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Scientists predicted doomsday for November 13, 2026

A 1960 forecast of population-driven collapse stayed accurate for decades before falling birth rates broke it; the date is still on the calendar.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on The Weekend Shift
Published 1:57 AM ET, Sunday, October 18, 2026

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from The Weekend Shift at 1:57 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are ScienceDaily's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by ScienceDaily: “Scientists predicted doomsday for November 13, 2026. Should we be worried?”
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 1:57 AM ET on The Weekend Shift, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

ScienceDailyScientists predicted doomsday for November 13, 2026. Should we be worried?

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentIn nineteen sixty, scientists predicted runaway population growth would end humanity on November thirteenth, twenty twenty-six, and their math stayed surprisingly accurate for decades.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNovember thirteenth? That's under a month away. Do I still have to do my taxes?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe model assumed people would keep behaving exactly as they had, and they didn't.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the humans broke the prediction. That's the only time the comments section has been useful.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentEvery forecaster today is betting that people will behave the way their model says. I've read how that went in nineteen sixty.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the doomsday depends on people never changing their minds. Nina, I have never changed mine about anything. Please don't tell the model.

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