Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 60d ago

Bulletin Science and Security Board member Steve Fetter discusses concerns surrounding new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and space weaponry, that factored into the 2026 Doomsday Clock conversation, from his point of view. Steve Fetter is a professor of public policy at the University of Maryland and former environmental and security lead in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. On January 27, 2026, the Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board, which sets the Clock, called for urgent action to limit nuclear arsenals, create international guidelines on the use of AI, and form multilateral agreements to address global biological threats. You can read their statement here: https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/2026-statement/