Doomsday Clock is set at 85 seconds to midnight.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced on Jan. 27 that the Doomsday Clock is set at 85 seconds to midnight, four seconds closer than last year and the nearest reading since 1947.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced on Jan. 27 that it has set the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight. That is four seconds closer than its setting last year and the closest reading since the clock was introduced in 1947. The Bulletin said the setting followed a review of nuclear risk, climate change, advances in disruptive technologies and declining international cooperation. The announcement was delivered during an online news conference from Washington, D.C. Key points: - The Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight on Jan. 27, 2026. - The clock moved four seconds closer from its 2025 reading and is the nearest reading to midnight in the clock's history. - The Bulletin cited rising nuclear risk, climate change, disruptive technologies (including AI), biosecurity concerns, and a described "failure of leadership" and decline in cooperation as factors in the decision. - The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure maintained by the Bulletin's Science and Security Board and is reviewed and adjusted on an annual basis. Summary: The Bulletin says the setting is meant to reflect growing human-made risks and reduced international cooperation. The clock is a symbolic indicator rather than a prediction. The time is reviewed each year and the next scheduled review is the following annual update.