient progress in tackling these global challenges and the proliferation of misinformation as critical threats.
- Midnight on the clock symbolizes human-made destruction rendering Earth uninhabitable, and while midnight has never been reached, efforts to reverse course through bold actions have historically succeeded, such as during the Cold War.
- Experts emphasize the importance of public engagement and individual actions like sustainable living to address existential risks.
- The clock serves as a call to action, stressing the need for global cooperation and individual contributions to mitigate impending crises.
