THE PLANETS SECONDS ARE TICKING AWAY

As of 27 January 2026, the Doomsday Clock stands at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to global catastrophe in its 79-year history. 

Managed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, this symbolic timepiece represents humanity’s proximity to self-annihilation due to man-made threats. 

The current setting reflects several critical global dangers:

  • Nuclear Escalation: Scientists cited the continued war in Ukraine, border clashes between India and Pakistan, and U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as major factors increasing the risk of nuclear use.
  • Climate Crisis: International responses to global warming were deemed “wholly insufficient,” with particular concern over the gutting of climate policies and a lack of commitment to phasing out fossil fuels.
  • Disruptive Technologies: The unregulated integration of Artificial Intelligence into military systems and its role in spreading disinformation were noted as significant emerging threats.
  • Biological Threats: Experts warned of degraded global health infrastructure and the potential misuse of biotechnology in creating new pathogens. 

The Clock moved forward 4 seconds from its 2025 setting of 89 seconds to midnight. In contrast, the safest point in history was in 1991, when the Clock was set to 17 minutes to midnight following the end of the Cold War. 

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