How The Doomsday Clock Contributes To Anxiety

The Doomsday Clock is a manmade clock looking for trends that could predict the “end of the world.” For people who are already concerned about the state of the modern world, 2025 changes to the clock’s time may induce significant anxiety.

While the clock being close to midnight might make it seem that the world is headed toward a global catastrophe, this result isn’t considered inevitable. The Doomsday Clock is not a typical clock because it can also move backward, so there is still time to change the countdown to midnight. Below, explore ways to improve daily life and cope with anxiety due to thoughts about the end of the world. 

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What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The Doomsday Clock was started and maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. This non-profit media organization publishes free articles online and in a digital magazine. Its wide audience includes the general public, policymakers, and scientists from the United States and around the world. Today, the Bulletin focuses on three areas: Nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies.

History of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The scientists that started the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists formed in September 1945. Many were a part of the Manhattan Project, the top-secret government program that created the first atomic bomb. Many did not know exactly what they were working on at the time; those who did had serious misgivings. 

After the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, these scientists met to explore how to inform the public about this science and its potential impact on humanity. They formed the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago, which later changed to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists as membership grew. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ mission is “to equip the public, policymakers, and scientists with the information needed to reduce man-made threats to our existence.”

When and why did the Bulletin create the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock was invented in 1947 as a symbol of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' concerns. An image of the clock was placed on the cover of the original collection of articles to appeal to a broader audience. The clock was designed by an artist who was a member of the Bulletin in response to the urgency she felt from the meetings. The minimalist but memorable design represents the group’s concerns and is meant to be taken as a warning and to inspire action. 

To explain the Doomsday Clock, the Bulletin wrote in a statement in 1949, “We do not advise Americans that doomsday is near and that they can expect atomic bombs to start falling on their heads a month or year from now. But we think they have reason to be deeply alarmed and to be prepared for grave decisions.”

How the Doomsday Clock works

When the Bulletin was first established, the editor, Eugene Rabinowitch, a scientist and leader in the international disarmament movement, decided when to move the hand based on discussions he had had with scientists worldwide. The first Doomsday Clock was set to seven minutes to midnight, largely because the artists liked the aesthetics of the time.

Rabinowitch died in 1973, and the Bulletin’s Board assumed responsibility. In 2008, the Science and Security Board became separate from the Bulletin’s Governing Board. The Board is made up of scientists and other experts familiar with nuclear technology and climate change. They meet twice yearly to reset the clock as necessary.

When was the Doomsday Clock closest to midnight, according to atomic scientists?

In January 2025, the clock was moved from 90 seconds to midnight to 89 seconds to midnight; this is the closest to midnight the Doomsday Clock has ever been.

When was the clock farthest from midnight?

The clock was 17 minutes from midnight in 1991. The Cold War had ended, and President George W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev had signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Both Russia and the United States started to reduce their nuclear arsenals. The Bulletin saw this change as a sign that these leaders understood that nuclear weapons were ineffective ways to guarantee national security.

When has the clock moved backward? 

Remembering that the Doomsday Clock moves forward and backward may reduce fear for some people. While the hand may be closer to midnight than ever, it may reverse course. The clock has moved back in 1991 and in other years, including those listed below:

• 1963: After the Cuban missile crisis and years of nuclear testing, the U.S. and Soviet Union signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty, ending atmospheric atomic testing. While this treaty doesn’t ban underground testing, it’s a step toward slowing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
• 1969: The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is signed, stating that countries with nuclear weapons will help other nations develop nuclear power if they promise not to produce weapons. The nations with nuclear weapons also pledged to abolish their own arsenals. While Pakistan, India, and Israel refused to sign, the Bulletin was optimistic enough to turn back the Doomsday Clock from seven minutes to ten minutes to midnight.
• 1988: The U.S. and Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was the first to ban an entire category of nuclear weapons.
• 1990: The Berlin Wall fell.

Factors that have impacted the Doomsday Clock in the past: The arms race and Cold War

Multiple factors impacted the Doomsday Clock over the decades, including the following events. 

The arms race

The proliferation of nuclear weapons has been a significant factor in both the creation of the Doomsday Clock and how the time has been adjusted over the years. The Doomsday Clock ticks closer to midnight during periods of heightened tensions and farther after treaties are signed limiting nuclear power.

The Cold War

Tensions during the Cold War caused the Doomsday Clock to move closer to midnight multiple times, and at the end of the Cold War, the Bulletin moved the clock back to the farthest it had ever been.

Factors impacting the Doomsday Clock today: Climate change, AI, and biological threats

While nuclear threats are still factored into the Doomsday Clock time, recent years have brought other threats.

Climate change

Climate science began influencing the Doomsday Clock time in 2007. While the results of the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen caused the time to go back a minute in 2010, subsequent time changes have been impacted by a lack of meaningful progress in reducing carbon emissions and the increasing impact of climate change on civilization.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence was a significant factor in the 2025 Doomsday Clock time change. In a statement that year, the Bulletin admitted that the “potential for this particular technology to constitute an existential threat on its own is highly speculative” but raised concerns about its use in weapons of war and its future applications in nuclear weapons.

Biological threats

The 2025 Bulletin statement also addressed biological threats, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent surge in bird flu cases. They raised concerns about scientific interest in high-risk biological research and the dangers it may cause.

Anxiety about the Doomsday Clock

The Doomsday Clock was meant to raise awareness and inspire action, although watching the clock tick closer to midnight can increase anxiety and make one feel helpless about what they can do to stop it. If you’re wondering how ordinary people can make a difference, the Bulletin suggests the following: 

• Learn about the world's problems: Although big issues like nuclear weapons and climate change may seem out of our control, understanding the destruction they can cause may still be important. 
• Share what you learn: Raise awareness in your family, neighborhood, school, workplace, and church. 
• Contact legislative powers: Contact your government representatives and raise your concerns about nuclear weapons spending and the continued subsidies for fossil fuels. Write letters, make phone calls, send emails, and engage on social media to get their attention.

How to manage anxiety

Hearing that doomsday may be closer than ever before can be anxiety-inducing for many people. Consider the following methods to manage anxiety related to the global issues impacting the Doomsday Clock: 

• Reframe: Remind yourself that the clock is a warning and a call to action, not a definite trajectory. Time on the clock has gone back multiple times in the past, and it can do so again. 
• Focus on collective ways to make change: While you may not believe you can do much as a single human being, joining a group committed to inspiring significant societal changes can help you channel your anxiety into something more productive. Local organized action is often highly effective in driving change. 
• Practice mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness practices, such as grounding exercises, yoga, or meditation, to remind yourself of what is true in the present moment. 
• Practice self-care: Getting enough sleep, establishing a regular exercise routine, and eating nourishing foods can help manage stress and improve overall well-being.

Does it seem like you’re carrying the weight of the world?

Get support from a therapist

Getting support for anxiety

If anxiety about the Doomsday Clock or the factors that affect the time, like nuclear war, climate change, and AI, begin to impact your ability to function in everyday life, consider talking to a mental health professional. A therapist can help you learn to put these fears into perspective, learn coping skills to manage your anxiety, and develop a strategy for change that can help you contribute to solutions. 

If you struggle with accessing care in your area, online therapy can be a convenient, flexible option for managing anxiety. When you sign up for an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work with a licensed professional from anywhere. To start, clients should have a reliable internet connection and a personal device, like a computer or smartphone. Many people who sign up are matched with a provider in as little as 48 hours, allowing you to start treatment almost immediately. In addition, research has found that online treatment can be an effective treatment option for anxiety, with one meta-analysis finding that online treatment resulted in a 50% improvement in symptoms.