Overview
- The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists advanced the Clock from 89 to 85 seconds in a Jan. 27 Washington presentation streamed live.
- The move reflects rising nuclear dangers, from escalating wars to weakening arms-control frameworks, with the last U.S.–Russia strategic limits nearing expiry.
- Scientists also flagged worsening climate indicators and fast-moving technologies, including unregulated military uses of AI, disinformation at scale, and novel biological risks.
- Bulletin leaders Alexandra Bell and Daniel Holz faulted failing leadership and declining cooperation, with Bell and other experts criticizing President Trump’s rollbacks on arms control and AI safeguards.
- The group stressed the Clock is symbolic and urged concrete steps: cap and reduce nuclear arsenals, establish international AI rules, and negotiate multilateral biosecurity agreements.