In News: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) has moved the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight (January 2026) — the closest ever to global catastrophe, reflecting heightened global risks.
What is the Doomsday Clock?
- A symbolic representation of how close humanity is to a global catastrophe.
- Midnight represents annihilation or “doomsday.”
- The minute/second hand moves closer to or farther from midnight based on expert assessment of global threats.
Threats Considered
The clock reflects combined risks from:
1Nuclear weapons – arms races, erosion of arms control treaties.
2Climate change – extreme weather, failure of mitigation efforts.
3Disruptive technologies – artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, biotechnology, misinformation.
Historical Background
- Created: 1947
- Created by: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- Initial setting: 7 minutes to midnight
- Total resets: 27 times since 1947
- Closest ever: 85 seconds to midnight (2026)
Why 85 Seconds in 2026?
- Intensifying geopolitical conflicts and nuclear brinkmanship
- Weakening of global arms-control regimes
- Inadequate response to climate emergency
- Rapid advances in AI and emerging technologies without global governance
UPSC - 2027 - Prelims cum Mains - Foundation Course / Orientation on 08-03-2026 
