Physicist Predicted World's End in 2026: Exact Date Revealed

In 1960, physicist Heinz von Foerster made a shocking prediction in the "Science" publication: the world would end sometime in the 2020s. Though his forecast was made over six decades ago, we are nearing the predicted date, and recent developments suggest we may be approaching the brink of disaster.

As of early 2025, the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of humanity's proximity to global catastrophe, moved closer to midnight, signaling growing concerns about our future.

Heinz von Foerster's Prediction

Heinz von Foerster set the Doomsday date for November 13, 2026, based on his beliefs about population growth and potential self-destruction. He warned in his 1960 statement that humanity would face extinction due to uncontrolled population growth, unless we were wiped out by nuclear war or other catastrophic events beforehand.

In his original statement, von Foerster noted: "Our great-great-grandchildren will not starve. They will be squeezed to death." He argued that the human race would ultimately perish due to "infinite" population growth, which would overwhelm resources and technology, even advanced food production methods.

Why November 13, 2026?

Von Foerster's rationale for this specific date stemmed from his analysis of accelerating population growth. He stated that when the human population grows exponentially, it inevitably leads to disaster. He wrote, Any population that increases at an accelerating rate is headed for ultimate trouble. Even the best food technology cannot keep up with an ever-steepening curve. He predicted that the world would reach this crisis point by November 13, 2026.

Von Foersters theory was not universally accepted, with critics pointing out that exponential population growth is unlikely to be sustained in the long term due to human biology and other limiting factors. However, he believed that drastic measures, such as population control, could help avoid the dire scenario he foresaw.

Can Doomsday Be Avoided?

Von Foerster proposed that humanity could prevent the catastrophic future he predicted by implementing strict population control mechanisms. In the Time article quoting his original report, von Foerster suggested a peoplo-stat, a system to regulate the worlds population. He recommended methods such as heavy taxation for families with more than two children as a way to keep the population in check.

However, von Foerster also acknowledged that the longer humanity delayed these actions, the more difficult it would become to avoid disaster. He warned that the gap between birth rates and death rates was widening rapidly, making population control even more urgent.

The Doomsday Clock

The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 to measure the likelihood of nuclear disaster, has evolved over time to include other existential threats. In 2025, the clock was set to 89 seconds to midnight, its closest setting ever, reflecting heightened concerns about nuclear weapons, climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of misinformation.

Dan Holz, chair of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists science and security board, explained the significance of this alarming shift: When you're at this precipice, the one thing you don't want to do is take a step forward, he said. Holz emphasized that, despite some progress in certain areas, global risks had worsened in recent years, leading to the clock moving closer to its grim midnight hour.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is responsible for assessing how close humanity is to self-inflicted extinction. The closer the clock moves to midnight, the more dire the situation is perceived to be. The clocks latest advancement is a stark reminder that humanitys survival is precariously balanced.

Author: Aiden Foster