Doomsday Clock Timeline: All 28 Changes from 1947 to 2026 (Complete History)

The Doomsday Clock has been adjusted 28 times since its creation in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. This complete timeline shows every change, from the original 7 minutes to midnight to today's record-low 85 seconds.

Key Milestones in the Doomsday Clock Timeline

• 1947: Clock created at 7 minutes to midnight
• 1953: 2 minutes — hydrogen bomb tests (closest until 2020)
• 1991: 17 minutes — furthest from midnight (Cold War ends)
• 2020: 100 seconds — enters sub-2-minute territory for first time
• 2023: 90 seconds — Russia-Ukraine war escalation
• 2025: 89 seconds — record at the time
• 2026: 85 seconds — closest ever to midnight

See the visual Doomsday Clock graph and chart | 2026 Update: Why it moved to 85 seconds

Loading interactive experience...