8 months ago
Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds to Midnight
The Doomsday Clock, which shows how close the world is to a big disaster, was moved to 85 seconds to midnight.
This is the closest it has ever been.
Scientists who watch these things, like Alexandra Bell and Maria Ressa, said the world is in big trouble because of nuclear threats, climate change, and new dangers from artificial intelligence.
They also said there is a lot of fighting and tension between big countries like Russia, China, and the United States.
The clock was made a long time ago, in 1947, to warn people about how close we are to destroying the world.
The scientists said leaders around the world are not doing a good job of working together to fix these problems.
They warned that if things keep going this way, there could be a big disaster.
But they also said that if leaders work together, they can still make things better.
The Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been.
Scientists cited nuclear threats, climate change, AI risks, and disinformation as major concerns.
Russia, China, and the United States were noted for aggressive and nationalistic behavior.
The New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire on February 5, 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the military to restart the process for nuclear weapons testing.
- Who
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, including experts like Alexandra Bell and Maria Ressa
- What
- The Doomsday Clock was moved to 85 seconds to midnight, citing global risks
- Where
- Washington, D.C.
- When
- January 27, 2024
- Why
- Due to increasing global risks including nuclear threats, climate change, AI risks, and disinformation
Global Cooperation Advocates
Nationalistic Governments
International Agreements
Global Cooperation Advocates
Advocate for multilateral agreements to reduce nuclear arsenals and address climate change.
Nationalistic Governments
Prioritize national interests over international cooperation, leading to a breakdown of global understandings.
Nuclear Arms Control
Global Cooperation Advocates
Support the renewal of treaties like New START to prevent a nuclear arms race.
Nationalistic Governments
Oppose or ignore nuclear arms control agreements, increasing the risk of a nuclear arms race.
Climate Change Action
Global Cooperation Advocates
Push for meaningful agreements and policies to combat climate change.
Nationalistic Governments
Roll back environmental policies and promote fossil fuels, exacerbating the climate crisis.
Key facts
- Current Time
- 85 seconds to midnight
- Previous Time
- 90 seconds to midnight (2023)
- Founding Year
- 1947
- Founders
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer
- Major Concerns
- Nuclear threats, climate change, AI risks, disinformation
- Notable Conflicts
- Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, India-Pakistan clashes, Korean Peninsula tensions, China-Taiwan tensions
- Nuclear Arms Pact
- New START treaty expires February 5, 2024
- Nuclear Testing
- U.S. ordered to restart nuclear weapons testing process
Timeline
US rejects Russia's New START extension, treaty expires 2026.
Then, no deal: US declines Russia's one-year extension offer.
Failure to extend New START leaves no limits on nuclear arms.
Consequence: Doomsday Clock moves to 85 seconds, closest ever.
Crisis: Nuclear threats, climate change, tensions drive clock's shift.
Quotes
Alexandra Bell
Nuclear policy expert and president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
“In terms of nuclear risks, nothing in 2025 trended in the right direction. Longstanding diplomatic frameworks are under duress or collapsing, the threat of explosive nuclear testing has returned, proliferation concerns are growing, and there were three military operations taking place under the shadow of nuclear weapons and the associated escalatory threat. The risk of nuclear use is unsustainably and unacceptably high.”
theprint.in
“Russia, China, the United States and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive and nationalistic. Their 'winner-takes-all great power competition' undermines the international cooperation needed to reduce risks of nuclear war, climate change, misuse of biotechnology, potential AI-related hazards and other apocalyptic dangers.”
theprint.in
Maria Ressa
2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and journalist
“We are living through an information Armageddon that’s brought about by the technology that rules our lives, from social media to generative AI. None of that tech is anchored in facts. Your chatbot is nothing but a probabilistic machine.”
theprint.in
Sources
Is the world closer to its end? As ‘Doomsday Clock’ moves nearer to midnight, a year into Trump’s term
Doomsday Clock Moves Closer To Midnight, Global Risks Escalate. Here's What It Means
What is the Doomsday clock? Why it moved closer to midnight in 2026?
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves four seconds closer to midnight, humanity now 85 seconds away from apocalypse
Atomic scientists push ‘Doomsday Clock’ closer to midnight than ever over nuclear, AI risks
85 seconds to midnight: How the death of New START pushed humanity to its darkest hour
