• The "Doomsday Clock" is now set to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest point to catastrophe in its history.
• The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists attributes this change to rising geopolitical tensions and existential risks.
• Concerns about unregulated artificial intelligence and climate change also contributed to the clock's adjustment.

On January 27, 2026, the "Doomsday Clock" was set at **85 seconds to midnight**, the closest it has been since its inception by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947. This alarming shift reflects escalating global tensions, particularly related to nuclear capabilities, climate change, and disinformation campaigns. According to Reuters and CBS News, these factors have led to a significant reassessment of humanity’s proximity to self-destruction.

Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin, emphasized that the lack of meaningful progress on critical existential threats, such as the aggressive actions of nuclear powers including Russia and China, contributed to the clock's advancement. The clock was previously set at 89 seconds to midnight, highlighting a troubling trend in global governance failures and the undermining of nuclear arms control frameworks, especially as tensions from conflicts like the **Ukraine war** continue to escalate, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The Bulletin has indicated that the ongoing crises reflect a broader "winner-takes-all" approach among major global powers, which is eroding cooperative international relations necessary for tackling both nuclear threats and climate issues. “Hard-won global understandings are collapsing,” a statement noted, underscoring the urgency of the situation as the **New START treaty**, a key nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, is set to expire soon, according to Reuters and CBS News.

Amid these shifting dynamics, experts have also highlighted concerns around **artificial intelligence**, particularly its potential misuse and the risks associated with misinformation. “We are living through an information Armageddon,” warned Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, citing the need for profound changes in governance and societal values to mitigate these risks. This calls for urgent action from national leaders, who have been criticized for their failure to adapt to these emerging threats, as reported by South China Morning Post.