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Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
It is 85 seconds to midnight.

July 9, 2026

A magazine cover titled "Doomsday, The Movie!" The background image shows a partially melted film strip with an image of a character from the film "Dr. Strangelove" riding a nuclear missile, holding his hat in the air. The corners of the cover have the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" logo as well as the month of publication, July 2026.

(Cover design by Thomas Gaulkin)

Introduction: Doomsday and the movies

The essays in the Bulletin's July magazine, published this week, delve into whether or not movies have not been effective in bringing ethical concerns to light, raising public awareness, and inspiring public activism, writes Dan Drollette Jr. These articles go into the best (and maybe some of the worst) movies on nuclear risk, climate change, biological threats, and artificial intelligence. Read more.

The brutal, powerful legacy of Threads

Mick Jackson's 1984 film Threads endures as the most devastating depiction of nuclear war in apocalyptic cinema. Its portrayal of societal collapse is unrelenting, writes Daniel W. Drezner. Threads depicts nuclear war as a catastrophe that extends far beyond the initial exchange. Its scenario of escalation from a Middle Eastern crisis has acquired renewed relevance in the 21st century. Read more.

Why Trump's nuclear blackmail of Iran failed spectacularly

In April, despite President Trump's implicit nuclear blackmail threatening that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Tehran did not capitulate. Trump's failure shows that nuclear threats lose credibility when used against an adversary fighting for existential survival, writes Jack Kennedy. Read more.

VIDEO

Bulletin Breakdown: AI, Viruses, and Bioweapons

The Bulletin sits down with three leading experts at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biosecurity to break down the most urgent risks and opportunities shaping AI and global biosecurity today, from pandemic preparedness to the role of AI in national security and biotechnology. Watch here.

An archival Bulletin magazine cover reads "This is a time when things must be done before their time" and appears on a white tote bag. Text beside it reads, "Help raise awareness about existential threats with print-on-demand Bulletin merch. Visit the store."

VIRTUAL EVENT

End Credits: Doomsday on Film

From the silver screen to streaming, cinema has always been fascinated by catastrophe. At 12:00 p.m. CDT on July 29, 2026, join our panel of experts and movie buffs, including Nuclear Treat Initiative's Elise Rowan, Daniel W. Drezner of Tufts University, and the Bulletin's Alexandra Bell, for a discussion around the top movies exploring global risk. Register here.

SAVE THE DATE

Join the Bulletin for Conversations Before Midnight

This year, the Bulletin's annual gathering will focus on how current and future leaders should manage existential risk. The event will take place on November 12, just after the 2026 US midterm elections. Our keynote speakers will outline the necessary steps that leaders must take to better contend with the most pressing issues of our time—nuclear risk, climate change, and disruptive technologies. Read more.

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