The Doomsday Clock was set to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest to midnight ever in its 78-year history. It’s the duty of the United States, China, and Russia to lead the world back from the brink. Humanity’s continuing existence depends on immediate action from the world’s leaders.
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00:00It is the determination of the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic
00:04Scientists that the world has not made sufficient progress on existential risks threatening
00:12all of humanity.
00:14We thus move the clock forward.
00:17In setting the clock closer to midnight, we send a stark signal.
00:22Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, any move towards midnight
00:28should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning.
00:34Every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.
00:43It is now 89 seconds to midnight.
00:50This is the closest the world has ever been to midnight.
00:58We set the clock closer to midnight because we do not see sufficient positive progress
01:04on the global challenges we face, including nuclear risk, climate change, biological threats,
01:12and advances in disruptive technologies.
01:15The countries that possess nuclear weapons are increasing the size and role of their
01:19arsenals, investing hundreds of billions of dollars in weapons that can destroy civilization
01:26many times over.
01:28Meanwhile, arms control treaties are in tatters, and there are active conflicts involving nuclear
01:33powers.
01:35The world's attempts to deal with climate change remain inadequate, as most governments
01:40fail to enact the financing and policy initiatives necessary to halt global warming.
01:462023 was the hottest year on record, by far, and 2024 was even hotter.
01:56Advances in an array of disruptive technologies, including biotechnology, artificial intelligence,
02:02and in space, have far outpaced policy, regulation, and a thorough understanding of their consequences.
02:11All of these dangers are greatly exacerbated by a potent threat multiplier, the spread
02:17of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories that degrade the communication ecosystem
02:23and increasingly blur the line between truth and falsehood.