In 1960, cyberneticist Heinz von Foerster published a paper in Science predicting that human population growth would reach infinity on November 13, 2026. Using historical census data, he argued that human collaboration accelerates growth beyond an exponential rate, meaning we would eventually be squeezed to death by our own numbers. The math held up surprisingly well until roughly 1993, when global birth rates began to decline.
The paper was a masterclass in blending rigorous equations with theatrical stagecraft to force a serious conversation about resource limits. It is a reminder that even models with frighteningly accurate mid-term track records can founder when human behavior shifts. We are unlikely to experience the predicted crowding next month, largely because global birth rates have halved over the last six decades.
more: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261016070639.htm
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