Science and Security Board member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; Senior research scholar for cyber policy and security, Center for International Security and Cooperation
- Dr. Raymond Pierrehumbert
Science and Security Board member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; Halley Professor of Physics, University of Oxford - Dr. Scott D. Sagan
Science and Security Board member, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; Senior Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation and Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University - Sharon Squassoni
Science and Security Board co-chair, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists; Research professor, Institute for International Science and Technology Policy, Elliott School of International Affairs
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New book: The Doomsday Clock at 75
The Doomsday Clock is many things all at once: It’s a metaphor, it’s a logo, it’s a brand, and it’s one of the most recognizable symbols in the past 100 years. It has permeated not only the media landscape but also culture itself. The Doomsday Clock appears in novels by Stephen King and Piers Anthony, songs by The Who and the Clash, and comics like Watchmen and Stormwatch.
This 75th anniversary coffee table book explores the powerful symbol of the Clock, and how it has impacted culture, politics, and global policy—and helped shape discussions and strategies around nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies. order now
FAQ
The Bulletin has reset the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock 24 times since its debut in 1947, most recently in 2020 when we moved it from two minutes to midnight to 100 seconds to midnight. Every time it is reset, we’re flooded with questions about the internationally recognized symbol. Here are answers to some of the most frequent queries.What is the Doomsday Clock?Collapse
The Doomsday Clock is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.
When the Doomsday Clock was created in 1947, the greatest danger to humanity came from nuclear weapons, in particular from the prospect that the United States and the Soviet Union were headed for a nuclear arms race. The Bulletin considered possible catastrophic disruptions from climate change in its hand-setting deliberations for the first time in 2007.Who created the Doomsday Clock?ExpandWho decides what time it is?ExpandWhen were the hands set farthest from midnight?Expand More questions? Get the full FAQ »
Recent Clock Changes
2020
2018
2017
IT IS TWO AND A HALF MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
2015
2012
2010
IT IS 6 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT See the full Clock timeline
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