Doomsday Clock Ticks Closest to Midnight Ever, Signaling Global Catastrophe Risk
Table of Contents
Humanity is closer than ever to a self-inflicted global catastrophe, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which has set the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight – the most perilous setting in its 78-year history. The organization cites escalating nuclear brinkmanship, a stalled response to climate change, and the rapid, unregulated development of artificial intelligence as the primary drivers of this heightened risk.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded in 1945 by scientists from the Manhattan Project, released its assessment today, warning that urgent action is needed to avert disaster. “Our current trajectory is unsustainable,” the scientists wrote in their report. “National leaders – particularly those in the United States, Russia, and China – must take the lead in finding a path away from the brink.”
Nuclear Tensions Reach a Boiling Point
The report highlights a dangerous resurgence in nuclear competition. A growing arms race is evident, with China increasing its nuclear arsenal and the United States and Russia modernizing their nuclear delivery systems. According to the Bulletin, this competition is fueled by a lack of international cooperation on disarmament.
A critical concern is the impending expiration of New START, the last major agreement limiting strategic nuclear weapons between the United States and Russia, ending nearly six decades of efforts to control nuclear competition between the two superpowers. Furthermore, the possibility of the US resuming explosive nuclear testing threatens to accelerate this renewed arms race.
Climate Change Response Deemed “Profoundly Destructive”
Escalating nuclear conflicts are compounded by a global failure to adequately address climate change. The Bulletin scientists describe the international response as “profoundly destructive,” pointing to a lack of commitment to phasing out fossil fuels and past setbacks to renewable energy technology.
Emerging Threats: AI and “Mirror Life”
Beyond established dangers, the Bulletin also warns of emerging threats posed by unregulated technologies. The creation of “mirror life” – chemically synthesized life that is a molecular mirror image of naturally occurring life – raises concerns about potential disruptions to ecosystems and the emergence of pandemics, as these organisms could evade existing immune systems.
Artificial intelligence is another area of concern, not only for its potential to amplify disinformation but also for its increasing integration into national defense strategies.
Autocracy Undermines Global Cooperation
The report concludes that the rise of autocracy globally is exacerbating these crises. “The current autocratic trend impedes international cooperation, reduces accountability, and acts as a threat accelerant, making dangerous nuclear, climatic, and technological threats all the harder to reverse,” the scientists wrote. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires a renewed commitment to international collaboration and a rejection of isolationist policies, a task that appears increasingly difficult in the current geopolitical landscape.
