Scientists say worsening global threats and weak international cooperation pushed the Doomsday Clock to a record 85 seconds to midnight in 2026.
Humanity moved closer to catastrophe on Tuesday after the Doomsday Clock was set to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point since its introduction in 1947, according to a report from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The clock advanced four seconds from last year, reflecting rising global risks.
Citing a global “failure of leadership,” the Bulletin warned that nuclear threats, climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical tensions are intensifying. “Catastrophic risks are on the rise, cooperation is on the decline, and we are running out of time,” said Alexandra Bell, the Bulletin’s president and CEO.