The Doomsday Clock —also known as the Clock of Judgment Day— is a symbolic representation created more than half a century ago by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to indicate how close humanity is to a global catastrophe caused by humans.
In its most recent update, announced on January 29, 2026, the clock was moved forward to 85 seconds before midnight, signifying the total destruction of human civilization.
That is to say, we are at the closest point to the “end of the world” in the nearly 80 years of history of this unique scientific creation.
A clock born from the atomic bomb
The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by scientists associated with the Manhattan Project, including collaborators of Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, as a public warning after the use of nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Since then, its hands have moved back and forth in response to global existential risks.
Currently, the clock not only measures nuclear threats. The Bulletin also assesses climate change, the development of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, as well as the deterioration of international cooperation.
Recently, Daniel Holz, president of the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, warned that the world is facing "dangerous trends" exacerbated by the rise of nationalist autocracies and an increasing logic of confrontation between blocs.
For her part, Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Boletín said: "These issues may seem overwhelming, but we can turn back the Doomsday Clock, and we have done it before (...) No one can do everything, but everyone can do something."
What makes the clock move forward?
Scientists explain that the hands of the clock are approaching midnight due to a combination of factors:
- The increase in tensions between nuclear powers
- The lack of sufficient actions against global warming
- The rapid use and development of technologies without clear regulatory frameworks
- The fragmentation of the international order in a “us versus them” framework
Does the crisis in Cuba have anything to do with this acceleration?
No, the current situation of tensions between Cuba and the United States does not directly affect the Doomsday Clock.
While the Government of the United States recently declared a national emergency regarding what it describes as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” from the Cuban regime, due to its alliances with Russia, China, Iran, and groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, these considerations do not specifically influence the clock adjustment.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists does not assess sanctions, political statements, or national legal frameworks, but rather global risks with the real potential to cause a planetary catastrophe.
In this regard, Cuba does not possess nuclear weapons or autonomous capability to trigger a global escalation. However, there is an important historical precedent to consider.
Cuba was indeed significant in the past, during the 1962 Missile Crisis, when the deployment of Soviet nuclear weapons on the island brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. That episode deeply influenced the perception of global risk during the Cold War.
The Bulletin emphasizes that the Doomsday Clock is not a prediction, but a warning. Its authors insist that the hands can move back if world leaders cooperate to reduce existential risks.
For now, with the clock stopped at 85 seconds to midnight, the message from scientists is clear: humanity is closer than ever to the brink. The political, technological, and environmental decisions made today will be crucial to prevent it.
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