The last time the watch was moved was in 2019. Then the hand approached midnight by 20 seconds. The world was safer in 1991, when the clock was 17 minutes before midnight. Just like in 2020 and 2021, the Doomsday Clock stands at 23 hours 58 minutes 20 seconds. At this time, the clock is still closer than ever to the symbolic apocalypse.

In the statement, the scientists said a change of leadership in the United States last year gave hope that what appeared to be a global race toward disaster could be halted or even undone. In fact, in 2021, the new US administration changed US policy on a number of points that made the world a safer place, according to scientists.

“However, the change in US leadership was not sufficient to reverse negative international security trends that developed long ago and will continue into 2021,” the statement read. Scientists see nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies and the growing struggle for control in space as the main threats to humanity.