Doomsday Clock moves four seconds closer to midnight

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the Doomsday Clock forward four seconds to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest setting in its 80-year history. The board cited nuclear arms control, climate change, AI, biological risks and misinformation, and highlighted the February expiration of the U.S.-Russia New START treaty as a key factor.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that it has moved the Doomsday Clock four seconds closer to midnight, to 85 seconds, a setting the board described as the closest in the clock's history. The board pointed to a range of threats it tracks, including nuclear risks, climate change, advances in artificial intelligence, biological hazards and the spread of misinformation. The upcoming expiration of the U.S.-Russia New START arms control treaty in February was singled out as an important factor in the decision. Key developments: - The Science and Security Board reported a four-second advancement of the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight. - The board described this as the closest setting in the clock's roughly 80-year history. - The February expiration of the New START treaty between the United States and Russia was highlighted as a significant influence on the board's assessment. Summary: The board framed the change as reflecting multiple, overlapping risks rather than a single cause. The board identified the New START treaty's expiration in February as a proximate, scheduled development affecting international nuclear risk assessments.