WASHINGTON ‒ Humanity is currently closer than ever to self-destruction, as indicated by the latest update to the unsettling “Doomsday Clock.” The clock now stands at 89 seconds to midnight, having moved one second forward since last year’s update.

This marks the nearest point to midnight since the clock was established in 1947. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which updates the clock, assesses how close we are to a potential self-inflicted catastrophe.

Dan Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s science and security board, stated that global safety and stability have diminished compared to a year ago.

“Arms control treaties are in disarray, and current conflicts involve nuclear nations,” he mentioned, adding that misinformation and conspiracy theories act as a “threat multiplier.”

The clock serves as a metaphor for the proximity of humanity to self-destruction, as explained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which was founded by University of Chicago researchers who contributed to the creation of the first nuclear weapons during the Manhattan Project.

Nuclear, disease, and AI fears factor into 2025 Doomsday Clock reset

This year, the nuclear threat has become particularly alarming, according to Manpreet Sethi, a board member and distinguished fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi.

“We find ourselves facing multiple risks, including an arms race, lack of regulations, the risk of nuclear arms proliferation, and the likelihood of nuclear warfare, all escalating simultaneously,” she explained.

Many people mistakenly view nuclear weapons as merely enhanced conventional arms, which is a misconception shared by the board members of the Bulletin.

“I worry that we might be unknowingly heading toward a nuclear catastrophe,” she added.

Another grave threat comes from biological dangers, where the rise of artificial intelligence makes situations even more precarious, stated Suzet McKinney, a member of the board and director of Life Sciences for Sterling Bay.

“What if malicious individuals use AI to spread infectious diseases, or if entire nations could deploy biological weapons on civilians over trivial conflicts?” she asked.

Countries, including the United States, are engaging in activities that could spur such actions, potentially creating new infections and undermining efforts to manage their spread, she warned.

“We cannot ignore these issues,” she emphasized.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

Initially, the clock represented the threat of nuclear disaster. In the last twenty years, it has included concerns over climate change, artificial intelligence, and misinformation.

Each year, members of the Science and Security Board consider two key questions:

• Is humanity safer or more endangered this year compared to last year?
• Is humanity safer or more endangered compared to the 78 years since the clock’s inception?

Their responses determine the clock’s position for the upcoming year.

What does 89 seconds to midnight mean in 2025?

Although the clock has only advanced one second, it reflects the significant threats facing the world, according to Holz.

“When you’re teetering on the edge, the last thing you want to do is take a step forward,” he stated. “We’re indicating that given the events of the past year, we haven’t made the necessary advancements, and in some critical areas, conditions have worsened. Thus, the clock moves forward.”

However, there is still hope, but urgent action is required, the group warned.

“There’s a substantial chance that by this time next year, we could move the hands backward, not forward, but this requires leaders to engage in constructive dialogue,” remarked Juan Manuel Santos, former president of Colombia and a member of The Elders, a group of global leaders advocating for peace, justice, and sustainability.

“We can only succeed if we unite,” he concluded.

How did the Doomsday Clock start?

In 1945, following the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, scientists involved in the Manhattan Project, which developed the first atomic bombs, began a newsletter named The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Two years later, as those scientists considered a world that had witnessed the use of two atomic bombs in Japan, they convened to discuss the nuclear threat facing humanity.

“They were concerned that the public was unaware of how close we were to total destruction,” recounted Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the bulletin.

Martyl Langsdorf, an artist and the wife of Manhattan Project physicist Alexander Langsdorf Jr., conceived the idea of a clock to illustrate the imminent dangers.

They dubbed it the Doomsday Clock.

“It conveyed the idea that if we were inactive, the clock would continue ticking towards midnight, leading us to potential doom,” Bronson explained.

What does midnight represent on the Doomsday Clock?

The clock only considers threats posed by humanity to itself. A meteor on a collision course with Earth wouldn’t factor in; modifying viruses to make them more hazardous would.

From the 1950s to the 1980s, the specter of nuclear war loomed large. While this feels less urgent today, the threat has not diminished, noted Robert Socolow, a board member and professor emeritus at Princeton University.

“The nuclear risk is something today’s youth find hard to fathom, while their assumption is ‘It’s not something I need to worry about,'” he noted. “But they should.”

The current threats differ from the past, which mainly involved the Soviet Union, as we now face nonstate actors like terrorists and nations such as North Korea, who may have access to dangerous weapons.

Where does the nuclear threat stand?

The original Doomsday Clock focused exclusively on the nuclear peril. A week into President Donald Trump’s second term, the outlook regarding nuclear weapons remains murky.

The last existing nuclear arms control agreement – New START, which restricts U.S. and Russian nuclear warhead deployments without limiting stockpiles – will expire in early 2026.

At the World Economic Forum, the U.S. President expressed a desire for “denuclearization” and mentioned discussions with Russian and Chinese leaders about this issue.

However, Trump’s appointees, including new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have shown less optimism regarding future arms reductions. In responses to questions from lawmakers prior to his confirmation, the Pentagon head stated that the U.S. should “pursue arms control when it benefits us … Both China and Russia have rejected U.S. overtures for meaningful risk reduction talks since 2020.”

North Korea’s nuclear capabilities remain a significant concern for both the U.S. and international community, as they present challenges in security and foreign relations as well.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Davis Winkie’s role covering nuclear threats and national security is funded by a grant from the Outrider Foundation. The Outrider Foundation does not provide editorial input. You can reach Davis via the Signal encrypted messaging app at 770-539-3257.