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Doomsday Clock places world 85 seconds from midnight for 2026.
Summary
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock forward by four seconds to 85 seconds to midnight for 2026, reporting growing risks from nuclear weapons, climate change, artificial intelligence, autocracy and biological threats. Undetermined at this time.
Content
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced it moved the Doomsday Clock forward by four seconds for 2026 and set it at 85 seconds to "midnight." The panel said the change reflects a mix of escalating risks that include nuclear weapons, climate change, artificial intelligence, autocracy and emerging biological threats. The group, founded by Manhattan Project veterans, has used the clock as a symbolic measure since 1947. The bulletin emphasized the clock is intended as a warning about current risks rather than a literal prediction of the future.
What officials announced:
- The Doomsday Clock was moved forward by four seconds and set at 85 seconds to midnight for 2026, announced at a news conference.
- Panel members reported that nuclear dangers, climate change, artificial intelligence, autocratic power and biological technologies influenced the decision.
- The bulletin noted concerns about the status of U.S.-Russia arms agreements and cited actions in the U.S. government as factors it said affected the clock.
- The organization described the clock as a symbolic warning to policymakers and the public, not a forecast of specific events.
Summary:
The bulletin reported the clock is at its closest point to midnight, reflecting what the panel described as intensifying human-made risks. The announcement is presented as a warning aimed at leaders and the public. Specific policy responses or procedural follow-up measures were not announced. Undetermined at this time.
