Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer to Midnight, Now Set at 90 Seconds to Catastrophe
The symbolic Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, has been moved forward to its closest setting ever—90 seconds to midnight. This adjustment reflects the organization’s assessment that the world faces unprecedented risks from nuclear conflict, climate change, and disruptive technologies.
The clock was created in 1947 by the Bulletin’s founders, scientists who had worked on the Manhattan Project. Initially set at seven minutes to midnight, it has been adjusted annually to convey how close humanity is to a global catastrophe. Key historical moments have moved the hands, including the Soviet Union’s first nuclear test in 1949, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, which brought a period of relative optimism.
Since 2018, the clock has been set at two minutes or less to midnight. The latest setting, announced in January 2023, is 90 seconds. The Bulletin cites escalating nuclear threats, including the war in Ukraine, breakdowns in arms control treaties, and the modernization of nuclear arsenals. It also points to insufficient action on climate change and the spread of disinformation as worsening global dangers.
The clock’s imagery is deeply embedded in global culture, influencing films, literature, and discourse on existential risk. Some analysts note that its annual update often generates significant media attention, highlighting the tension between scientific warning and public engagement.
The Bulletin emphasizes that the clock is a call to action, not a prediction. Its board, composed of experts in nuclear science, climate, and policy, assesses threats based on systemic risks rather than immediate likelihood. The organization advocates for renewed diplomacy, verified arms control agreements, and accelerated climate mitigation.
The current setting underscores a period of heightened global instability. While the clock is a metaphor, the Bulletin stresses that the underlying threats—nuclear proliferation, environmental degradation, and technological disruption—require urgent, coordinated international response. The advance to 90 seconds serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of global security and the need for sustained effort to move the hands back from the brink.
