Truth behind scientist's claim that the world will end on November 13th as humans are 'squeezed to death'

In 1960, the prestigious academic journal Science published a paper titled Doomsday: Friday, 13 November, A.D. 2026.

Written by Austrian-American professor and cybernetics expert Heinz von Foerster alongside his students Patricia M. Mora and Lawrence W. Amiot, the study suggested that the human population would approach infinity and effectively annihilate itself on this specific date.

The underlying argument rested on the idea that humans are exceptional compared to other species. Because people communicate and build coalitions to solve complex problems, rising population density creates greater opportunities for collaboration.

Von Foerster and his team asserted that instead of growing at a standard exponential rate, human population growth accelerates continuously.

Drawing from two millennia of historical population estimates, they claimed that humanity's growth was outpacing traditional models, leading to their bold statement: "Our great-great-grandchildren will not starve. They will be squeezed to death."

Heinz von Foerster argued that population density would eventually hit a mathematical infinity where people literally run out of physical standing room. Credit: JohnnyGreig / Getty

Despite the outlandish title, the paper sparked serious debate across academic circles and popular culture. For decades, the core mathematical equation proved surprisingly accurate.

It generated population estimates that outperformed many standard demographic models throughout the 1970s and 1980s, gaining citations in textbook research, legal arguments, and policy hearings.

However, a closer look reveals why the impending doomsday date is not a cause for panic today.

Why the model fell off track

The model maintained its trajectory for decades, but around 1993 the projections began to deviate from reality. Global population growth slowed significantly as society shifted toward lower birth rates. Von Foerster and his co-authors had actually advised that humanity could avoid destruction by cutting global birth rates in half.

In a twist, world demographics altered course in the exact direction the paper advocated. Today, the global birth rate is less than half of what it was when the article was written in 1960. Because human reproductive patterns changed, the runaway mathematical curve flattened, rendering the predicted November 13, 2026 singularity obsolete.

Blending rigorous mathematics with stagecraft

Beyond its numerical forecasts, the study serves as an example of public communication in science. Heinz von Foerster had a background as a stage magician, an experience that influenced how he framed his academic work. Stagecraft relies on setting up an expectation, introducing a surprising turn, and delivering a reveal that restores order.

By framing serious mathematical analysis inside a sensation al headline, the authors captured widespread attention from media outlets, politicians, and the public. The shocking forecast was intended to highlight how uncontrolled acceleration operates, successfully raising global awareness about population dynamics.

November 13 will likely pass like any other ordinary day.

Featured image credit: JohnnyGreig / Getty