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It's the end of the world as we know it, per a physicist's 1960 prediction
Publication: Ars Technica
Author: Jennifer Ouellette
Source published: 13/11/2026, 15:09:39 UTC
Briefing created: 13/11/2026, 15:39:17 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 13/11/2026, 15:13:24 UTC.
Briefings
A physicist named Heinz von Foerster published a 1960 prediction in the journal Science stating that human population growth would reach a breaking point by November 13, 2026. This date coincides with a Microsoft global outage affecting millions of users, which occurred on the same day the prediction was made. The article notes that while the prediction was not about starvation, it suggested humanity would be 'squeezed to death' due to resource constraints. The event highlights a recurring fear from historical economists like Thomas Malthus, who warned of population exhaustion in 1798.
Key points
- Heinz von Foerster published a 1960 paper in Science predicting human population growth would reach a breaking point by November 13, 2026.
- Microsoft experienced a global outage on November 13, 2026, affecting millions of users unable to access Outlook and other vital tools.
Context
The article discusses a recurring fear from historical economists like Thomas Malthus, who warned of population exhaustion in 1798. Von Foerster's 1960 analysis measured past trends but assumed they would carry into the future unchanged, predicting humanity would be 'squeezed to death' rather than starve.
Limitations
The evidence is limited to a single article from November 13, 2026, which reports on a Microsoft outage and references a 1960 prediction. The article does not provide data on the actual population growth rate, the specific number of affected users, or the exact timeline of the outage beyond 'yesterday'.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 13/11/2026, 15:39:17 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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