66-year-old 'world will end on Nov 13' claim goes viral again, know the truth

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : Discussions about the end of the world on November 13, 2026, have intensified on social media. It is being claimed that about 66 years ago, scientists had predicted the end of human civilization on this date. Some media reports are also raising questions about this claim. However, the reality of this whole matter is something different. Scientists had presented a mathematical estimate not about the destruction of the world, but about the rapidly increasing global population. This study stated that if the current pace of population growth continues, then according to the mathematical model, the population will reach infinity on November 13, 2026.

The research titled 'Doomsday' was published in 1960

This discussion began on November 4, 1960, when the prestigious American science journal "Science" published a study by three researchers titled "Doomsday: Friday, November 13, AD 2026."

The research was carried out by Austrian-American physicist Heinz von Förster, along with Patricia Mora and Lawrence Amiot, all three of whom were then associated with the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois, USA.

The researchers analyzed 24 historical estimates of world population from the beginning of the Christian era to 1958. Based on this, they developed a mathematical model of population growth. This model assumed that the population is not only growing rapidly, but its rate of growth is also continuously accelerating. In mathematics, this situation is called hyperbolic growth.

Scientists believed that humans' ability to communicate, cooperate, and organize has accelerated population growth. Based on this calculation, the date of November 13, 2026 was arrived at.

Will the world's doom really come on November 13?

While the title of this study was alarming, the scientists did not actually predict the destruction of the Earth. Neither did they predict a meteorite impact, nor did they claim that humanity would be wiped out by an earthquake, volcanic eruption, or catastrophic solar event.

In fact, the term "doomsday" was used to describe a hypothetical mathematical situation. According to research, if the population growth pattern at that time had continued unchanged, the mathematical equation would have resulted in an infinite population figure.

In mathematics, such a situation is called a singularity. However, in the real world, due to Earth's limited resources, environmental, and social conditions, it is impossible for the population to reach infinity. Therefore, calling this study a prediction of the end of the world is completely misleading.

A 1964 article sparked renewed debate

One reason for the renewed debate about the November 13, 2026 date is an old article published in the Egyptian newspaper "Watni" on November 29, 1964. The title of this article, written by Michel Tekla, also referred to the end of the world on November 13, 2026.

Recently, an old clipping of this article was shared on social media, prompting a number of claims. Some even linked it to solar activity, solar storms, and natural disasters.

However, it is not correct to consider the scientific research published in 1960 and the article published in 1964 as the same study. To confirm any scientific connection between the two, it is necessary to examine the original articles and their references.

Solar storms pose a threat, but not the end of Earth

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMOs) occur periodically on the Sun. The charged particles released by these events can disrupt Earth's magnetic field, impacting satellites, radio communications, navigation systems, and power grids.

However, such events do not necessarily mean the Earth's destruction. Astronomer Imad Mujahid told BBC News Arabic that there are no known or predicted astronomical events on November 13, 2026, that could threaten Earth's existence.

Why did the 1960 population estimate prove wrong?

The biggest limitation of the 1960s research was that it assumed that past population growth patterns would continue into the future. However, the world's social, economic, and demographic circumstances changed over time.

With improved healthcare, family planning, education, and urbanization, birth rates declined in many countries. Consequently, global population growth began to slow.

The world's population, which was approximately 3 billion in 1960, has now grown to over 8 billion. Despite this, the infinite population scenario predicted by the 1960 mathematical models has not materialized. This demonstrates that the accuracy of mathematical projections depends on the assumptions made and the actual circumstances.

What is the estimated population of the United Nations by 2100?

According to the report "World Population Prospects 2024" by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the world population was estimated to be around 8.2 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach around 10.3 billion by the mid-2080s.

After this, the global population is projected to gradually decline. According to the report, the world's population could reach approximately 10.2 billion by 2100. This is primarily due to the persistently low fertility rates in many countries.

Overall, there is no scientific basis or evidence that the world will end on November 13, 2026. The nearly 66-year-old research was based solely on mathematical calculations of population growth. Therefore, it is important to understand the scientific facts rather than believing the claims of the end of the world circulating on social media.