89 seconds to midnight: World moves closer to catastrophe
DOOMSDAY clock composite image from Inquirer stock
MANILA, Philippines—The Doomsday Clock’s hands inch forward, now frozen at 89 seconds to midnight — the closest they have ever been to global catastrophe. A mere second separates us from last year’s record, yet that sliver of time speaks volumes.
It is a warning, not a prediction. A reflection, not a prophecy. And still, the world hesitates.
For nearly eight decades, the Doomsday Clock has served as a symbol of humanity’s self-inflicted dangers, measuring how close we are to irreversible disaster. Created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, its hands have shifted back and forth over the years, responding to wars, diplomatic breakthroughs, climate crises, and technological shifts.
In recent years, the Clock has crept dangerously close to midnight. In 2020, the Bulletin set the Clock at 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it had ever been at the time — a stark reflection of growing nuclear risks, climate inaction, and the spread of disinformation.
It remained at 100 seconds through 2021 and 2022 before moving forward to 90 seconds to midnight in 2023, citing mounting nuclear threats, climate disasters, and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in global security.
READ: ‘At doom’s doorstep’: Doomsday Clock set at 100 seconds to world destruction
The Clock’s farthest point from midnight came in 1991 when the Cold War’s end and arms reduction treaties allowed scientists to push the hands back to 17 minutes to midnight — the most optimistic position in its history.
But never before has it been this close to midnight. Now, with the Clock set at 89 seconds to midnight, the Bulletin’s latest statement warns that humanity faces unprecedented danger.
This year, the scientists and security experts behind the Clock have issued their starkest warning yet. Nuclear tensions are rising, the climate crisis is accelerating, and artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare. At the same time, biological risks are growing, and misinformation is eroding trust in science and global institutions.
The world is on edge. And time is running out.
Nuclear threats: A fragile peace
It takes only one miscalculation. One wrong move. One moment of escalation.
For the third year, the war in Ukraine rages on, its nuclear undertones more dangerous than ever. Russia’s nuclear rhetoric has grown bolder, and Western allies continue to provide advanced weaponry to Kyiv.
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According to the 2025 Doomsday Clock Statement by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, experts warn that a single mistake — an errant missile, a misunderstanding, or a desperate political maneuver — could trigger a larger conflict.
Meanwhile, the Middle East is a powder keg. The Bulletin highlights that rising tensions between Israel, Iran, and regional militias pose a growing risk of escalation. If conflict spreads, global powers could be drawn in, heightening the danger of broader war.
At the same time, nuclear-armed nations aren’t slowing down. The U.S., Russia, China, and others continue to modernize their arsenals, investing billions in increasingly destructive weapons. 
The Bulletin warns that diplomatic efforts to control nuclear proliferation are weakening, and alarmingly, some nations without nuclear weapons are considering developing them — a shift that could further destabilize global security.
The world has not faced nuclear risks like this since the Cold War, the Bulletin cautions. The difference? Back then, leaders talked. Today, those channels are breaking down.
Climate collapse: The new normal?
Step outside, and the evidence is everywhere. Oceans are rising. Forests are burning. Cities are drowning.
The year 2024 was the hottest year on record. Not by a fraction of a degree, but by a significant margin. Across the world, extreme weather events — heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, storms, floods — have become routine.
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In the United States, record-breaking wildfires in California and the Pacific Northwest sent smoke drifting as far as Europe. In Asia, intensified typhoons displaced millions. In Africa, prolonged droughts pushed entire regions toward famine. Meanwhile, the Antarctic experienced its lowest sea ice levels ever recorded, signaling that polar ice melt is accelerating faster than predicted.
READ: https://globalnation.inquirer.net/249273/disappeared-completely-melting-glaciers-worry-central-asia
Despite the growing urgency, global efforts to curb climate change remain insufficient, the Bulletin warned. While renewable energy capacity has expanded, some governments have backtracked on climate pledges and even increased investments in fossil fuels.
Without significant action, experts say future climate disasters will be even more severe.
Biological threats & AI in warfare: The unseen dangers
The world learned a painful lesson in 2020: A microscopic threat can bring nations to a standstill. Yet, despite that, new biological dangers continue to emerge.
The Bulletin stressed that the threat of pandemics remains high, noting concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has spread beyond seasonal patterns, infecting farm animals and even humans. With the right mutation, experts warn, it could trigger another pandemic.
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Meanwhile, high-risk biological research is expanding, yet oversight remains weak, increasing the risk of pathogens escaping from laboratories. The Bulletin stressed that accidental leaks — or intentional misuse — could have devastating global consequences.
The Bulletin also warned of the increasing role of artificial intelligence in warfare. AI-powered targeting systems have already been deployed in conflicts like those in Ukraine and the Middle East, raising serious concerns about decision-making in battle.
As nations rush to integrate AI into military strategies, experts warn that machines, not human judgment, could accelerate future conflicts.
Rising tensions in space are another concern. According to the Bulletin, Russia and China have ramped up efforts to develop anti-satellite capabilities, while the U.S. has accused Russia of testing a nuclear-capable satellite — a move that could significantly increase the risk of militarization in space.
Misinformation, amplified by AI, is also undermining public trust. The Bulletin highlighted growing concerns about AI-generated propaganda and election interference, warning that these tactics could erode democracy and make it increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
Will the world listen?
The Doomsday Clock is not a death sentence — it’s a call to action. It moves forward when global risks grow and can move back if real efforts are made to reduce those dangers. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists urges nations to restore diplomacy, strengthen nuclear agreements, accelerate climate action, and regulate AI and biological research.
The question is no longer whether the threats are real. They are. The real question is: What will the world do about them?
As the world stares at 89 seconds to midnight, the question remains: Will we change course, or will we let time run out?
Graphics by Ed Lustan/Inquirer.net. Source: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
