The world just got a little scarier. The iconic Doomsday Clock, a symbol of how close humanity is to global catastrophe, has moved one second closer to midnight. The clock now stands at 89 seconds to doom, the closest it’s ever been.

So, what’s driving this ominous shift? Experts point to a mix of threats: the ongoing risk of nuclear conflict, the worsening climate crisis, and the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. And it’s not just these factors—misinformation and disinformation are making things even worse.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the group behind the clock, made the announcement this week. They described the change as a stark warning. “Every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster,” they said.

The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947, during the height of Cold War tensions. Back then, it was set at seven minutes to midnight. Over the years, it’s been adjusted to reflect new threats like climate change, pandemics, and now AI. The clock has moved both closer to and further from midnight, depending on global events. For example, in 1991, after the U.S. and Soviet Union agreed to reduce nuclear weapons, the clock was set back to 17 minutes to midnight—the safest it’s ever been.

The last adjustment came in January 2023, when the clock was moved to 90 seconds to midnight, largely due to the war in Ukraine. Now, with this latest shift, the message is clear: the world is on edge, and the time to act is running out.

What does this mean for us? It’s a wake-up call to address these global challenges head-on. Whether it’s tackling climate change, preventing nuclear conflict, or ensuring AI is used responsibly, there’s no time to waste. The clock is ticking—literally.