The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reset its Doomsday Clock on 27 January 2026, placing the hands 85 seconds from midnight. This is the closest the clock has ever come to the hour that symbolises global catastrophe. Explaining the move, the scientists cited rising nuclear dangers, greenhouse gas emissions at record levels, disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence, and a decline in international cooperation. The clock was introduced in 1947, shortly after the end of the Second World War, when its hands were set seven minutes before midnight.