"Doomsday Clock" Moves To 85 Seconds To Midnight, Closest Point To Catastrophe Since Its Debut

CBS Bay Area

January 28, 2026

The "Doomsday Clock," a metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation, was moved to 85 seconds to midnight on Tuesday, its closest point to catastrophe since the clock made its debut nearly 80 years ago.

"Humanity has not made sufficient progress on the existential risks that endanger us all," said Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

The risks humanity faces from nuclear weapons, climate change and disruptive technologies are growing, Bell said. "Every second counts, and we are running out of time," she said.

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