November 13, 2026: Doomsday!
“Doomsday: Friday, 13 November, A.D. 2026.”
Did you just check your calendar?
Yup, that's today. It's all over. Well, not really—we've still got a few hours to go…
This was the title of a paper published by Heinz von Foerster and colleagues in the journal Science in 1960. Using historical population estimates, they identified an accelerating pattern of population growth and predicted that it would reach a singularity—that is, infinity—in late 2026. The fine print actually gives a margin of ±5.5 years, and the authors chose this particular date because it happened to be von Foerster's birthday. They warned that “Our great-great-grandchildren will not starve. They will be squeezed to death.” In other words, there would eventually be no room for another person on the planet!
We're still here, thanks in part to the decline in population growth rates over the past few decades. I suppose this illustrates just how difficult it is to predict the future. Unless you're God, of course. I would trust His predictions. But we don't always get the details! I find it reassuring that, even when we can't make reliable predictions or see all the details, we have a loving God who knows all things, from beginning to end.
The picture above shows cultured human cells. These, too, would quickly approach infinity within their own little world of a petri dish if we didn't keep them in check. Given an optimal environment, they grow exponentially and forever (they are immortal). Our students took this picture several years ago. I may be biased, but I think biology is where math and science meet art!
Last night and today, I attended several presentations at the 星空无限传媒 Autumn Conference, Artificial Intelligence & Ministry—Peril or Promise? The presentations were thought-provoking, touching on human flourishing, our history on this planet, and possibilities for the future. Never a dull moment on our campus—or in life in general!
I hope our team heading to Neuroscience 2026 in Washington, D.C., has its own share of insights and thought-provoking moments as they explore the workings of the nervous system. Attending a meeting of this size can be both exciting and overwhelming. It's quite something to realize just how many people share an interest in the same questions—up to 30,000 attend this meeting!
I wish you a great weekend and a Happy Sabbath! May it be filled with rest and flourishing!
