Humanity is on the verge of a global catastrophe, with the impending update of the Doomsday Clock set to be unveiled later today. The clock, maintained by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in Washington D.C., symbolizes how close we are to potential annihilation, with midnight signifying the end of civilization.

In a recent statement, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists highlighted that the Doomsday Clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight in 2025, the closest it has ever been in its 78-year history. This decision is made by the Science and Security Board, a group of esteemed global leaders focusing on nuclear risk, climate change, and emerging technologies, in consultation with the Bulletin’s Board of Sponsors, which includes Nobel Laureates.

The impending announcement is scheduled for 3pm UK time at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. The current setting of the clock at 89 seconds reflects concerns over climate change, conflicts in Europe, political developments, and the advancement of artificial intelligence.

Experts, including Alicia Sanders-Zakre from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, express heightened worries about the escalating nuclear threats and the possibility of global conflict. The current setting of the clock at 89 seconds to midnight is a grim reminder of the increasing dangers faced by humanity.

Notably, the Doomsday Clock has fluctuated over the years, with the furthest point from midnight recorded at 17 minutes in 1991 following the Cold War’s end and the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and the Soviet Union, which reduced nuclear arsenals on both sides.