Scientists predicted doomsday for November 13

In 1960, scientists predicted that runaway population growth would bring humanity to the brink of destruction on November 13, 2026, and their mathematical forecasts remained surprisingly accurate for decades. But as birth rates declined and population growth slowed, the terrifying prediction unraveled, revealing how even convincing scientific models can fail when human behavior changes. Scientists predicted doomsday for November 13, 2026. Should we be worried.

Science News from research organizations Scientists predicted doomsday for November 13, 2026. It predicted that on this future date — less than a month from today — the human population would approach infinity and effectively annihilate itself. The outlandishness of the claim landed the article widespread public attention.

More surprisingly — because its underlying research and math seemed sound — it also received careful and sustained scientific attention. The authors — Heinz von Foerster, an Austrian-American professor and cybernetics expert and two of his students, Patricia M. Amiot — argued that human populations are exceptional and might grow beyond an exponential rate, at an ever-increasing one.