'Doomsday Clock' advances to 85 seconds till midnight

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Earth is closer than it’s ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S. and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic,” a science-oriented advocacy group said Tuesday as it advanced its “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds till midnight.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Updated 11:54 PM UTC, January 27, 2026

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist members had an initial demonstration Friday and then announced their results on Tuesday.

The scientists cited risks of nuclear war, climate change, potential misuse of biotechnology and the increasing use of artificial intelligence without adequate controls as it made the annual announcement, which rates how close humanity is from ending.

Last year the clock advanced to 89 seconds to midnight.

The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, set at 85 seconds to midnight, is displayed during a news conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Washington. On Tuesday, they announced Earth is closer than it's ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S. and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic.” (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) — The Doomsday Clock of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, set at 85 seconds to midnight, is displayed during a news conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Washington. On Tuesday, they announced Earth is closer than it’s ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S. and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic.” (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Since then, “hard-won global understandings are collapsing, accelerating a winner-takes-all great power competition and undermining the international cooperation” needed to reduce existential risks, the group said.

They worry about the threat of escalating conflicts involving nuclear-armed countries, citing the Russia-Ukraine war, May’s conflict between India and Pakistan and whether Iran is capable of developing nuclear weapons after strikes last summer by the U.S. and Israel.

International trust and cooperation is essential because, “if the world splinters into an us-versus-them, zero-sum approach, it increases the likelihood that we all lose,” said Daniel Holz, chair of the group’s science and security board.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists members, from left, Jon B. Wolfsthal, Asha M. George and Steve Fetter reveal the Doomsday Clock, set to 85 seconds to midnight, during a news conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Washington. On Tuesday, they announced Earth is closer than it's ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S. and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic.” (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) — The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists members, from left, Jon B. Wolfsthal, Asha M. George and Steve Fetter reveal the Doomsday Clock, set to 85 seconds to midnight, during a news conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Washington. On Tuesday, they announced Earth is closer than it’s ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S. and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial and nationalistic.” (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The group also highlighted droughts, heat waves and floods linked to global warming, as well as the failure of nations to adopt meaningful agreements to fight global warming — singling out U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to boost fossil fuels and hobble renewable energy production.

Starting in 1947, the advocacy group used a clock to symbolize the potential and even likelihood of people doing something to end humanity. At the end of the Cold War, it was as close as 17 minutes to midnight. In the past few years, to address rapid global changes, the group has changed from counting down the minutes until midnight to counting down the seconds.

The group said the clock could be turned back if leaders and nations worked together to address existential risks.

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Conversation

All Comments

Comment by joey3_.
1 hr ago
sounds like my nieces: well, I'll give you one more chance!
Comment by HomeoftheKnave.
2 hrs ago
What a power trip. Who’s moving the clock to midnight if and when “the world ends”?
- Reply by ShelleyW.
  1 hr ago
  When folks perceive accurate information-sharing as a power-trip, we know that our education system has failed. The chest beating in the US has become cringe-worthy.
Comment by AZpedr.
3 hrs ago
This should be a wake up call to those in power. But, something tells me it won’t be…
Comment by PlatonistAstronaut.
4 hrs ago
"In the past few years, to address rapid global changes, the group has changed from counting down the minutes until midnight to counting down the seconds."
How depressing.

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