Scientific study from 1960 predicts mathematical singularity in 2026

A 1960 study published in the journal Science, titled ‘Doomsday: Friday, 13 November, A. D. 2026’, has resurfaced in public discussion. The research, conducted by Heinz von Foerster, Patricia M. Mora, and Lawrence W. Amiot, used mathematical equations to model human population growth based on historical data spanning two millennia.

The model suggested that if population growth continued at its observed rate, it would reach a mathematical singularity—a point where the population would theoretically grow toward infinity—on November 13, 2026. However, the prediction lacks scientific basis for the actual end of civilization.

Real-world data has already contradicted the model's projections. While the equation anticipated a global population of 25 billion by 2020, the actual population reached approximately 8.2 billion in 2024. Experts emphasize that while the mathematical singularity is a theoretical outcome of the specific equation used, it does not represent a physical reality or a proven apocalypse.