Scientists Warn Humanity Nears Brink of Disaster as Doomsday Clock Moves to 89 Seconds to Midnight

(WCTU) — The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic measure of humanity's proximity to global catastrophe, has been moved to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been since its creation in 1947. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced the update Tuesday, citing escalating nuclear threats, climate change, artificial intelligence risks, and the spread of disinformation as critical factors driving the adjustment.

“The world is on a course of unprecedented risk, and continuing on the current path is a form of madness,” the Bulletin’s 2025 Doomsday Clock Statement warned. “The United States, China, and Russia have the prime responsibility to pull the world back from the brink.”

Manpreet Sethi, a Bulletin member and distinguished fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi, highlighted the growing nuclear threat in the statement. “The risk of nuclear use continues to grow due to capabilities building up and treaties breaking down,” Sethi said. She noted Russia’s suspension of compliance with the New START treaty and withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, China’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, and the United States’ shifting nuclear posture, warning that misplaced confidence in the manageability of “limited” nuclear weapon use could lead to disaster.

Artificial intelligence also played a significant role in this year’s decision. Herb Lin, a senior research scholar for cyber policy and security at the Center for International Security and Cooperation, cautioned against its integration into military systems. He questioned "the extent to which machines will be allowed to make or support military decisions—even when such decisions could kill on a vast scale," emphasizing the potential for AI-driven chaos and disorder.

The Doomsday Clock, originally set at seven minutes to midnight in 1947, serves as a visual representation of existential threats to humanity. It has been adjusted 26 times over the years, moving both forward and backward based on global security conditions. The previous furthest setting was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 following the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union.

This year’s announcement also underscored the urgency of climate change, with the Bulletin citing 2024 as the hottest year on record. The statement warned of the continued rise in greenhouse gas emissions and the devastating impact of extreme weather events, including wildfires, floods, and tropical cyclones. “The growth in solar and wind energy has been impressive but remains insufficient to stabilize the climate,” the Bulletin noted.

The ongoing war in Ukraine was another factor influencing the decision. Entering its third year, the conflict was described as carrying a heightened risk of nuclear escalation due to potential miscalculations or rash decisions. The Bulletin also expressed concern over the global collapse of nuclear arms control agreements.

Despite criticism that the Doomsday Clock is a subjective assessment, its creators defend it as an internationally recognized warning system. “The purpose of the Doomsday Clock is to start a global conversation about the very real existential threats that keep the world’s top scientists awake at night,” said Daniel Holz, chairman of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board and founding director of the Existential Risk Laboratory at the University of Chicago.

At a news conference announcing the update, former Colombian President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos emphasized the urgency of collective action. “There is still time to make the right choices to turn back the hands of the Doomsday Clock,” he said. “In Colombia, we say, ‘Cada segundo cuenta.’ Every second counts. Let us use each one wisely.”