Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds—The Closest to Apocalypse in History

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists gave its worst warning since 1947. They moved the Doomsday Clock forward to 85 seconds to midnight. This marks the closest humanity has ever been to a global catastrophe.

This four-second shift from the 2025 time of 89 seconds shows a “darkening security landscape.” Here, international cooperation has mostly faded, giving way to nationalistic rivalry.

The “Runaway” Nuclear Arms Race

The primary driver for this year’s shift is the imminent collapse of nuclear arms control. The New START Treaty is the last nuclear arms deal between the United States and Russia. It will expire on February 5, 2026.

During the announcement, Daniel Holz, Chair of the Science and Security Board, warned that without this treaty, a “runaway nuclear arms race” could occur.” This concern is compounded by recent shifts in U.S. policy, where the administration has suggested a return to explosive nuclear testing for the first time in over three decades.

“Information Armageddon” and AI

For the first time, the role of Artificial Intelligence took center stage as a primary existential threat. Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa addressed the press, warning of an “information Armageddon” driven by AI-powered disinformation.

The Bulletin experts argued that unregulated AI is not only eroding the truth but is being integrated into military systems and helping create sophisticated biological threats. The “fusion of state power with tech oligarchy” was cited as a critical factor that makes managing other risks—like climate change or nuclear proliferation—nearly impossible.

Climate Collapse and Biological Threats

2026 is already on track to be one of the warmest years on record, following a 2025 characterized by catastrophic floods and heatwaves. The Bulletin slammed global leaders for missing Paris Agreement targets. It stressed that the “margin for error is shrinking.””

Additionally, new biological concerns were highlighted, including:

• Synthetic Mirror Life: Lifeforms with “mirror-image” genes that may bypass natural protections if they escape.
• Outbreak Risks: Recent Nipah virus clusters in India and new lab-made pathogens reveal serious biosecurity gaps.

The Bulletin highlighted that the Clock serves as a metaphorical warning, not a prediction, despite the grim setting. “The Clock has turned back before, and it can again,” said CEO Alexandra Bell. They urged citizens to push their governments. They want them to renew diplomacy, regulate AI, and commit to cutting carbon now.

Sources

• University of Chicago News: Doomsday Clock ticks down to 85 seconds to midnight in 2026
• The Hindu: Doomsday Clock is 85 seconds to midnight: The closest ever to catastrophe
• Washington Post: Scientists say world is closer than ever to ‘doomsday’ at 85 seconds
• Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: 2026 Doomsday Clock Statement