Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight for second year in a row - with experts citing war and climate crisis

23 January 2024, 16:11 | Updated: 23 January 2024, 16:14

Science educator Bill Nye, looks at the 'Doomsday Clock,' shortly before the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces the latest decision on the 'Doomsday Clock' minute hand.
Science educator Bill Nye, looks at the 'Doomsday Clock,' shortly before the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces the latest decision on the 'Doomsday Clock' minute hand. Picture: Alamy
Jasmine Moody

By Jasmine Moody

The Doomsday Clock has remained at 90 seconds to midnight for a second year in a row, according to experts who predict the likelihood of a global catastrophe.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Maintaining last year's timings means the clock's keepers at the Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists believe the threat of global apocalypse has not decreased in the past 12 months.

The countdown is a symbolic timepiece showing how close the world is to ending, agreed on by experts at the Bulletin.

Experts have cited the stagnation to unprecedented risk, threats of war, the climate crisis and the continual rise of AI.

Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin, said: "Make no mistake: resetting the clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable. Quite the opposite.

"It's urgent for governments and communities around the world to act.

"The war in Ukraine and the widespread and growing reliance on nuclear weapons increase the risk of nuclear escalation," the board said in a statement.

"China, Russia, and the United States are all spending huge sums to expand or modernise their nuclear arsenals, adding to the ever-present danger of nuclear war through mistake or miscalculation."

Experts also noted how the threat of a climate crisis, with 2023 being the hottest on record, affected millions across the globe.

The Bulletin did acknowledge that progress has been made in response to climate change but that it continues to risk the future of humanity.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces the latest decision on the 'Doomsday Clock' minute hand.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announces the latest decision on the 'Doomsday Clock' minute hand. Picture: Alamy

In 2023, the clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight, signifying the closest global collapse had ever been.

Read more: Doomsday Clock predicts ‘unprecedented danger’ and sits just 90 seconds before midnight

Read more: At least 21 Israeli soldiers killed in ‘single deadliest attack’ on IDF since Gaza war began

The 10-second-change, from previous years, was due to the "mounting dangers of the war in Ukraine", according to the experts.

It has been 100 seconds to midnight since 2020, which had been the closest to catastrophe ever, and remained unchanged until 2023.

The reasons cited in 2020 were the "two simultaneous existential dangers of nuclear war and climate change".

Experts explained that the change occurred due to Russia’s "thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons", indicating a "terrible risk of conflict escalating".

They also cited other influences on the 10-second change such as the focus on developing nuclear capabilities by China, North Korea, Iran and India.

Among other factors, the bulletin cited the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as reasons for the continued setting, as well as the Earth experiencing its hottest year on record.

The Doomsday Clock remains at 90-seconds to midnight for the second year in a row.
The Doomsday Clock remains at 90-seconds to midnight for the second year in a row. Picture: Alamy

The countdown was established in 1947 by experts from The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists who were working on the Manhattan Project to design and build the first atomic bomb.

The concerned US scientists set up the Doomsday Clock to provide a simple way of demonstrating the danger to the Earth and humanity posed by nuclear war.

It is an independent non-profit organisation run by some of the world's most eminent scientists.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

An assistant referee has been charged with child sexual offences.

Assistant referee for FA Cup and football league games charged with child sexual offence

Corinna Schumacher, right, has broken her silence on the case involving a plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets.

Michael Schumacher's wife breaks silence after three men guilty of blackmail plot to reveal F1 legend's health secrets

Doctor Who

Doctor Who faces axe as Nucti Gatwa 'quits' show amid drop in ratings over 'woke' storylines

Pope Francis

Pope Francis cancels weekend engagements as hospital stay extended

Bristol, UK. 19th Mar, 2020. Petrol now under £1 a litre as the drop in oil prices hits the forecourt. 99.9p a litre at Costco, Avonmouth, Bristol. Credit: Julian Kemp/Alamy Live News

Ten people injured after 'noxious substance' thrown in Costco as police hold teenage suspect

Alhaurin El Grande Malaga Province Spain Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

Heartbreak as Brit pensioner, 90, 'starves to death in her Spanish home' as son, 63, 'found dead in property'

E-scooters are currently illegal to use on the public highways including pavements.

E-scooters blamed for 'shocking' surge in uninsured teen riders with 2,000% increase in offences

Thames Water has won court approval for a £3 billion emergency debt package as the nation's biggest water company scrambles to avoid collapse.

Thames Water handed £3 billion lifeline as court approves restructuring plans to save it from financial collapse

US and Russia begin talks about Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

Vladimir Putin 'ready to meet Zelenskyy', Moscow says as Russia-US peace talks underway

A drone view of Everton's new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock during an Everton under-18 friendly match test event.

Everton's new stadium makes its grand debut after £800million and four years