Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa will speak at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' announcement of the 2026 Doomsday Clock on January 27. The clock symbolizes how close humanity is to catastrophe from risks like nuclear threats, climate change, and disruptive technologies. In 2025, it was set at 89 seconds to midnight.
Rappler has announced that Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO, will be a speaker at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' reveal of the 2026 Doomsday Clock. The event is scheduled for January 27 and can be watched at 11 pm Manila time.
Introduced in 1947, the Doomsday Clock serves as a metaphorical timepiece warning of the world's proximity to catastrophe. The closer its hands approach midnight, the nearer 'doomsday' becomes. Event organizers stated in an Instagram post that the clock shows 'how close humanity is to destroying itself.'
In 2025, the clock was adjusted to 89 seconds before midnight, reflecting ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as extreme global climate and health conditions. Ressa will join Bulletin-member professors and scholars in science and public affairs to discuss the factors influencing this year's clock setting.
This announcement underscores global risks from nuclear threats, climate change, and disruptive technologies. It serves as a reminder of the urgent need for action to prevent humanity from edging closer to doomsday.