Nobel Laureate Warns Humanity Faces Nuclear Catastrophe Within 35 Years

Nobel laureate David Gross warns that humanity is only 35 years away from an existential catastrophe, primarily due to the threat of nuclear war. He highlights the breakdown of arms control treaties and rising global conflicts as key factors, urging immediate action.

Sat Apr 25 2026

Humanity Has 35 Years Left, Nobel Laureate Warns

Nobel Prize-winning physicist David Gross has issued a stark warning: humanity is only 35 years away from an existential catastrophe. He cites climate change, artificial intelligence, and the looming threat of nuclear war as the primary drivers of this impending doom. Gross specifically emphasized that nuclear war poses the greatest danger, suggesting that given current global crises, humanity may have only about three decades left on Earth.

Escalating Nuclear Risk Amidst Treaty Breakdown

In an interview with Live Science, Gross pointed out that the estimated probability of a nuclear war breaking out has risen to 2% per year since the Cold War ended. This translates to a one in 50 chance annually, leading to his calculation of a 35-year expected lifespan for humanity. He noted that there are currently nine nuclear powers worldwide, and the complex interactions between them, particularly between the United States, Russia, and China, significantly heighten the risk.

Gross expressed deep concern over the lack of new major nuclear arms control treaties signed in the past decade. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), signed in 2010 between the U.S. and Russia, expired on February 5, 2026, marking the end of the last remaining arms control agreement between the world's two largest nuclear powers. This absence of treaties, combined with ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and escalating tensions, makes the threat of nuclear war more real than ever. Gross also named artificial intelligence (AI) as another potential source of annihilation, fearing that automated systems could soon control weapons in an increasingly dangerous and unstable world.

*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-04-25)*

Tags: #nuclear war #doomsday #climate change #artificial intelligence #David Gross