Atomic scientists announced the Doomsday Clock has been moved forward by four seconds, now standing at 85 seconds to midnight. This is the closest it has been since its inception in 1947, serving as a new warning about the escalating existential threats facing humanity.
According to a statement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, this adjustment reflects the increasing nuclear threats, the deterioration of relations between major powers, and the declining commitment to international agreements. It also highlights the global failure to address climate change and hazardous technologies.
Reuters reported that the major powers, led by the United States, Russia, and China, have become more aggressive and hostile, amid a rapidly disintegrating nuclear arms control system. This is especially concerning as the New START treaty approaches its expiration without signs of renewal.
Daniel Holz, a physicist at the University of Chicago and chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, stated during a press conference: “For the first time in over fifty years, the world could find itself without any restrictions preventing a dangerous nuclear arms race.”
The Bulletin expressed concern over calls to resume nuclear testing and expand missile defense systems. It warned that these trends could lead to the militarization of space and an increased likelihood of global conflict.
The Doomsday Clock serves as a warning symbol created by scientists who participated in the Manhattan Project during the Cold War, to measure how close humanity is to self-destruction due to man-made technologies, with midnight representing the moment of global annihilation.
Despite the bleak outlook, the scientists emphasized that the Clock is not an inevitable prophecy, but a final warning message. They confirmed that world leaders can move its hands back if they choose diplomacy, reduce tensions, and work together to face the most pressing challenges of our era.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which determines the timing of the Doomsday Clock, includes global experts in nuclear weapons, climate science, and technology. The decision is made in consultation with the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin, which includes nine Nobel laureates, giving this symbolic indicator broad international scientific weight.
