Scientists Predicted Human Extinction On November 13, 2026

A 1960 study published in Science predicted that humanity would reach infinite population and self-annihilate on Friday, November 13, A.D. 2026. Authors Heinz von Foerster, Patricia M. Mora, and Lawrence W. Amiot argued that human cooperative capabilities allowed growth to accelerate beyond standard exponential rates. The prediction gained widespread media attention but faced criticism from researcher Marvin Shinbrot regarding its mathematical use. While the model proved accurate through the 1970s and 1980s, global population projections began falling behind forecasts around 1993 as birth rates dropped significantly.