Doomsday Clock Moved Forward by 4 Seconds: Nuclear Midnight Closest in Record Time

Doomsday Clock Moved Forward by 4 Seconds: Nuclear Midnight Closest in Record Time

The Doomsday Clock, a symbol of the threat of nuclear annihilation, was moved forward by 4 seconds on January 28. Now there are only 85 seconds left until “nuclear midnight” — the most dangerous reading in the clock’s history.
According to Alexandra Bell, head of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, this means that the world is at a record high on the path to global catastrophe. The decision was prompted by the aggressive policies of Russia, the United States and China, the weakening of nuclear arms control, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and concerns about artificial intelligence.

The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947. Midnight represents a nuclear catastrophe. In recent years, the clock has only moved forward. In 2023, there were 90 seconds left until midnight. In 2024, the figure remained unchanged. In 2025, the time was 89 seconds, and in 2026 it decreased to 85 seconds. Scientists say that to reduce global risks, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation on nuclear weapons, climate change, and dangerous technologies.