In a world that often feels like it’s teetering on the edge of a science fiction novel, the concept of a Doomsday Clock might not seem all that far-fetched. With the global conflicts, technological upheaval, and the unsettling realities of climate change, among many others, the idea that we’re inching closer to a global catastrophe can feel all too real.
And according to the latest update from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS), it’s not just a feeling–it’s a measurable reality.
The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of humanity’s proximity to self-destruction, has been moved one second forward, now standing at 89 seconds to midnight. This is the closest it has ever been to the figurative ‘midnight,’ a point of no return that signifies global disaster.
The clock, which was first set at seven minutes to midnight in 1947, has been a barometer of the world’s safety, adjusted annually to reflect the current state of existential threats to humanity.
The BAS, a Chicago-based non-profit organisation comprised of science and security experts, has cited a cocktail of dangers that have contributed to this latest, ominous adjustment.
They said that the nuclear threats, the potential misuse of advances in biology and artificial intelligence, and the ever-looming spectre of climate change are the key factors driving us closer to the brink.
Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that the clock’s advance is ‘a warning to all world leaders.’
‘In setting the clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal,’ they said in a statement.
‘Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.’

The war in Ukraine, which has been raging since Russia’s full-scale invasion, is a flashpoint of particular concern. The BAS warns that the conflict could escalate to a nuclear level due to rash decisions, accidents, or miscalculations.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East continue to simmer, with the potential ‘to spiral out of control into a wider war without warning.’
On the environmental front, ‘the long-term prognosis for the world’s attempts to deal with climate change remains poor.’ The scientists said that ‘most governments fail to enact the financing and policy initiatives necessary to halt global warming.’
In the realm of biology, the threat of ‘emerging and re-emerging diseases’ looms large, as seen with the recent global pandemic. The economic, social, and security implications of such health crises cannot be overstated.
Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, are also contributing to the world’s instability. With AI systems increasingly being integrated into military operations, as evidenced by their use in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the potential for these technologies to be misused or to malfunction is a source of significant concern.
Compounding these tangible threats is ‘the spread of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories that degrade the communication ecosystem and increasingly blur the line between truth and falsehood.’
BAS said these undermine the public’s ability to discern truth from falsehood, eroding trust in institutions and experts, and potentially hampering collective efforts to address the challenges we face.
The BAS’s message is clear: the United States, China, and Russia, as the world’s leading powers, bear ‘the prime responsibility’ to steer humanity away from disaster’ as they ‘have the collective power to destroy civilisation.’
What are your thoughts on the Doomsday Clock? How do you feel about the current state of global affairs? We invite you to share your thoughts on this pressing issue in the comments below.
Also read: The worldwide fungus threat: Is your favourite fruit at risk of extinction?
The clock is ticking. America is a worry now it has a loony in the Whitehouse and a population so uneducated that they cannot tell the difference between fact and fiction.
Thank goodness America has restored a real leader. Now the rest of the world’s antagonists will know that they have a formidable opponent to deal with who not only military strength but also economic levers. The clock will start to rewind anytime soon. And by the way who are these doom soothsayers ?
This is delusional. He is a big impetus for decay & followers won’t even realise the danger until it happens. My hope is that his age will bring about a quick downfall, but my concern is who would be next.
Your opinion and you are entitled to it. Unfortunately the majority of Americans disagree with you
That should say “Fortunately”.
I think that the clock will very soon step 1 or 2 seconds closer to midnight with the “new” incompetent leadership in the White House !!
Your opinion. However it was the previous President that oversaw the movement of the “ticking clock” over the past four years. Personally, I think its scaremongering at its worse.
‘I have been living under doomsday clock since I was born… Bay of pigs 1962 1983 1992 2001 2014 2022-25.
‘Nothing new.
‘Probably dozens more.’
– sent in by member Joylene D.
In one form or another, the fear mongering about the end of “life as we know it” has been popping up from “experts” for over 100 years.
The planet is more likely to suffer catastrophic losses of life from purely natural events, say volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earth quakes, than any thing influenced by human activity.
These Dooms Day Clock “experts” have never been right and serve only to perpetuate their self importance.
From the selfish Australian perspective, when the certain effects are considered, the northen hemisphere countries could blast themselves to smithereens and the average Australian could just continue on with a relatively normal life.
I spent years half believing these scary stories until I dug deeper and with a bit more formal education and plenty of wide reading, I noted that there were was more that the scare mongers were not telling us then they were telling us and that was that their stories were paper thin when analysed.
The lamb will still taste good off the barby and the barra will still be biting on the Cape.
Since the 1930’s, the Left of politics has murdered tens of millions of their citizens and the global population continues to grow without constraint.
Relax and throw another prawn on the hot plate and fetch a coldie from the bar fridge. The end ain’t in sight now and never has been and never will be within the next few billion years.