Liputan6.com, Jakarta - On January 27, 2026, the world was once again shocked by the new announcement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists about the Doomsday Clock.
This symbolic clock, representing humanity's proximity to a man-made global catastrophe, is now at 85 seconds to midnight.
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This marks the clock's closest point to midnight since its inception in 1947 and represents a four-second advance from its 2025 position of 89 seconds to midnight.
The scientists and experts who manage the Doomsday Clock are calling for serious attention to the increasingly critical global situation.
The Doomsday Clock is not simply a timepiece, but a powerful metaphor aimed at fostering collective awareness and action.
Doomsday Clock: History and Meaning
The Doomsday Clock is a visual symbol created to illustrate how close humanity is to global catastrophe caused by its own technology.
The clock is maintained by the non-profit organization Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded by scientists involved in the Manhattan Project.
Its primary purpose is to warn the public of the imminent danger and encourage preventative action.
The concept of the Doomsday Clock first emerged in 1947, after the end of World War II and the beginning of the nuclear era.
The clock was first depicted on the cover of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists magazine, with an iconic design by artist Martyl Langsdorf.
At its initial setting, the clock showed seven minutes to midnight, a time considered dangerously close to potential destruction.
The "midnight" in the Doomsday Clock has profound significance.
It symbolizes a hypothetical point of global catastrophe or "annihilation" at which humanity has rendered the Earth uninhabitable.
This applies not only to nuclear war, but also to other threats that could potentially lead to the destruction of human civilization.
Global Threats Driving the Doomsday Clock
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists cites several key factors that significantly contributed to the setting of the Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight.
One of the most pressing threats is the escalating risk of nuclear war.
Aggressive behavior by nuclear powers such as Russia, China, and the United States, coupled with the weakening of nuclear arms control, creates a highly dangerous situation.
The expiration of the New START Treaty between the US and Russia is expected to trigger an uncontrolled nuclear arms race.
Furthermore, conflicts involving nuclear-armed states, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the India-Pakistan conflict in May, are further exacerbating global tensions.
The potential for Iran to develop nuclear weapons following the US/Israel attack last summer is also a serious concern.
Scientists also highlight the "failure of global leadership" and the shift toward "neo-imperialism and an Orwellian approach to governance" as exacerbating factors.
The climate crisis is also a key driver of the Doomsday Clock.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and global sea levels continue to reach record highs, leading to intensified droughts, fires, floods, and hurricanes worldwide.
The threat from disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is also a serious concern.
The increased use of AI without adequate controls, the unregulated integration of AI into military systems, and the potential misuse of AI to aid in the creation of biological threats are real risks.
AI also accelerates the spread of misinformation and disinformation, further complicating efforts to address other threats.
Biological threats, such as the potential misuse of biotechnology and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, also add to the growing list of concerns.
Other contributing factors include the rampant spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.
The Importance of the Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock is not intended to spread fear or despair, but rather to serve as a powerful warning tool.
Its purpose is to communicate how close humanity is to destruction caused by its own technologies, thus encouraging reflection and action.
It is a call to action, not a prophecy of inevitability.
While the situation may seem bleak, the issues affecting the Doomsday Clock are actually solvable.
There is a significant opportunity for change if people, especially leaders and nations, work together effectively.
This clock can be turned back if there is strong political will and international cooperation to address the existential risks.
By uniting efforts in nuclear arms control, climate change mitigation, regulation of disruptive technologies, and increased biological preparedness, humanity still has a chance to move away from the brink of destruction.