Doomsday Clock 2025: Scientists Sound the Alarm with a New Time
Seventy-eight years ago, scientists decided the world needed a wake-up call. So, they created a symbolic timepiece—the Doomsday Clock—to represent how close humanity is to self-destruction.
On Tuesday, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the clock to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it’s ever been. Midnight, in this case, isn’t just the end of a day; it’s the moment humanity makes Earth uninhabitable.
For the past two years, the clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight, largely due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the increasing threat of nuclear escalation, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and the escalating climate crisis.
But why move it forward now? According to the scientists behind the clock, we’re not seeing enough progress in tackling global challenges like nuclear risk, climate change, biological threats, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
Why the Doomsday Clock Just Moved Closer to Midnight
Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board and a physics professor at the University of Chicago, laid it out plainly during a press briefing:
“We set the clock closer to midnight because we do not see sufficient, positive progress on the global challenges we face.”
The list of concerns is daunting:
- Countries with nuclear weapons are expanding their arsenals, pouring billions into weapons capable of ending civilization many times over.
- AI, biotechnology, and space exploration are advancing at breakneck speed, outpacing regulation and oversight.
- Misinformation and conspiracy theories are spreading like wildfire, making it harder to separate truth from fiction.
This mix of threats is why experts believe humanity is edging dangerously close to disaster.
The Story Behind the Doomsday Clock
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded by scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project—the secret U.S. mission that created the atomic bomb during World War II. Their goal was simple: educate the public about nuclear risks.
Initially, the Doomsday Clock focused solely on nuclear threats. But in 2007, scientists expanded their scope to include climate change and other existential risks.
Every year, a group of experts—backed by nine Nobel laureates—decide whether to move the clock forward, backwards, or unchanged. Albert Einstein originally established the board in 1948, with famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer as its first chair.
Over the decades, the clock has become a chilling reminder of how fragile our world is.
Critics Say the Clock Is Imperfect—But It Still Matters
Not everyone agrees that the Doomsday Clock is the best way to measure global threats. Michael E. Mann, a leading climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, told CNN in 2022:
“It’s an imperfect metaphor… but it remains an important rhetorical device that reminds us, year after year, of the tenuousness of our current existence on this planet.”
Eryn MacDonald, a security analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, put it another way:
“While I wish we could go back to talking about minutes to midnight instead of seconds, unfortunately, that no longer reflects reality.”
Whether you see it as an imperfect symbol or a dire warning, one thing is clear: the clock is moving in the wrong direction.
What Happens If the Clock Strikes Midnight?
Here’s the good news—it hasn’t happened yet. And if Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the Bulletin, has her way, it never will.
“When the clock is at midnight, that means there’s been some sort of nuclear exchange or catastrophic climate change that’s wiped out humanity,” she explained. “We never really want to get there, and we won’t know it when we do.”
In other words, if the Doomsday Clock ever reaches midnight, it won’t matter what time it is anymore.
Can We Turn Back the Clock?
Yes, and history proves it.
In 1991, after the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, the clock was set back to 17 minutes before midnight—the farthest from catastrophe it has ever been. That moment showed that diplomatic agreements and global cooperation can push humanity away from the brink.
The Bulletin believes that because humans created these threats, we also have the power to reduce them. But it takes serious effort.
What Can You Do?
You might think these issues are out of your hands, but experts say even small actions matter.
- Talk about it. Public engagement pushes leaders to act. The more people discuss these threats, the harder it is for those in power to ignore them.
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Walk or bike instead of driving when possible, conserve energy at home, and be mindful of how you consume resources.
- Be a smart consumer of information. Misinformation is one of the biggest threat multipliers. Always fact-check sources and avoid spreading false claims.
The Doomsday Clock isn’t just a symbol—it’s a call to action. The real question is: how will we respond?
