What's happened
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, reflecting heightened global risks from nuclear tensions, climate change, and artificial intelligence. Experts cite leadership failures and geopolitical conflicts as key drivers of this shift, warning of increasing danger of global catastrophe.
What's behind the headline?
The move to 85 seconds underscores a stark reality: global leadership has failed to address existential risks effectively. The clock's proximity signals that nuclear proliferation, geopolitical conflicts, and technological threats like AI are converging to create an unprecedented danger. The expiration of key treaties like New START and rising nuclear arsenals, especially amid rising tensions between major powers, will likely push the clock even closer. This shift is a warning that without coordinated international action, the risk of catastrophe will escalate. The focus on AI as an 'existential risk driver' highlights the need for urgent regulation and oversight, yet current efforts remain insufficient. The clock's position serves as a call to action for policymakers to prioritize global stability and risk mitigation before it’s too late.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that experts see the move as a reflection of global leadership failures, citing rising tensions and nuclear risks. AP News highlights the symbolic importance of the clock and warns that the proximity to midnight signals imminent danger, especially with the expiration of nuclear treaties and the rise of AI threats. Both sources emphasize that the clock's recent shift is a warning sign, urging urgent international cooperation to prevent catastrophe. The Independent quotes Alexandra Bell, who states that 'a global failure in leadership' is pushing the clock closer to midnight, while AP underscores the increasing investments in nuclear arsenals and AI as critical factors.
How we got here
The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 by scientists including Einstein and Oppenheimer, symbolizes how close humanity is to self-destruction. It has fluctuated over decades, reaching as close as two minutes during the Cold War and as far as 17 minutes in 1991. Recent years have seen it move closer to midnight due to rising global threats.
Go deeper
Common question
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Why is the Doomsday Clock now set to 85 seconds to midnight?
The Doomsday Clock is a powerful symbol of how close humanity is to catastrophe. Recently, it was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it’s been since its creation in 1947. This change raises urgent questions about what threats are pushing us closer to disaster and what can be done to turn back the clock. Below, we explore the key factors influencing this alarming shift and what it means for our future.
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What Are the Main Global Threats Today That Could Lead to Disaster?
The world faces multiple existential risks that could have catastrophic consequences. From nuclear tensions and climate change to artificial intelligence, these threats are pushing the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight. Understanding these dangers is crucial for awareness and action. Below, we explore the key questions about these pressing issues and what they mean for our future.
More on these topics
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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a nonprofit organization concerning science and global security issues resulting from accelerating technological advances that have negative consequences for humanity.
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The Doomsday Clock is a symbol that represents the likelihood of a man-made global catastrophe. Maintained since 1947 by the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Clock is a metaphor for threats to humanity from unchecked scientific and te
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Artificial intelligence, sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, unlike the natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals.
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The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.
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Maria Angelita Ressa is a Filipino-American journalist and author, best known for co-founding Rappler as its chief executive officer. She previously spent nearly two decades working as a lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia for CNN.
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Alexandra Bell is an American multidisciplinary artist. She is best known for her series Counternarratives, large scale paste-ups of New York Times articles edited to challenge the presumption of "objectivity" in news media.