The “Doomsday Clock” set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists revealed the closest proximity to the world’s “midnight of destruction” in its 78-year history, standing at only 89 seconds, announced in their latest publication released on Tuesday, January 28.
The time for the “Doomsday Clock” is determined by the Science and Security Board (SASB) of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 9 Nobel laureates.
In the recent announcement, the SASB warned that nuclear-armed countries are expanding the size and role of their nuclear arsenals and investing billions of dollars in building weapons capable of annihilating civilizations, with the most severe threat being the rapid expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal.
Dr. Daniel Holz, Chairman of SASB and a professor at the University of Chicago, stated that the purpose of the Doomsday Clock is to engage in a global discussion about real existential threats that keep top scientists awake at night.
Holz emphasized the urgency for world leaders to start discussing these global risks before it’s too late. Reflecting on these life-and-death issues and initiating dialogues is the first step to turning back the clock and moving away from midnight.
Dr. Manpreet Sethi, a member of SASB and a Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, expressed concerns about China’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and Russia’s suspension of the New START Treaty with the United States.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on January 24 that Putin is prepared to hold a phone call with U.S. President Trump and hopes to promptly restart negotiations on nuclear disarmament.
Previously, Putin had refused to negotiate alternative arrangements to the New START Treaty with the Biden administration and hinted at the possible use of nuclear weapons during the Russia-Ukraine war while pushing for the modernization of Russia’s nuclear forces.
Furthermore, the announcement highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change, viruses capable of triggering devastating pandemics, advancements in emerging technologies, and the deterioration of the information ecosystem are all significant factors exacerbating the Earth’s destruction crisis.
The announcement stated that last year, the development of destructive technologies increased global risks, with systems integrating artificial intelligence (AI) for military purposes already deployed in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Tensions among major powers are also reflected in the space race, with China and Russia actively developing anti-satellite capabilities.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by renowned scientists Einstein, Oppenheimer, and scientists from the University of Chicago who helped develop the first atomic weapons. Two years later, the Doomsday Clock was established to convey the impact of human-made threats on human survival and the planet, with mankind then being 7 minutes away from “midnight of destruction.” The countdown stood at 6 minutes in 2010 and at 90 seconds in 2024.