Why the Doomsday Clock has outlived its usefulness

The Doomsday Clock—a symbolic timepiece conceived in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to warn humanity about existential threats—has been moved to just 85 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been to the symbolic “doomsday” hour. This grim adjustment, announced earlier this year, reflects the convergence of nuclear risks, climate change, biological threats, and disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence. But the clock’s hands have barely stopped moving before global tensions have escalated dramatically, with the outbreak of all-out war in Iran pushing the world closer to the brink of catastrophe.

Originally created in the aftermath of World War II, the Doomsday Clock was designed as a stark metaphor for how close humanity is to self-destruction. The closer the hands move to midnight, the more perilous the global situation becomes. For decades, the clock has served as a barometer of geopolitical and environmental instability, with its hands adjusted in response to major world events. In 1991, at the end of the Cold War, the clock was set to 17 minutes before midnight—a moment of relative optimism. Now, at 85 seconds to midnight, the outlook is as dire as it has ever been.

The recent adjustment was driven by a perfect storm of crises. Nuclear arsenals are expanding, with major powers modernizing their weapons and abandoning arms control treaties. Climate change continues to accelerate, with record-breaking temperatures, devastating wildfires, and rising sea levels threatening ecosystems and human societies alike. Meanwhile, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies has introduced new uncertainties, from autonomous weapons to the potential for catastrophic misuse of biotechnology.

But the clock’s hands were still moving when the unthinkable happened: all-out war erupted in Iran. The conflict, which has drawn in multiple regional and global powers, has sent shockwaves through the international community. The Middle East, already a tinderbox of geopolitical tensions, has become a flashpoint for a broader confrontation that could spiral into a global conflict. The war in Iran has not only heightened the risk of nuclear escalation but has also disrupted global energy markets, triggered humanitarian crises, and deepened divisions among world powers.

The timing of this war could not be worse. With the Doomsday Clock already at its most alarming position, the outbreak of hostilities in Iran has pushed humanity into uncharted territory. The conflict has exposed the fragility of international institutions and the failure of diplomacy to address the root causes of global instability. It has also underscored the interconnected nature of today’s threats—how a crisis in one region can quickly cascade into a global emergency.

As the world watches in horror, the question on everyone’s mind is: how much closer to midnight can we get? The Doomsday Clock is not just a metaphor; it is a call to action. It challenges world leaders, scientists, and citizens to confront the existential risks facing humanity and to take bold steps to avert disaster. But with the clock ticking down and war raging in Iran, the window for meaningful action is rapidly closing.

The stakes could not be higher. If the hands of the Doomsday Clock continue to move closer to midnight, the consequences could be catastrophic—not just for the nations directly involved in the conflict, but for all of humanity. The war in Iran is a stark reminder that the threats we face are not abstract or distant; they are here, now, and they demand our urgent attention.

As we grapple with this reality, one thing is clear: the Doomsday Clock is not just a measure of how close we are to midnight; it is a mirror reflecting our collective choices and failures. The question is whether we have the will and the wisdom to turn back the hands before it’s too late.

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