The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock created to show how close humanity is to global catastrophe, mainly from nuclear war, climate change, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and biological threats.
It is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an organisation founded in 1945 by scientists involved in the Manhattan Project.
How it works
The clock does not measure time.
Midnight represents global disaster.
The closer the minute and second hand is to midnight, the greater the perceived threat to humanity.
Each year, a panel of scientists, security experts and Nobel laureates review global developments and decide whether to move the clock forwards or backwards.
Current setting
As of 2024, the Doomsday Clock stands at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, reflecting ongoing concerns over nuclear tensions, climate crises, and global instability.
