Doomsday Clock Moves to 85 Seconds to Global Armageddon

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, citing escalating threats from nuclear weapons, climate change, and an “information Armageddon.”

The announcement comes a year into U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. The board, which includes eight Nobel laureates, said Trump’s unilateral attacks abroad, domestic deployments of force, and withdrawal from international agreements have contributed to global instability.

In a statement, the Bulletin singled out the United States, Russia, and China for failing to heed previous warnings. “Rather than heed this warning, Russia, China, the United States, and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic,” the statement read.

The Bulletin warned that the expiration of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia on February 4 could trigger a “runaway nuclear arms race.” Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, emphasized that multiple military operations involving nuclear-armed states intensified conflicts in 2025.

Trump has threatened to resume nuclear testing and is promoting a multi-billion-dollar “Golden Dome” missile defense system capable of intercepting missiles globally, including those launched from space.

The board also criticized Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota, where masked and armed anti-immigration agents have violently suppressed protests, killing two people. “History has shown that when governments become unaccountable to their own citizens, conflict and misery follow,” Holz said.

Climate change remains a key concern. Board members highlighted record carbon dioxide emissions, intensified by Trump’s reversal of U.S. climate policies, which other nations have followed.

Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist, described the global spread of disinformation as an “information Armageddon,” driven by powerful technology platforms that amplify lies and manipulate governments and militaries.

Founded by Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, and other scientists in 1945, the Doomsday Clock initially stood at seven minutes to midnight. Last year, the Bulletin moved it one second closer to midnight; this year’s move marks a dramatic acceleration of global risks.