The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight than ever before in 2026. The symbolic clock advanced by four seconds from last year, setting a new record. While the shift is alarming, many people say the events of the past year made the decision feel almost expected.

The new year has already delivered a wave of troubling headlines. Reports of ICE-related shootings, President Donald Trump renewing his push for the U.S. to claim Greenland, and medical emergencies aboard the International Space Station have added to growing global anxiety.

On top of political and economic uncertainty, health experts are also watching a possible outbreak of the Nipah virus in Asia—a virus far more deadly than COVID-19.

Let’s see what we know so far.