It is now 85 seconds to midnight
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On January 27, 2026, the Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board (SASB), which sets the Clock, called for urgent action to limit nuclear arsenals, create international guidelines on the use of AI, and form multilateral agreements to address global biological threats.
‘The odds are not in our favour’: who sets the Doomsday Clock – and what can they tell us about the future of humanity?
[imagen: The New York Times logo](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/us/doomsday-clock-2026.html)
Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer Than Ever to Apocalypse
[imagen: The Washington Post logo](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/01/27/doomsday-clock-2026-85-seconds-to-midnight/)
These scientists say the world is closer than ever to ‘doomsday’
[imagen: Associated Press logo](https://apnews.com/article/doomsday-clock-midnight-nuclear-climate-humanity-da3566c5d3b972952b6cf03b13fb7e7f)
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight over threats from nuclear weapons, climate change and AI
[imagen: sin descripción](https://www.reuters.com/world/china/atomic-scientists-set-doomsday-clock-closer-midnight-than-ever-2026-01-27/)
Atomic scientists set 'Doomsday Clock' closer to midnight than ever
[imagen: CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/science/doomsday-clock-2026-time-wellness)
Doomsday Clock 2026: Scientists set new time
[imagen: USA Today logo](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/27/doomsday-clock-2026-expert-leadership-failure/88366926007/)
'Failure of leadership:' Doomsday Clock head explains current setting
[imagen: The New York Times logo](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/opinion/nuclear-treaty-deal-start.html)
Let the Arms Race Begin
[imagen: ABC News logo](https://abcnews.go.com/US/doomsday-clock-2026-close-annihilation-scientists/story?id=129601918)
'Doomsday Clock' 2026: This is how close we are to self-annihilation, scientists say
[imagen: NBC News logo](https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/doomsday-clock-moved-closer-to-symbolic-catastrophe-256669765607)
Doomsday Clock moved closer to symbolic catastrophe
[imagen: CBS News logo](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doomsday-clock-update-2026/)
"Doomsday Clock" moves to 85 seconds to midnight, closest point to catastrophe since its debut
[imagen: USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/27/doomsday-clock-announcement-2026/88365758007/)
Doomsday Clock 2026 update says apocalypse is closer than ever
[imagen: The Hill logo](https://thehill.com/policy/international/5708270-world-danger-trump-administration/)
Doomsday Clock moves closer to zero hour
[imagen: Chicago Tribune](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/06/editorial-doomsday-clock-nuclear-weapons-arms-proliferation/)
Editorial: Tick, tick goes the Doomsday Clock
[imagen: Daily Beast logo](https://www.thedailybeast.com/doomsday-clock-inches-closer-to-midnight-than-ever-before/)
Doomsday Clock Inches Closer to Midnight Than Ever Before
[imagen: Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-12-23/dismiss-the-2026-doomsday-clock-at-your-own-peril)
Dismiss the Doomsday Clock at Your Own Peril
[imagen: Popular Mechanics](https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a69505885/who-sets-the-doomsday-clock/)
Who Sets the Doomsday Clock?
[imagen: The Independent logo](https://www.the-independent.com/tech/doomsday-clock-time-latest-b2908640.html)
Doomsday clock time: We are in more danger of destroying ourselves than ever, experts say
[imagen: The Irish Times logo](https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2026/01/27/closer-than-ever-doomsday-clock-moves-to-85-seconds-to-midnight-as-world-faces-fresh-nuclear-threats/)
Doomsday Clock moves closer than ever to midnight
[imagen: AFP logo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/doomsday-clock-moves-closer-midnight-153304744.html?guccounter=1)
'Doomsday Clock' moves closer to midnight, a year into Trump term
[imagen: Fox News logo](https://www.foxnews.com/us/doomsday-clock-ticks-closer-midnight-over-global-threats-group-says)
'Doomsday Clock' ticks closer to midnight over global threats, group says
[imagen: Time Magazine logo](https://time.com/7358249/doomsday-clock-midnight/)
Scientists Move ‘Doomsday Clock’ Closer to Midnight Than Ever, Citing AI Among New Risks
[imagen: Northwestern Medill School of Journalism logo](https://climatechange.medill.northwestern.edu/doomsday-clock-moves-to-85-seconds-to-midnight-indicating-humanitys-closest-proximity-to-disaster/)
Doomsday Clock moves to 85 seconds to midnight symbolizing humanity’s closest proximity to disaster
[imagen: BBC logo](https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/ckglpe6n633o)
'Every second counts' - Doomsday Clock moves closer to midnight
[imagen: El Pais logo](https://elpais.com/ciencia/2026-01-27/el-fin-del-mundo-mas-cerca-que-nunca-los-cientificos-atomicos-situan-el-reloj-del-apocalipsis-a-solo-85-segundos-de-la-medianoche.html)
El fin del mundo, más cerca que nunca: los científicos atómicos sitúan el reloj del apocalipsis a solo 85 segundos de la medianoche
[imagen: Gizmodo logo](https://gizmodo.com/trump-urges-americans-to-embrace-a-suicidal-penguin-as-doomsday-clock-hits-85-seconds-to-midnight-2000714599)
Trump Urges Americans to Embrace a Suicidal Penguin as ‘Doomsday Clock’ Hits 85 Seconds to Midnight
[imagen: TMZ logo](https://www.tmz.com/2026/01/27/doomsday-clock-closest-in-history/)
Doomsday Clock 85 Seconds to Midnight
[imagen: Sky News logo](https://news.sky.com/story/doomsday-clock-moves-closer-to-midnight-what-does-it-mean-12794884)
Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight than ever: What is it and how does it work?
[imagen: France24 logo](https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260127-doomsday-clock-moves-closer-than-ever-to-midnight-a-year-into-trump-s-term)
'Doomsday Clock' moves closer than ever to midnight, a year into Trump's term
[imagen: The Korea Times logo](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260130/mayday-mayday-its-85-seconds-to-midnight)
Mayday, mayday: It’s 85 seconds to midnight
[imagen: 404media logo](https://www.404media.co/the-doomsday-clock-ticks-closer-to-midnight-does-anyone-care/)
The Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer to Midnight. Does Anyone Care?
[imagen: Nature Magazine logo](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00561-5)
Nuclear weapons testing is harmful — there’s no case for a restart
Recent highlights
[imagen: A group of people in formal attire sit around a table with phones and documents; one person wears a "USA" cap. A map and security personnel are visible in the background.](https://thebulletin.org/2026/02/president-trump-just-started-a-dangerous-pointless-war-against-iran/)
President Trump just started a dangerous, pointless war against Iran
[imagen: A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. (Smart phone photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)](https://thebulletin.org/2026/02/trumps-war-on-iran-grave-dangers-and-at-best-limited-benefits/)
Trump’s war on Iran: grave dangers and, at best, limited benefits
[imagen: A cityscape with a plume of smoke rising in the distance under a hazy sky, indicating an explosion or fire in the urban area in Iran.](https://thebulletin.org/2026/02/israel-and-the-us-strike-iran-it-is-a-tragedy-of-tehrans-own-making/)
Israel and the US strike Iran. It is a tragedy of Tehran’s own making
[imagen: sin descripción](https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/the-ai-power-trip-a-bulletin-special-project/)
The AI Power Trip: A *Bulletin* special project
FAQ
imagen: Doomsday Clock 89 seconds to midnight
The Bulletin has reset the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock 27 times since its debut in 1947, most recently in 2026 when we moved it from 89 seconds to midnight to 85 seconds to midnight. Every time it is reset, we’re flooded with questions about the internationally recognized symbol. Here are answers to some of the most frequent queries.
What is the Doomsday Clock?Collapse
The Doomsday Clock is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.
When the Doomsday Clock was created in 1947, the greatest danger to humanity came from nuclear weapons, in particular from the prospect that the United States and the Soviet Union were headed for a nuclear arms race. The Bulletin considered possible catastrophic disruptions from climate change in its hand-setting deliberations for the first time in 2007.
Who created the Doomsday Clock?Expand
Co-editor Hyman Goldsmith asked artist Martyl Langsdorf to come up with a design for the cover of the June 1947 edition of the Bulletin, the first issue published as a magazine rather than a newsletter. Martyl—as she was known professionally—was married to a physicist, Alexander Langsdorf, who worked on the Manhattan Project while at the University of Chicago.
At first the artist considered using the symbol for uranium. But as she listened to the scientists who had worked on the Bomb, as they passionately debated the consequences of the new technology and their responsibility to inform the public, she felt their sense of urgency. So she sketched a clock to suggest that we didn’t have much time left to get atomic weapons under control.
Graphic designer Michael Bierut reimagined the iconic image in 2007.
Who decides what time it is?Expand
In the early days, Bulletin Editor Eugene Rabinowitch decided whether the hand should be moved. A scientist himself, fluent in Russian, and a leader in the international disarmament movement, he was in constant conversation with scientists and experts within and outside governments in many parts of the world. Based on these discussions, he decided where the clock hand should be set and explained his thinking in the Bulletin’s pages.
When Rabinowitch died in 1973, the Bulletin’s Board handled the responsibility. In 2008, the Science and Security Board was formally separated from the Governing Board and entrusted with the responsibility. Since that time the Science and Security Board has met twice a year to discuss world events and reset the clock as necessary. The board is made up of scientists and other experts with deep knowledge of nuclear technology and climate science, who often provide expert advice to governments and international agencies. They consult widely with their colleagues across a range of disciplines and also seek the views of the Bulletin’s Board of Sponsors, which includes eight Nobel laureates.
When were the hands set farthest from midnight?Expand
In 1991, with the end of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the first treaty to provide for deep cuts to the two countries’ strategic nuclear weapons arsenals, prompting the Bulletin to set the clock hand to 17 minutes to midnight.
Recent Clock changes
imagen: The Doomsday Clock set at 89 seconds to midnight
2026
IT IS 85 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT
imagen: The Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to midnight
2023
IT IS 90 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT
imagen: The Doomsday Clock set at 89 seconds to midnight
2025
IT IS 89 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT
imagen: The Doomsday Clock set at 100 seconds to midnight
2020
IT IS 100 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT
imagen: DoomsdayClock_black_2mins_regmark.png
2018
IT IS 2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
imagen: DoomsdayClock_black_2.5mins_regmark-1
2017
IT IS TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
The Doomsday Clock playlist
[imagen: sin descripción “Wasteland, Baby!” — Hozier, 2019](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “Why Did I Fall For That?” — The Who, 1982](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “Quarter Past Midnight” — Bastille, 2019](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “Doomsday Clock” — Smashing Pumpkins, 2007](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “Two Suns in the Sunset” — Pink Floyd, 1983](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “Minutes to Midnight” — Midnight Oil, 1984](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción “2 Minutes To Midnight” — Iron Maiden, 1984](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
[imagen: sin descripción "Russians" — Sting, 1985](https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/doomsday-clock-playlist/)
The Doomsday Clock Playlist is a collection of songs that mention or demonstrate direct inspiration from the Bulletin’s Doomsday Clock. You can also listen to most of the songs from the playlist on our Spotify account.
[imagen: MagNewsletter Callouts for Doomsday Clock page-2](https://thebulletin.org/receive-email-updates/?utm_source=ClockPage&utm_medium=Web&utm_campaign=EmailUpdates)
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Learn more in Turn Back The Clock
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Learn about the significance of the Doomsday Clock and how it has evolved to include risks we face today. Originally on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, the Turn Back the Clockexhibit is now available for visitors worldwide to explore online.