Difference between revisions of "887: Future Timeline"

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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Predictions table needs filling out.}}
+
This comic uses the same strategy as comic [[715: Numbers]], in which [[Randall]] uses Google to search for phrases and then charts the results. This one is charted as a timeline, whereas 715 was charted as line graphs.
This comic uses the same strategy as comic [[715: Numbers]], in which Randall uses Google to search for phrases and then charts the results. This one is charted as a timeline, whereas 715 was charted as line graphs.
+
It is a list of things predicted or announced by anyone at any time (the ones you see on Google search using "by the year..." or similar statements).
  
"2101 - War Was Beginning" is a reference to the opening narration of video game ''Zero Wing''; the same narration is famous for the internet meme "{{w|All your base are belong to us}}". As there are not any other out and out references in the comic, and the rest are actually results that you can find if you search using Randall's methods, we're pretty sure "War Was Beginning" came up when he googled 2101 as well.
+
"2101 - War Was Beginning" is a reference to the opening narration of video game ''Zero Wing''; the same narration is famous for the internet meme "{{w|All your base are belong to us}}". As there are not any other out and out references in the comic, and the rest are actually results that you can find using Randall's methods, "War Was Beginning" was probably the only thing he got when he googled 2101 as well.
  
Another point of this comic is that certain event, e.g. "Social Security stops running surplus", are repeated multiple times. Also, certain bizarre events, like "Apocalypse occurs", or "Flying cars reach market", happen before rather plausible things, like "HTML 5 Finished". Certain events, like "Japan is a robot-only country", may be related to a recurring theme in xkcd comics, including [[605: Extrapolating]]. This may also refer to the large amount of research being done to develop viable robots in Japan as compared with other countries.
+
Certain events in this comic, e.g. "Social Security stops running surplus", are repeated multiple times. Also, certain bizarre events, like "Apocalypse occurs", or "Flying cars reach market", happen before rather plausible things, like "'Big one' hits California". Certain events, like "Japan is a robot-only country" or "Gillette introduces 14-blade razor" may be related to the recurring theme [[605: Extrapolating]].
  
The title text is borne of a recurring "white people panic"; scaremongers will put in years of the very near future in order to get the panicked racist people to pay attention to them (without actually using valid or accepted scientific measurements to back up these claims; panicked racist people don't exactly fact-check very much), while level-headed sociologists will usually come up with more distant dates from their extrapolations.
+
The title text is a reference to a reoccurring scaremonger theory that European people will become a minority or extinct as other ethnicities outbreed them. For maximum scaremongering they will claim this could happen in the near future, complete with extrapolated graphs. In the years since this comic was published these conspiracy theories have come to be known as "the great replacement" or "white genocide". Scaremongers are banking on the idea their target audience will [https://www.cjr.org/special_report/media-literacy-trump-fake-news.php rarely bother to fact check,] as analysis of their extrapolations usually reveals incorrect methodology [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUbxVfSqtt8 if not outright lies.]
 
 
As for how accurate the Internet has been: The ONLY prediction to have come true as of January 2014 is the world population hitting the 7 billion mark. The United States has now returned to Afghanistan, making that prediction unlikely to occur even by the end of 2014. And unless you count the Android phone platform, Linux shows absolutely no signs of winning back 50% of the operating system market by the end of 2014.
 
  
 
This comic has similar features to [[1413: Suddenly Popular]], [[1093: Forget]], and [[891: Movie Ages]].
 
This comic has similar features to [[1413: Suddenly Popular]], [[1093: Forget]], and [[891: Movie Ages]].
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! Prediction
 
! Prediction
 
! Further Details
 
! Further Details
 +
! Outcome
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2012
 
| rowspan="4"| 2012
 
| World population
 
| World population
| Ever since the advent of modern medicine and the more efficient agricultural processes developed suit the Industrial Revolution, the human population had been growing at an unprecedented rate. This has caused some people to worry about overpopulation, which would cause a scarcity of resources and overcrowding, and propose various solutions, most of which involve some form of eugenics. 7 billion is a landmark number because it is a multiple of 1 billion.  
+
| Ever since the advent of modern medicine and the more efficient agricultural processes developed since the Industrial Revolution, the human population had been growing at an unprecedented rate. This has caused some people to worry about overpopulation, which would cause a scarcity of resources and overcrowding, and propose various solutions, most of which involve some form of eugenics. 7 billion is a landmark number because it is a multiple of 1 billion.
 +
| Close; Earth reached 7 billion in late 2011.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Flying cars
 
| Flying cars
| For decades, flying cars have been a staple of futuristic sci-fi and technological predictions. So far none of these predictions, which to tend to hover around 5–10 years from whatever the current date is, have come true.
+
| For decades, flying cars have been a staple of futuristic sci-fi and technological predictions. So far very few of these predictions, which to tend to hover around 5–10 years from whatever the current date is, have come true.
 +
| Too early; a flying car was first demonstrated in July 2021.{{Actual citation needed}} You could argue that helicopters count as flying cars, but these are not affordable{{citation needed}} and hence not widely used by the general public.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Canada cuts greenhouse emissions
 
| Canada cuts greenhouse emissions
 
| Currently, the Earth is experiencing an unprecedented period of warming we call global warming, caused in part by greenhouse emissions, which are gases that help trap heat in the atmosphere. Countries have repeatedly gotten together and promised to stop emitting greenhouse gases, but so far they have failed to meet their targets.
 
| Currently, the Earth is experiencing an unprecedented period of warming we call global warming, caused in part by greenhouse emissions, which are gases that help trap heat in the atmosphere. Countries have repeatedly gotten together and promised to stop emitting greenhouse gases, but so far they have failed to meet their targets.
 +
| False. Canada withdrew from the Kyoto treaty in late 2011, and its emissions in 2012 were 18% ''above'' 1990 levels (though its population had grown 26% and its GDP had grown 67% in that period).
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Apocalypse occurs
 
| Apocalypse occurs
| This is in reference to the popular film 2012, which portrays the world ending December 22, 2012, using the end of a cycle of the Mayan calendar as a basis for predicting the end of the world. Some people took this rather more seriously, and actually believed that the world would end on this date. It didn't.{{Citation needed}}
+
| The end of a cycle of the Mayan calendar on December 22, 2012 has been used in popular culture as a basis for predicting the end of the world. Amongst other things, this included the film '2012'. Some people took this rather more seriously, and actually believed that the world would end on this date.  
 +
| False.{{Citation needed}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2013
 
| rowspan="4"| 2013
 
| National debt paid off
 
| National debt paid off
| For years, the subject of national debt has been a political point of contention, with the Republicans typically favoring paying it all off, and the Democrats more willing to spend to pull the country out of recessions in the economy. Clinton, a Democrat, at one point proposed [http://money.cnn.com/1999/06/28/economy/clinton/ paying off the debt by 2015].
+
| For years, the subject of national debt (in the USA) has been a political point of contention.  While both parties theoretically support reducing the debt or paying it off entirely, Democrats are more willing to spend to pull the country out of recessions in the economy and Republicans to cut taxes. The last time that spending did not exceed revenue begin under Clinton, a Democrat, and ended after George W. Bush, a Republican, said that this amounted to taxpayers being "overcharged" and taxes were lowered, followed by the Great Recession.  Clinton at one point proposed [http://money.cnn.com/1999/06/28/economy/clinton/ paying off the debt by 2015].
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Microchipping Americans
 
| Microchipping Americans
| Microchips are small computer chips, typically embedded in pets in case they get lost, that contain information about the pet. Some, more irrational, people worry about the government microchipping everyone in an effort to monitor their activities.
+
| Microchips are small computer chips, typically embedded in pets in case they get lost, that contain information about the pet. Some, more paranoid, people worry about the government microchipping everyone in an effort to monitor their activities.
 +
| False, although RFID implants do exist.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Homelessness ended in MA
 
| Homelessness ended in MA
| Homelessness has been a persistent problem in societies all over the world for centuries. It is unclear why Massachusetts specifically would end homelessness — Massachusetts is a more Democratic and wealthier state than others, but no particular initiatives have been started there to end homelessness.
+
| In 2008, the Commission To End Homelessness in Massachusetts, under Governor Deval Patrick, proposed a plan to all but eliminate homelessness over the next five years (hence the 2013 end-date on the comic).
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Health care reform law repealed
 
| Health care reform law repealed
| A health care reform law, popularly known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. Ever since, many Republicans have tried (in vain) to repeal it, disliking the idea that government should provide and require healthcare.
+
| A health care reform law, popularly known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. Ever since, many Republicans have tried (in vain) to repeal it, disliking the idea that government should provide and require healthcare. However, President Joe Biden has stated to restore Obamacare.
 +
| Too early; almost repealed in 2017.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2014
 
| rowspan="2"| 2014
 
| US leaves Afghanistan
 
| US leaves Afghanistan
| After the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, home of the Taliban, the terrorist organization behind the attacks. The war has gone on since then, with the public growing increasingly tired of it. Public support now favors a withdrawal, but for military and logistical reasons, the government cannot simply move all the troops currently in Afghanistan home right now. For one, that would cause immediate chaos in the country. Therefore, the government instead promises to eventually withdraw all troops, planning on doing so by the end of 2014.
+
| After the {{w|September 11 attacks|terrorist attack}} on the {{w|World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center}} (WTC) in New York on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, which at the time allegedly hosted the headquarters of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization behind the attacks. The war has gone on since then, with the public growing increasingly tired of it. Public support then favored a withdrawal, but for military and logistical reasons, the government could not simply move all the US troops in Afghanistan to their home. Therefore, the government promised to eventually withdraw all troops, initially planned to do so by the end of 2014.
 +
| Too early; the remaining US troops [https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/afghanistan-afghan-troops-struggle-to-replace-americans-at-key-bagram-air-base-2480356 left Afghanistan in June 2021.]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| GNU/Linux dominant OS
 
| GNU/Linux dominant OS
| An operating system, or OS, is the software that forms the structure in which applications on you computer function. Some typical OSs include Mac OSX, Windows 8, and Linux. The first two of those three are commercial products, sold as a copy by a company. The last is an open-source OS, one that anyone can download and modify free. Typically, open-source software is used by a small number of socially conscious people. It is therefore unrealistic to predict that it will become mainstream in the near future.
+
| An operating system, or OS, is the software that forms the structure in which applications on you computer function. Some typical OSs include Mac OS X, Windows 10, and Linux. The first two of those three are commercial products, sold as a copy by a company. The last is an open-source OS, one that anyone can download and modify free. Typically, open-source software is used by a small number of socially conscious people.  
 +
| False, although Linux-based Android dominated phones since 2011.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2015
 
| rowspan="3"| 2015
 
| New Horizon reaches Pluto
 
| New Horizon reaches Pluto
| The New Horizon spacecraft is a U.S. space mission designed to go to Pluto and take photographs, collect samples, etc. It is scheduled to reach Pluto in 2015.
+
| The New Horizon spacecraft is a U.S. space mission designed to go to Pluto and take photographs, collect samples, etc.  
 +
| True. [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu It reached Pluto on July 14, 2015].
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Healthcare law causes hyperinflation
 
| Healthcare law causes hyperinflation
| Possibly a reference to the {{w|Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act|Affordable Care Act}} (a.k.a. Obamacare)
+
| The National Inflation Association warned that the [http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-bill-to-cause-us-hyperinflation-by-2015-88711032.html healthcare bill would cause U.S. hyperinflation by 2015.]
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Millennium development goals achieved
 
| Millennium development goals achieved
 
| {{w|Millennium Development Goals}}
 
| {{w|Millennium Development Goals}}
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2016
 
| rowspan="3"| 2016
 
| Baby boomers begin turning 65
 
| Baby boomers begin turning 65
 
| {{w|Baby boomers}} are individuals conceived in the years following World War Two, roughly defined as those born from 1946-1959. This isn't so much a prediction as basic math; if you were born in 1946, you turned 65 in 2011.
 
| {{w|Baby boomers}} are individuals conceived in the years following World War Two, roughly defined as those born from 1946-1959. This isn't so much a prediction as basic math; if you were born in 1946, you turned 65 in 2011.
 +
| True.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Android takes 38%/45% of market share
 
| Android takes 38%/45% of market share
| {{w|Android (operating system|Android}} is a popular operating system for smartphones and tablets, created by Google. Market share is the percentage of all devices that use the product, in this case the Android operating system. These entries together are humorous because they cannot both happen at the same time.
+
| {{w|Android (operating system)|Android}} is a popular operating system for smartphones and tablets, created by Google. Market share is the percentage of all devices that use the product, in this case the Android operating system. These entries together are humorous because they cannot both happen at the same time.
 +
| Too late; passed these marks in 2010. {{w|Android OS}}'s [http://www.idc.com/prodserv/smartphone-os-market-share.jsp market share was already 84.4% as of the third quarter of 2014,] showing that both estimates were overly conservative.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Windows phone overtakes iOS
 
| Windows phone overtakes iOS
| {{w|iOS}} is the operating system used by Apple iPhones. At the time of the comic, Apple's mobile OS is much more popular than Microsoft's. The article Randall found predicts that the tables will turn.
+
| {{w|iOS}} is the operating system used by Apple iPhones. At the time of the comic, Apple's mobile OS is much more popular than Microsoft's. The article Randall found predicts that the tables will turn. However, Windows Phone was discontinued in 2017, with support for the last version (Windows Phone 10) ending on December 10, 2019.
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="5"| 2017
 
| rowspan="5"| 2017
 
| China completes lunar mission
 
| China completes lunar mission
 
| The {{w|Chinese space program}} has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon.
 
| The {{w|Chinese space program}} has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon.
 +
| False. The first sample-return mission was completed in November 2020.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
+
| The first of many predictions about the United States {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}} trust fund program, all predicting its decline due to a variety of factors.
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US budget balanced
 
| US budget balanced
 
| The {{w|United States federal budget}} outlines how much the US government spends on what in a given fiscal year. The budget is not required to be balanced, and so often more money is spent than is earned in revenue, causing the national debt to rise.
 
| The {{w|United States federal budget}} outlines how much the US government spends on what in a given fiscal year. The budget is not required to be balanced, and so often more money is spent than is earned in revenue, causing the national debt to rise.
 +
| False. Still pretty negative.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
| The increasing popularity of internet media and mobile devices has caused a steady decline in the popularity of print media.
 
| The increasing popularity of internet media and mobile devices has caused a steady decline in the popularity of print media.
 +
| False. Though newspapers are in decline, they are certainly not obsolete as of 2017, or 2022, for that matter.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cosmetic surgery doubles
 
| Cosmetic surgery doubles
 
| {{w|Cosmetic Surgery}}
 
| {{w|Cosmetic Surgery}}
 +
| False. According to the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), 1.6 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2011, while 1.8 million were performed in 2017, an increase of only 0.2 million.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2018
 
| rowspan="2"| 2018
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
+
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}} again.
 +
| Still false.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Jesus returns to Earth
 
| Jesus returns to Earth
 
| A number of Christians have attempted to predict the return of Christ (a.k.a. the second coming, the rapture) using clues from The Bible, even though the Bible itself says that "no man can know the date". Several predicted dates have come and gone.
 
| A number of Christians have attempted to predict the return of Christ (a.k.a. the second coming, the rapture) using clues from The Bible, even though the Bible itself says that "no man can know the date". Several predicted dates have come and gone.
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2019
 
| rowspan="2"| 2019
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
+
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}} again.
 +
| Still false.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Every baby has genes mapped at birth
 
| Every baby has genes mapped at birth
 
| {{w|Gene Mapping}}
 
| {{w|Gene Mapping}}
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2020
 
| rowspan="3"| 2020
 
| Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels
 
| Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels
| Scientists estimate that more than half of the {{w|fossil fuels}} in existance have already been found and that fossil fuel production will begin to decline due to the scarcity, causing prices to increase. At the same time, improvements in {{w|Solar Power|solar technology}} are causing the prices for solar energy to steadily decrease.
+
| Scientists estimate that more than half of the {{w|fossil fuels}} in existence have already been found and that fossil fuel production will begin to decline due to the scarcity, causing prices to increase. At the same time, improvements in {{w|Solar Power|solar technology}} are causing the prices for solar energy to steadily decrease.
 +
| True, though only in {{w|Cost of electricity by source#Recent_global_studies|certain cases}}.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Keyboards and mice become obsolete
 
| Keyboards and mice become obsolete
| {{w|Computer input device}} are beginning to adopt other methods of input, such as voice commands, touch screens, and eye tracking. While the use of touch screens in particular is gaining widespread use, as of 2014 none has come close to making keyboards and mice obsolete.
+
| {{w|Computer input device|Computer input devices}} are beginning to adopt other inputs, such as voice commands, touch screens, and eye tracking. While the use of touch screens in particular is gaining widespread use, as of 2014 none has come close to making keyboards and mice obsolete. None of them allow text input that are as fast as a keyboard, and none are suitable for writing program code.
 +
| False. While touchscreen devices ''are'' increasingly common, both laptop and desktop computers are still very much in use. Mice continue to be used alongside touchscreens and trackpads, and keyboards remain the dominant method of writing on computers.  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| New Tappan Zee bridge constructed
 
| New Tappan Zee bridge constructed
| A {{w|Tappan_Zee_Bridge#Replacement_bridge|replacement bridge}} was anounced in 2008 and is expected to be completed in 2018.
+
| A {{w|Tappan_Zee_Bridge#Replacement_bridge|replacement bridge}} was announced in 2008.
 +
| Too late; completed in 2017.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2021
 
| rowspan="4"| 2021
 
| US debt reaches 97% of GDP
 
| US debt reaches 97% of GDP
 
| {{w|US Debt}}
 
| {{w|US Debt}}
 +
| Too late; reached in 2011.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US unemployment falls to 2.8%
 
| US unemployment falls to 2.8%
 
| {{w|Unemployment in the United States}}
 
| {{w|Unemployment in the United States}}
 +
| False: because of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment has actually ''increased''.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Restored caliphate unifies Middle East
 
| Restored caliphate unifies Middle East
| A {{w|caliphate}} is a form of {{w|Islam|Islamic}} political-religious leadership, centred around a Caliph, or successor to the prophet {{w|Muhammad}}.
+
| A {{w|caliphate}} is a form of {{w|Islam|Islamic}} political-religious leadership, centred around a Caliph, or successor to the prophet {{w|Muhammad}}. This may be foreshadowing of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has as its goal the creation of a restored caliphate.
 +
| False.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Lake Mead evaporates
 
| Lake Mead evaporates
| Formed by the {{w|Hoover Dam}} on the {{w|Colorado River}}, {{w|Lake Mead}} is the largest reservoir in the United States (measured by maximum capacity). It hasn't reached its capacity since 1983, due to drought and increased demand for water. This could be linked to {{w|global warming}}.
+
| Formed by the {{w|Hoover Dam}} on the {{w|Colorado River}}, {{w|Lake Mead}} is the largest reservoir in the United States (measured by maximum capacity). It hasn't reached its capacity since 1983, due to drought and increased demand for water. This is linked to {{w|global warming}}.
 +
| False, although water levels continue to fall.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2022
 
| rowspan="3"| 2022
 
| Kilimanjaro snow-free
 
| Kilimanjaro snow-free
 
| At 5,895 metres, {{w|Kilimanjaro}} is the highest mountain in {{w|Africa}}, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Around 85% of its ice cover disappeared between 1912 and 2011, and it continues to recede.
 
| At 5,895 metres, {{w|Kilimanjaro}} is the highest mountain in {{w|Africa}}, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Around 85% of its ice cover disappeared between 1912 and 2011, and it continues to recede.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| HTML 5 finished
 
| HTML 5 finished
| {{w|HTML 5}}
+
| The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) began work on {{w|HTML 5}} in 2004.
 +
| Too late; 5.0 specification released in 2014, but incremental updates continue.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
| This is the second time this prediction has appeared.  
+
| This is the second time this prediction has appeared.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2023
 
| rowspan="3"| 2023
 
| Jesus returns to Earth (again)
 
| Jesus returns to Earth (again)
| A number of Christians have attempted to predict the return of Christ (a.k.a. the second coming, the rapture) using clues from The Bible, even though the Bible itself says that "no man can know the date". Several predicted dates have come and gone.
+
| Again.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US debt passes 100% of GDP
 
| US debt passes 100% of GDP
| {{w|US Debt}}
+
| This references the common fear that {{w|US Debt}} will exceed GDP, possibly causing {{w|Economic bubble|economic turmoil}}.
 +
| Too late; reached in 2012.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest
 
| All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest
| Likely due to a combination of wildfire and {{w|deforestation}}
+
| Likely due to a combination of wildfire and {{w|deforestation}}.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="5"| 2024
 
| rowspan="5"| 2024
 
| Atlantis begins to reappear
 
| Atlantis begins to reappear
| {{w|Atlantis}} is the name of a fictional island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea.  
+
| {{w|Atlantis}} is the name of a fictional/hypothetical island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Orangutans extinct in wild
 
| Orangutans extinct in wild
 
| {{w|Orangutan|Orangutans}} are a species of great ape, currently classed as an {{w|endangered species}}, and found only in the {{w|Rainforest|rainforests}} of {{w|Borneo}} and {{w|Sumatra}}.
 
| {{w|Orangutan|Orangutans}} are a species of great ape, currently classed as an {{w|endangered species}}, and found only in the {{w|Rainforest|rainforests}} of {{w|Borneo}} and {{w|Sumatra}}.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| China lands men and women on the moon
 
| China lands men and women on the moon
 
| The {{w|Chinese space program}} has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon.
 
| The {{w|Chinese space program}} has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon.
 +
| False; the Chinese government planned a manned mission to the moon for the 2030s.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| NASA sets up permanent moon base
 
| NASA sets up permanent moon base
| There is a a lot of hype recently about finally returning to the moon, vis-a-vis Orion.  
+
| There has been a lot of hype recently about finally returning to the moon, vis-a-vis Orion.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Female professionals pass males in pay
 
| Female professionals pass males in pay
 
| There are two possible explanations for this entry: Either it's fear-mongering from misogynists or, more probably, an erroneous extrapolation from the current rate at which female incomes are catching up to male incomes.
 
| There are two possible explanations for this entry: Either it's fear-mongering from misogynists or, more probably, an erroneous extrapolation from the current rate at which female incomes are catching up to male incomes.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2025
 
| rowspan="4"| 2025
 
| World population reaches 8 billion
 
| World population reaches 8 billion
 
| Given current rates, it seems unlikely it will take this long to hit 8 billion, but advances in birth control options and especially their availability in developing nations may slow the current rate considerably.
 
| Given current rates, it seems unlikely it will take this long to hit 8 billion, but advances in birth control options and especially their availability in developing nations may slow the current rate considerably.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Two billion people face water shortages
 
| Two billion people face water shortages
 
| http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/28-01-2008/103693-water_crisis-0/
 
| http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/28-01-2008/103693-water_crisis-0/
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 62 MPG cars introduced
 
| 62 MPG cars introduced
| Miles per gallon. 62 MPG is a very good mileage rate at today's standard.  
+
| 62 miles per gallon, ~3.8 L/100km. 62 MPG is a very good mileage rate at today's standard, even though [http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5231050&page=1 some cars can be driven carefully so as to attain over 100 MPG].
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US power fades
 
| US power fades
 
| http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-us-power-will-fade-by-2025/
 
| http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-us-power-will-fade-by-2025/
 +
| Hard to know what the precise metric for this would be.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="5"| 2026
 
| rowspan="5"| 2026
 
| Atlantis emerges completely
 
| Atlantis emerges completely
| {{w|Atlantis}} is the name of a fictional island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea. It seems that it has taken 2 years for it to emerge completely.
+
| {{w|Atlantis}} is the name of a fictional/hypothetical island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea. It seems that it has taken 2 years for it to emerge completely.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Rock Bands die out
 
| Rock Bands die out
 
| https://bestbands.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/rock-bands-to-die-out-by-2026/
 
| https://bestbands.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/rock-bands-to-die-out-by-2026/
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US debt paid off
 
| US debt paid off
| {{w|US Debt}}
+
| [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/business/27view.html It’s 2026, and the Debt Is Due.]
 +
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Car accidents cease
 
| Car accidents cease
 
| Presumably, cars will be fully automated and able to pilot themselves at this point and will have fail-safes that prevent collisions currently attributed to user error. Car accidents will always be possible, however, due to mechanical and electrical failures.
 
| Presumably, cars will be fully automated and able to pilot themselves at this point and will have fail-safes that prevent collisions currently attributed to user error. Car accidents will always be possible, however, due to mechanical and electrical failures.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| West coast falls into ocean
 
| West coast falls into ocean
| Most likely due to {{w|San_Andreas_Fault#The_next_.22Big_One.22|a significant seismic event}}
+
| Most likely due to {{w|San_Andreas_Fault#The_next_.22Big_One.22|a significant seismic event}}.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2027
 
| rowspan="3"| 2027
 
| Japan introduces new fastest Maglev train
 
| Japan introduces new fastest Maglev train
| Japan's railway systems are famous for their "bullet trains", or {{w|Shinkansen}}.
+
| Japan's railway systems are famous for their "bullet trains", or {{w|Shinkansen}}. The Chūō Shinkansen is planned to be opened in this year.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony is established
 
| Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony is established
 
| http://totse.mattfast1.com/en/technology/space_astronomy_nasa/moonmars.html
 
| http://totse.mattfast1.com/en/technology/space_astronomy_nasa/moonmars.html
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
+
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}} again.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2028
 
| rowspan="4"| 2028
 
| Tobacco outlawed
 
| Tobacco outlawed
| Tobacco products (cigarettes and chewing tobacco) have become more and more taboo in modern culture, with most public places and private businesses forbidding their use indoors and near places children congregate.  
+
| Tobacco products (cigarettes and chewing tobacco) have become more and more taboo in modern culture, with most public places and private businesses forbidding their use indoors and near places children congregate.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 40% of coral reefs gone
 
| 40% of coral reefs gone
 
| Many factors have been attributed to the decline of {{w|Coral_reef#Threats|coral reefs}}, including mining, over fishing, and rising ocean tempteratures.
 
| Many factors have been attributed to the decline of {{w|Coral_reef#Threats|coral reefs}}, including mining, over fishing, and rising ocean tempteratures.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US debt paid off
 
| US debt paid off
| {{w|US Debt}} nytimes.com It’s 2026, and the Debt Is Due By N. GREGORY MANKIW
+
| {{w|US Debt}}  
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
 
| Social Security stops running surplus
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
+
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}} again
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2029
 
| rowspan="4"| 2029
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Computers pass the Turing test
 
| Computers pass the Turing test
| Computers already clear the Turing Test about 30% of the time. Also, it is no coincidence that 2029 is the timeline for Terminator Movies.
+
| It is no coincidence that 2029 is the timeline for Terminator Movies.
 +
| Some computer programs already clear the Turing Test about 30% of the time.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Aging reversed
 
| Aging reversed
| Manhattan Beach Project to reverse aging by 2029
+
| [https://www.zdnet.com/article/manhattan-beach-project-to-reverse-aging-by-2029/ Manhattan Beach Project to reverse aging by 2029]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| Wikipedia reaches 30 Million articles
+
| Wikipedia reaches 30 million articles
 
|  
 
|  
 +
| As of 1 November 2021, Wikipedia has over [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias#Grand_Total 57.6 million total articles], if all languages are included. The source being cited may have meant the English language Wikipedia, which has only {{w|Special:Statistics|6.5 million articles}}.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2030
 
| rowspan="3"| 2030
 
| Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging
 
| Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging
 +
| WWF press release - [http://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/climate-change-speeds-up-amazon-s-destruction-says-wwf Climate Change Speeds Up Amazon’s Destruction] referring to a report on the [http://assets.panda.org/downloads/amazonas_eng_04_12b_web.pdf Amazon's vicious cycles].
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels
 
| Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels
 +
| From the [http://www.cancer.org/myacs/newengland/global-cancer-burden-to-double-by-2030 Global Cancer Burden to Nearly Double by 2030] article about the article from page 37 of [http://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsfigures/globalcancerfactsfigures/global-facts-figures-2nd-ed Global Cancer Facts & Figures 2nd edition].
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Arctic ice-free in summer
 
| Arctic ice-free in summer
 
| http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091015-arctic-ice-free-gone-video-ap.html
 
| http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091015-arctic-ice-free-gone-video-ap.html
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2031
 
| rowspan="3"| 2031
 
| Computers controlled by thought
 
| Computers controlled by thought
 
| http://www.gizmag.com/future-mobile-technology/17554/
 
| http://www.gizmag.com/future-mobile-technology/17554/
 +
| As of 2017, this is {{w|Brain–computer interface|already possible}}, but still not used in any mass available devices as of 2021.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Realtors replaced by technology
 
| Realtors replaced by technology
 
| http://agbeat.com/editorials/will-realtors-be-replaced-by-technology-by-the-year-2031/
 
| http://agbeat.com/editorials/will-realtors-be-replaced-by-technology-by-the-year-2031/
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| http://crfb.org/blogs/cbo-95-percent-confident-social-security-trust-fund-runs-out-25-years
 
| http://crfb.org/blogs/cbo-95-percent-confident-social-security-trust-fund-runs-out-25-years
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2032
 
| rowspan="3"| 2032
 
| "Big One" hits San Francisco
 
| "Big One" hits San Francisco
| http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Quake-scientists-predict-Big-One-likely-by-2032-2653745.php {{w|San Franscisco}} is located on the {{w|San Andreas Fault}}, which is predicted to produce a magnitude 7+ earthquake in the 'near future'. This event is referred to as {{w|San_Andreas_Fault#The_next_.22Big_One.22|"The Big One"}}.
+
| {{w|San Franscisco}} is located on the {{w|San Andreas Fault}}, which is predicted to produce a magnitude 7+ earthquake in the 'near future'. This event is referred to as {{w|San_Andreas_Fault#The_next_.22Big_One.22|"The Big One"}}.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US elects first married lesbian President
 
| US elects first married lesbian President
 
| http://4chandata.org/g/In-what-major-ways-do-you-think-the-world-of-2032-will-be-different-from-that-of-today-a20155
 
| http://4chandata.org/g/In-what-major-ways-do-you-think-the-world-of-2032-will-be-different-from-that-of-today-a20155
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Entire world converted to Christianity
 
| Entire world converted to Christianity
 
| http://www.goddiscussion.com/38920/christian-domininionsts-to-take-over-the-world-by-2032/
 
| http://www.goddiscussion.com/38920/christian-domininionsts-to-take-over-the-world-by-2032/
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2033
 
| rowspan="3"| 2033
 
| Kilimanjaro ice disappears
 
| Kilimanjaro ice disappears
 +
| http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/02/idUSL2210825
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| India becomes superpower
 
| India becomes superpower
 +
| https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-A-SuperPower-by-2033/151177191568098
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Europe reaches Mars
 
| Europe reaches Mars
 +
| [http://www.spacedaily.com/news/esa-general-03zb.html Specifically, a manned European mission]. ESA's {{w|Mars Express}} probe landed in 2003.
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2034
 
| rowspan="2"| 2034
 
| US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple
 
| US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple
 +
| [http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/27/us-diabetes-usa-costs-idUSTRE5AQ0C220091127 U.S. diabetes cases to double, costs triple by 2034]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US builds autonomous robot army
 
| US builds autonomous robot army
|  
+
| The concept of robots built for military service is another common element of science fiction stories. [http://www.aos-inc.com/index.php/medialias/press-releases?id=112 Unmanned Systems] article, about the [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA522247 2009-2034 Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap] publication ([http://www.amazon.com/2009-Unmanned-Integrated-Aircraft-Technologies-ebook/dp/B0047743A0 details at Amazon]).
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2035
 
| rowspan="3"| 2035
 
| 80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources
 
| 80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources
|  
+
| From fact sheet on Obama's [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/25/fact-sheet-state-union-president-obamas-plan-win-future State of the Union.]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size
 
| Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size
|  
+
| From an IPCC report on [https://web.archive.org/web/20100116132657/http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch10s10-6-2.html The Himalayan glaciers] that has been analysed in quite some depth. See for example detailed article on an [http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2010/02/anatomy-of-ipccs-himalayan-glacier-year-2035-mess/ anatomy of IPCC’s mistake].
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Arctic sea lane opens
 
| Arctic sea lane opens
|  
+
| [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/730ef8fe-27e1-11e0-8abc-00144feab49a.html#axzz3OBgEHYNY Arctic sea lane could open by 2035]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2036
 
| rowspan="2"| 2036
 
| 80% of US has access to high-speed rail
 
| 80% of US has access to high-speed rail
|  
+
| [http://www.wnyc.org/story/284946-obama-80-percent-of-americans-should-have-access-to-high-speed-rail-by-2036/ Obama: 80 Percent of Americans Should Have Access to High Speed Rail By 2036]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Asteroid Apophis misses/hits Earth
 
| Asteroid Apophis misses/hits Earth
| http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/apophis/  http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/apophis/  99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a probability of up to 2.7% that it would hit Earth on April 13, 2029.
+
| 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a probability of up to 2.7% that it would hit Earth on April 13, 2029.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2037
 
| rowspan="2"| 2037
 
| Arctic ice-free in September
 
| Arctic ice-free in September
|  
+
| {{w|Arctic sea ice decline}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2038
 
| rowspan="2"| 2038
 
| 32-bit timestamps roll over, causing Y2K-level chaos
 
| 32-bit timestamps roll over, causing Y2K-level chaos
| 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038, the value of time_t rolls over, that is it will return to zero.  time_t is the computing standard measurement of time, it is a count of the number of seconds since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970.  time_t us used by most computer systems to store date and time information.  It is recommended that new software should convert to a 64 bit time_t, indeed most operating systems designed to run on 64-bit hardware already use signed 64-bit time_t integers. This would give an epoch of 15:30:08 UTC on 4 December 292,277,026,596 (292 billion years away).  Of cause legacy systems may not be upgradable so action taken now should prevent this becoming a problem closer to 2038...
+
| On 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038, the value of time_t rolls over, that is it will return to zero.  time_t is a computing standard measurement of time; it is a count of the number of seconds since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970.  time_t is used by most computer systems to store date and time information.  It is recommended that new software should convert to a 64 bit time_t; indeed, most operating systems designed to run on 64-bit hardware already use signed 64-bit time_t integers. This would give an epoch of 15:30:08 UTC on 4 December 292,277,026,596 (292 billion years away).  Of course, legacy systems may not be upgradable so action taken now should prevent this becoming a problem closer to 2038...
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| "Big One" hits California
 
| "Big One" hits California
|  
+
| [http://www.presstelegram.com/technology/20080414/the-big-one-likely-to-hit-by-2038 `The big one' likely to hit by 2038]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2039
 
| rowspan="3"| 2039
 
| US population hits 400 Million
 
| US population hits 400 Million
|  
+
| [http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2008/us400million.aspx U.S. Population Projected to Hit 400 Million in 2039]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Severe heat waves become commonplace
 
| Severe heat waves become commonplace
|  
+
| [http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/july/extreme-heat-study-070810.html Heat waves and extremely high temperatures could be commonplace in the U.S. by 2039, Stanford study finds]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Scientology becomes majority religion in US
 
| Scientology becomes majority religion in US
|  
+
| [http://home.snafu.de/tilman/2039.html Essay: Scientology in the year 2039]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2040
 
| rowspan="2"| 2040
 
| Arctic summers ice-free
 
| Arctic summers ice-free
|  
+
| [http://www.livescience.com/9419-arctic-summer-ice-free-2040.html Arctic Summer Could be Ice-Free by 2040]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Nanotechnology makes humans immortal
 
| Nanotechnology makes humans immortal
|  
+
| [http://www.computerworld.com/article/2528330/app-development/nanotech-could-make-humans-immortal-by-2040--futurist-says.html Nanotech could make humans immortal by 2040, futurist says]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2041
 
| 2041
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2043
 
| 2043
 
| World population passes 9 Billion
 
| World population passes 9 Billion
|  
+
| {{w|Population growth}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2044
 
| rowspan="2"| 2044
 
| Mankind genetically engineered to be happy
 
| Mankind genetically engineered to be happy
|  
+
| Premise of the movie [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1363468/ Zenith] - further details are in the [http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/esearch/e3i25130cd57f1590bda4527c098ac85b01 film review for Zenith.]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Childhood obesity reaches 100%
 
| Childhood obesity reaches 100%
|  
+
| [http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=11414 100-Percent Childhood Obesity Predicted by 2044]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2045
 
| 2045
 
| Humans and machines merge
 
| Humans and machines merge
| Ray Kurzweil predicts of 'singularity' which will lead to race of super intelligent beings
+
| {{w|Ray Kurzweil}} predicts of a 'singularity' which will lead to a race of super intelligent beings.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2046
 
| 2046
 
| World's natural resources depleted
 
| World's natural resources depleted
|  
+
| [http://raphaelvanlaer.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/peak-uncertainty-when-will-we-run-out-of-fossil-fuels/ Peak uncertainty, when will we run out of fossil fuels?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2047
 
| rowspan="3"| 2047
 
| World ruled by banks and corporations
 
| World ruled by banks and corporations
|  
+
| [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Schlock-2047-RM-Krakoff-ebook/dp/B0039IT37Q Future Schlock - the story of a world turned upside down in 2047]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Tobacco industry fails
 
| Tobacco industry fails
|  
+
| [http://www.news.wisc.edu/16857 Experts: Big Tobacco dead by 2047, possibly sooner]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| US begins using autonomous attack drones
 
| US begins using autonomous attack drones
|  
+
| [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/aug/22/us-air-force-drones-pilots-afghanistan US Air Force prepares drones to end era of fighter pilots]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2048
 
| rowspan="3"| 2048
 
| Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing
 
| Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing
|  
+
| WWF report on [http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/ unsustainable fishing.]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle
 
| Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle
|  
+
| [http://future.wikia.com/wiki/RyansWorld:_Bathing_Suits_of_the_Future RyansWorld: Bathing Suits of the Future]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Entire US population overweight
 
| Entire US population overweight
|  
+
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20090321075605/http://thestatsblog.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/scientists-say-thin-people-face-extinction-in-united-states-everyone-will-be-overweight-by-2048-%E2%80%93-and-less-smart Scientists Say Thin People Face Extinction in United States: Everyone Will Be Overweight by 2048 – And Less Smart (archive)]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2049
 
| rowspan="3"| 2049
| $1.000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity
+
| $1,000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity
|  
+
| [http://www.americanbar.org/content/newsletter/publications/technology_e_report_home/2007_may_technotes.html TechNotes: Trends in Technology]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Singularity occurs
 
| Singularity occurs
|  
+
| [http://www.prismdecision.com/the-singularity-is-near The Singularity Is Near]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Fishing industry collapses
 
| Fishing industry collapses
|  
+
| This tends to happen when your food-stock is extinct{{citation needed}} - see WWF report on [http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/problems_fishing/ unsustainable fishing.]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="5"| 2050
 
| rowspan="5"| 2050
 
| 80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers
 
| 80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers
|  
+
| [http://infochangeindia.org/population/books-a-reports/80-of-world-population-will-soon-be-in-urban-areas.html 80% of world population will soon be in urban areas]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| China controls space
 
| China controls space
|  
+
| [https://books.google.com/books?id=op851Uf99LQC&dq=China+controls+space+2050&source=gbs_navlinks_s Space Science & Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Sex with robots possible
 
| Sex with robots possible
|  
+
| [http://www.livescience.com/1951-forecast-sex-marriage-robots-2050.html Forecast: Sex and Marriage with Robots by 2050]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cars banned from European cities
 
| Cars banned from European cities
|  
+
| [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8411336/EU-to-ban-cars-from-cities-by-2050.html EU to ban cars from cities by 2050]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| One million species extinct from climate change
 
| One million species extinct from climate change
|  
+
| [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/01/0107_040107_extinction.html By 2050 Warming to Doom Million Species, Study Says]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2051
 
| 2051
 
| Atmosphere escapes into space
 
| Atmosphere escapes into space
|  
+
| [http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-outdoor-photos/255705-have-you-ever-seen-fallstreak-hole.html Conspiracy theory] relating to {{w|Fallstreak hole}} or hole punch clouds.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2052
 
| 2052
 
| Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue
 
| Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2053
 
| rowspan="3"| 2053
 
| US budget balanced
 
| US budget balanced
|  
+
| [http://crfb.org/blogs/omb-releases-long-term-projections-fy2015-budget-proposal OMB releases long-term projections for the FY2015 budget proposal]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Majority of Americans in prison
 
| Majority of Americans in prison
|  
+
| [http://articles.philly.com/1992-06-14/news/26032105_1_prison-officials-prison-time-prison-commissioners 'Beyond Bricks And Bars' As Jails Overflow, The Lock-'em-up Credo Is Drawing Unlikely Criticism - From Prison Officials Themselves]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Cars driven by dogs
 
| Cars driven by dogs
| This has already occured!
+
|
 +
| This has [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWAK0J8Uhzk already occurred] in 2012! However, it is not as widespread as the prediction may be implying.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2054
 
| 2054
 
| Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem
 
| Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem
|  
+
| [http://www.albionmonitor.com/0403a/earth2054.html Hunger Could Be 'Unimaginable' Global Problem By 2054]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2055
 
| rowspan="3"| 2055
 
| Atmospheric CO2 doubled
 
| Atmospheric CO2 doubled
|  
+
| [http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/flash_intro.php Carbon Mitigation Initiative: Stabilization Wedges]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Oil runs out
 
| Oil runs out
|  
+
| [http://raphaelvanlaer.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/peak-uncertainty-when-will-we-run-out-of-fossil-fuels/ Peak uncertainty, when will we run out of fossil fuels?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted
 
| Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted
|  
+
| [http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/environment/5-valuable-metals-that-could-vanish-by-2055 5 Valuable Metals That Could Vanish by 2055]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2056
 
| rowspan="2"| 2056
 
| RFID-tagged driverless cars
 
| RFID-tagged driverless cars
|  
+
| [http://www.zdnet.com/article/rfid-tagged-driverless-cars-on-roads-by-2056/ RFID-tagged driverless cars on roads by 2056]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Robots given same rights as humans
 
| Robots given same rights as humans
|  
+
| [http://www.cc.gatech.edu/news/robots-given-same-rights-humans-2056 Robots Given Same Rights As Humans By 2056]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2057
 
| rowspan="2"| 2057
 
| 150 Japanese settlers on Mars
 
| 150 Japanese settlers on Mars
|  
+
| [http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/9011051292/will-japan-colonize-mars Will Japan colonize Mars?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Colorado River runs dry
 
| Colorado River runs dry
|  
+
| [http://news.agu.org/press-release/colorado-river-reservoirs-could-bottom-out-from-warming-business-as-usual/ Colorado River Reservoirs Could Bottom Out From Warming]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2058
 
| 2058
 
| Smoking ends in New Zealand
 
| Smoking ends in New Zealand
|  
+
| [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10698966 Smoking to die out in NZ by 2058]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2059
 
| 2059
 
| Humans have domesticated robots
 
| Humans have domesticated robots
|  
+
| [http://diehardempiricist.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/6-may-2011-virtual-necking-demography.html Virtual necking, demography, and robots]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2060
 
| rowspan="4"| 2060
 
| Human race lives in peace
 
| Human race lives in peace
|  
+
| [http://www.arasfoundation.org/vision.html ARAS vision/mission]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Extreme droughts across much of Earth
 
| Extreme droughts across much of Earth
|  
+
| [http://wdas.cosmosmagazine.com/news/extreme-drought-across-most-earth-30-years/ Extreme drought across most of Earth by 2060]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| Global temperature rise reaches 4 °C
+
| Global temperature rise reaches 4 °C
|  
+
| {{w|Avoiding dangerous climate change}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Oil runs out again
 
| Oil runs out again
|  
+
| [http://business.financialpost.com/2011/04/01/oil-may-run-out-by-2060-hsbc/?__lsa=98a7-5c61 Oil may run out by 2060: HSBC]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2061
 
| 2061
 
| Halley's comet returns
 
| Halley's comet returns
|  
+
| Halley's comet returns to the inner solar system (the vicinity of earth and the sun) every 75.3 years.  The last time it was near earth was in 1985-1986.  When it next returns, its closest approach to the sun will occur on [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi 28 July 2061.]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2062
 
| rowspan="2"| 2062
 
| Uganda hosts World Cup
 
| Uganda hosts World Cup
|  
+
| [http://shillingscents.blogspot.co.nz/2010/07/uganda-to-host-world-cup-in-2062.html Uganda to host world cup in 2062]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| The Jetsons
 
| The Jetsons
|  
+
| {{w|The Jetsons}} was an animated science fiction sitcom that first aired in 1962. The show was set in the year 2062.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2063
 
| rowspan="4"| 2063
 
| First human clones reach adulthood
 
| First human clones reach adulthood
|  
+
| [http://au.ign.com/articles/2004/04/28/the-fall-last-days-of-gaia-diary-2 The Fall - Last Days of Gaia Diary #2]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Population of Moon reaches 100,000
 
| Population of Moon reaches 100,000
|  
+
| Reading Eagle newspaper article from July 17, 1963 - [http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19630717&id=PhgrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B50FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4055,6599008 Moon Population of 100,000 Is Predicted for 2063] and [http://www.paleofuture.com/blog/2008/3/14/air-force-predictions-for-2063-1963.html Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Population of Mars reaches 10,000
 
| Population of Mars reaches 10,000
|  
+
| [http://www.paleofuture.com/blog/2008/3/14/air-force-predictions-for-2063-1963.html Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Spacecraft exceed speed of light
 
| Spacecraft exceed speed of light
 
| Physics as currently understood states that it is impossible to exceed the speed of light. A monumental shift in our physics would have had to have occurred for this to come true. This is a reference to the 8th Star Trek feature Film: "Star Trek:  First Contact" where Zefram Cochrane performs the first human Warp Flight on April 5, 2063.
 
| Physics as currently understood states that it is impossible to exceed the speed of light. A monumental shift in our physics would have had to have occurred for this to come true. This is a reference to the 8th Star Trek feature Film: "Star Trek:  First Contact" where Zefram Cochrane performs the first human Warp Flight on April 5, 2063.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2064
 
| 2064
 
| Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels
 
| Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels
|  
+
| [http://www.cleanhouston.org/air/features/hazyfuture.htm State plan guarantees a hazy future for Texas’ wilderness areas]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2065
 
| rowspan="2"| 2065
 
| Last coral reefs die out
 
| Last coral reefs die out
|  
+
| From an [http://www.edgeofexistence.org/coral_reef_conservation/coral_reef_video.php article about a video called Reefs on the Edge] set in 2065 where a 15-year-old girl tells her grandfather's stories of coral reefs, and their demise.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Chernobyl cleanup complete
 
| Chernobyl cleanup complete
|  
+
| [http://rt.com/politics/chernobyl-clean-in-55-years-time/ Chernobyl clean in 55 years time?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2066
 
| 2066
 
| Cyprus achieves its goal
 
| Cyprus achieves its goal
|  
+
| This is from some [http://www.cyprus-forum.com/cyprus33608-110.html#p665612 forum posts on the decendants of Cypriots] that lends support to the autonomy of Cyprus from Greek or Turkey.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2067
 
| rowspan="2"| 2067
 
| Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV
 
| Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV
|  
+
| The article at [http://blogs.lib.unc.edu/ncm/index.php/2013/11/15/artifact-of-the-month-slide-rule-1916/ Artifact of the Month: Slide rule, 1916] includes information from the International Slide Rule Museum that "in 1967, Keuffel & Esser Co. commissioned a study of the future, predicting that Americans in 2067 would live in domed cities and watch 3D television."
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Redheads go extinct
 
| Redheads go extinct
|  
+
| [http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/redhead-extinction.htm Are redheads going extinct?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2068
 
| rowspan="3"| 2068
 
| Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering
 
| Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering
|  
+
| [http://www.theozonehole.com/recovery.htm NASA Study Finds Clock Ticking Slower On Ozone Hole Recovery]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| Lord Jesus rules Earth from throne in Jerusalem
+
| Lord Jesus rules the Earth from Throne in Jerusalem.
|  
+
| [http://myth-one.com/chapter_8.htm The Resurrections -- What Really Happens]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water
 
| Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water
|  
+
| [http://thedailybanter.com/2013/01/alex-jones-the-government-is-trying-to-make-more-gay-people/ Alex Jones talks about chemicals that make people gay]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2069
 
| 2069
 
| Public masturbation legalized
 
| Public masturbation legalized
|  
+
|  [http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/UnNews:It's_still_not_okay_to_Pull_Your_Penis_out_in_Public It's still not okay to Pull Your Penis out in Public]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="3"| 2070
 
| rowspan="3"| 2070
 
| World population peaks
 
| World population peaks
|  
+
| [http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1108-global-population-to-peak-in-2070.html Global population to peak in 2070]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| City-scale flooding disasters
 
| City-scale flooding disasters
|  
+
| [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/earthnews/3317033/City-scale-flooding-disasters-predicted-by-2070.html City-scale flooding disasters predicted by 2070]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources
 
| 60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources
|  
+
| [http://www.ssisolarenergy.com/solar-alternative-energy/ What Is Alternative Energy All About?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2071
 
| rowspan="2"| 2071
| Europe's temperatures rise by 3 °C
+
| Europe's temperatures rise by 3 °C
|  
+
| [http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/en/topics/climate-energy/climate-change-adaptation/adaptation-tools/project-catalog/peseta-projection-of-economic-impacts-of-climate Projection of Economic impacts of climate change in Sectors of the European Union based on bottom-up Analysis]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| World summer temperatures rise by 5 °C
+
| World summer temperatures rise by 5 °C
|  
+
| [http://www.climateadaptation.eu/denmark/climate-change/ See "Air temperature changes in the 21st century"]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2072
 
| 2072
 
| US retirement age is set to 75
 
| US retirement age is set to 75
|  
+
| [http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2012/06/11/how-high-will-the-retirement-age-go Up to 70-80 years]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2073
 
| 2073
 
| Oceans do not rise one foot
 
| Oceans do not rise one foot
|  
+
| [http://www.skepticalscience.com/sea-level-rise-predictions.htm More like 2 feet]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2074
 
| rowspan="2"| 2074
 
| Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million
 
| Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million
|  
+
| [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8848188.html UK to have 1 million centenarians by 2074]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Supertyphoons hit Japan
 
| Supertyphoons hit Japan
|  
+
| [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/09/08/national/super-typhoons-in-store-as-seas-warm/ Super typhoons in store as seas warm]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2075
 
| 2075
 
| US retirement age set to 69
 
| US retirement age set to 69
|  
+
| [http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2010/1112/Retirement-age-at-69-Deficit-plan-hits-Social-Security Retirement age at 69? Deficit plan hits Social Security]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2076
 
| rowspan="2"| 2076
 
| Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors
 
| Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors
|  
+
| [https://doclib.uhasselt.be/dspace/bitstream/1942/871/1/yitzhaki373.PDF Multiple Authorship in Biochemistry and Other Fields] (PDF)
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 
| {{w|Social Security (United States)|Social Security}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2078
 
| 2078
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
| Newspapers become obsolete and die out
|  
+
| The same prediction was made for 2017 and 2022.  Even when most prognosticators agree that something will happen, there can still be much disagreement about ''when'' it will happen.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="4"| 2079
 
| rowspan="4"| 2079
 
| US debt reaches 716% of GDP
 
| US debt reaches 716% of GDP
 
| {{w|US Debt}}
 
| {{w|US Debt}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest
 
| Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest
|  
+
| [http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/feb/climate-change-causing-demise-lodgepole-pine-western-north-america Climate change causing demise of lodgepole pine in western North America]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Floods commonplace
 
| Floods commonplace
|  
+
| [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090108101627.htm Floods To Become Commonplace By 2080]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Religion marginalized
 
| Religion marginalized
|  
+
| http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11347073
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2080
 
| rowspan="2"| 2080
 
| Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP
 
| Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP
|  
+
| [http://crfb.org/sites/default/files/our_debt_problems_are_far_from_solved_updated_2.pdf Our debt problems are far from solved] (PDF)
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| UK population doubles
 
| UK population doubles
|  
+
| [http://forums.canadiancontent.net/international-politics/69603-britains-population-hit-110-million.html Britain's population to hit 110 million]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2082
 
| 2082
 
| World population declines to one billion
 
| World population declines to one billion
|  
+
| [http://www.paulchefurka.ca/Population.html Population: The Elephant in the Room]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2084
 
| 2084
 
| Robot policemen introduced
 
| Robot policemen introduced
|  
+
| [http://www.thetechherald.com/articles/Robotic-cops-set-to-stamp-out-crime-by-2084 Robotic cops set to stamp out crime by 2084]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2085
 
| 2085
 
| US deficit reaches 62% of GDP
 
| US deficit reaches 62% of GDP
|  
+
| [http://moneybob.com/2010/06/28/paul-krugman-throws-in-towel-says-were-headed-for-another-depression/ Paul Krugman Throws In Towel, Says We’re Headed For Another Depression]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2088
 
| 2088
 
| Japan becomes all-robot country
 
| Japan becomes all-robot country
|  
+
| [http://www.theretributioners.tv/erics-blog/2009/11/25/-japan-to-become-all-robot-country-by-2088.html Japan To Become All Robot Country By 2088]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2089
 
| 2089
 
| World halts fossil fuel use
 
| World halts fossil fuel use
 
| {{w|Fossil Fuels}}
 
| {{w|Fossil Fuels}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="2"| 2090
 
| rowspan="2"| 2090
| Global warming hits 7 °C  
+
| Global warming hits 7 °C  
|  
+
| [http://www.reportingclimatescience.com/news-stories/article/models-warn-of-7c-dangerous-climate-change-by-2090.html Models warn of 7C dangerous climate change by 2090]. Climate change, especially global warming, is a [[:Category:Climate change|recurring theme]] in xkcd.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
| Global warming hits 4 °C
+
| Global warming hits 4 °C
|  
+
| Summarized [http://www.global-warming-forecasts.com/2090-climate-change-global-warming-2090.php here]. In reference to Andy Bowers, “Analysis: Scientists say global warming could affect California's drinking water supply,” NPR All Things Considered, June 22, 2001
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="11"| 2100
 
| rowspan="11"| 2100
| Global warming around 5-7 °C
+
| Global warming around 5-7 °C
|  
+
| [http://grist.org/article/bau-fd/ Hadley Center study warns of ‘catastrophic’ 5-7°C warming by 2100 on current emissions path]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Sea levels have risen by a meter or more
 
| Sea levels have risen by a meter or more
|  
+
| {{w|Future sea level}}
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Joshua trees nearly extinct
 
| Joshua trees nearly extinct
|  
+
| [http://news.discovery.com/earth/joshua-trees-climate-change-110325.htm Joshua Trees Nearly Wiped Out by 2100?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous
 
| Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous
|  
+
| [http://www.pnas.org/content/107/2/576 Atmospheric CO2 concentrations during ancient greenhouse climates were similar to those predicted for A.D. 2100]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Germany tropical
 
| Germany tropical
|  
+
| [http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/climate-change-predictions-a-tropical-germany-by-2100-a-463378.html Climate Change Predictions: A Tropical Germany by 2100?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Emperor penguins extinct
 
| Emperor penguins extinct
|  
+
| [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7851276.stm Emperor penguins face extinction]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Arctic permafrost thaws
 
| Arctic permafrost thaws
|  
+
| [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/surface-permafrost-could/ Surface Permafrost Could Disappear by 2100]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Rising seas flood coastal cities
 
| Rising seas flood coastal cities
|  
+
| [http://uanews.org/story/rising-seas-will-affect-major-us-coastal-cities-2100 Rising Seas Will Affect Major U.S. Coastal Cities by 2100]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts
 
| Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts
|  
+
| [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/08/06/890970/-Massive-Loss-of-Rainforest-Species-by-2100-eKos-Earthship-Friday Massive Loss of Rainforest Species by 2100]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| All coral reefs gone  
 
| All coral reefs gone  
|  
+
| [http://planetsave.com/2010/10/15/coral-reefs-gone-by-2100/ Coral Reefs Gone by 2100?]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor
 
| Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor
| Each iteration of the Gillette line or safety razors has one more blade than the previous one. MadTV has also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FAP8o5ZEo0 parodied] this.
+
| Each iteration of the Gillette line of safety razors has one more blade than the previous one. MadTV has also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FAP8o5ZEo0 parodied] this. Over five years before MadTV did so, the Australian comedy group the D-Generation parodied the first two-bladed razor as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YleuLyCUx28 Gillette 3000] with 16 blades.
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 2101
 
| 2101
 
| WAR WAS BEGINNING
 
| WAR WAS BEGINNING
| References {{w|Zero Wing}}, a 1981 Japanese computer game set in 2101, famous for poorly translated English and the source for "All your base are belong to us".
+
| References {{w|Zero Wing}}, a 1989 Japanese computer game set in 2101, famous for poorly translated English and the source for "{{w|All your base are belong to us}}". See [[286: All Your Base]]
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
 +
<references/>
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
 +
 
:<big>'''THE FUTURE'''</big>
 
:<big>'''THE FUTURE'''</big>
 
:'''According to Google search results'''
 
:'''According to Google search results'''
 
:Events for each year determined by the first page of Google search results for the phrases:
 
:Events for each year determined by the first page of Google search results for the phrases:
::{|
+
:<small>"By <year>" "In year"</small>
|-
+
:<small>"By the year <year>" "In the year <year>"</small>
|<small>"By <year>"</small>
+
:<small>"Will * by the year <year>" "Will * in the year <year>"</small>
|<small>"In year"</small>
+
:<small>"In <year>, * will" "By <year>, * will"</small>
|-
+
:
|<small>"By the year <year>"</small>
+
:;2012
|<small>"In the year <year>"</small>
+
::World population reaches 7 billion
|-
+
::Flying cars reach market
|<small>"Will * by the year <year>"</small>
+
::Canada cuts greenhouse emissions to 6% below 1990 levels as per Kyoto
|<small>"Will * in the year <year>"</small>
+
::Apocalypse occurs
|-
+
:;2013
|<small>"In <year>, * will"</small>
+
::National debt paid off through President Clinton's plans
|<small>"By <year>, * will"</small>
+
::Microchipping of all Americans begins
|}
+
::Homelessness ended in Massachusetts
 +
::Health care reform law repealed
 +
:;2014
 +
::US leaves Afghanistan
 +
::GNU/Linux becomes dominant OS
 +
:;2015
 +
::New Horizons reaches Pluto
 +
::Health care law causes hyperinflation
 +
::192 UN member nations achieve millennium development goals:
 +
::*Extreme poverty and hunger eradicated
 +
::*Universal primary education implemented
 +
::*Women empowered, gender equality reached
 +
::*Environmental stability ensured
 +
:;2016
 +
::Baby boomers begin turning 65
 +
::Android takes 38% of the smartphone market
 +
::Android takes 45% of the smartphone market
 +
::Windows Phone overtakes iOS in smartphones
 +
:;2017
 +
::China completes unmanned Lunar sample-return mission
 +
::Social Security stops running surplus
 +
::US budget balanced
 +
::Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 +
::Cosmetic surgery doubles
 +
:;2018
 +
::Social Security stops running surplus
 +
::Jesus returns to Earth
 +
:;2019
 +
::Social Security stops running surplus
 +
::Every baby has genes mapped at birth
 +
:;2020
 +
::Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels
 +
::Keyboards and mice become obsolete
 +
::New Tappan Zee bridge constructed
 +
:;2021
 +
::US debt reaches 97% of GDP
 +
::US unemployment falls to 2.8%
 +
::Restored caliphate unifies Middle East
 +
::Lake Mead evaporates
 +
:;2022
 +
::Kilimanjaro snow-free
 +
::HTML 5 finished
 +
::Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 +
:;2023
 +
::Jesus returns to Earth (again)
 +
::US debt passes 100% of GDP
 +
::All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest
 +
:;2024
 +
::Atlantis begins to reappear
 +
::Orangutans extinct in wild
 +
::China lands men and women on the moon
 +
::NASA sets up permanent moon base
 +
::Female professionals pass males in pay
 +
:;2025
 +
::World population reaches 8 billion
 +
::Two billion people face water shortages
 +
::62 MPG cars introduced
 +
::US power fades
 +
:;2026
 +
::Atlantis emerges completely
 +
::Rock Bands die out
 +
::US debt paid off
 +
::Car accidents cease
 +
::West coast falls into ocean
 +
:;2027
 +
::Japan introduces new fastest maglev train
 +
::Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony established
 +
::Social Security stops running surplus
 +
:;2028
 +
::Tobacco outlawed
 +
::40% of coral reefs gone
 +
::US debt paid off
 +
::Social Security stops running surplus
 +
:;2029
 +
::Social Security trust fund exhausted
 +
::Computers pass the Turing Test
 +
::Aging reversed
 +
::Wikipedia reaches 30 million articles
 +
:;2030
 +
::Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging
 +
::Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels
 +
::Arctic ice-free in summer
 +
:;2031
 +
::Computers controlled by thought
 +
::Realtors replaced by technology
 +
::Social Security trust fund exhausted
 +
:;2032
 +
::"Big One" hits San Francisco
 +
::US elects first married lesbian president
 +
::Entire world converted to Christianity
 +
:;2033
 +
::Kilimanjaro ice disappears
 +
::India becomes superpower
 +
::Europe reaches Mars
 +
:;2034
 +
::US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple
 +
::US builds autonomous robot army
 +
:;2035
 +
::80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources
 +
::Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size
 +
::Arctic sea lane opens
 +
:;2036
 +
::80% of US has access to high-speed rail
 +
::Asteroid Apophis hits/misses Earth
 +
:;2037
 +
::Arctic ice-free in September
 +
::Social Security trust fund exhausted
 +
:;2038
 +
::32-bit timestamps role over, causing Y2K-level chaos
 +
::"Big One" hits California
 +
:;2039
 +
::US population hits 400 million
 +
::Severe heat waves become commonplace
 +
::Scientology becomes majority religion in US
 +
:;2040
 +
::Arctic summers ice-free
 +
::Nanotechnology makes humans immortal
 +
:;2041
 +
::Social Security trust fund exhausted
 +
:;2042
 +
:;2043
 +
::World population passes 9 billion
 +
:;2044
 +
::Mankind genetically engineered to be happy
 +
::Childhood obesity reaches 100%
 +
:;2045
 +
::Humans and machines merge
 +
:;2046
 +
::World's natural resources depleted
 +
:;2047
 +
::World ruled by banks and corporations
 +
::Tobacco industry fails
 +
::US begins using autonomous attack drones
 +
:;2048
 +
::Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing
 +
::Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle
 +
::Entire US population overweight
 +
:;2049
 +
::$1.000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity
 +
::Singularity occurs
 +
::Fishing industry collapses
 +
:;2050
 +
::80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers
 +
::China controls space
 +
::Sex with robots possible
 +
::Cars banned from European cities
 +
::One million species extinct from climate change
 +
:;2051
 +
::Atmosphere escapes into space
 +
:;2052
 +
::Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue
 +
:;2053
 +
::US budget balanced
 +
::Majority of Americans in prison
 +
::Cars driven by dogs
 +
:;2054
 +
::Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem
 +
:;2055
 +
::Atmospheric CO2 doubled
 +
::Oil runs out
 +
::Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted
 +
:;2056
 +
::RFID-tagged driverless cars
 +
::Robots given same rights as humans
 +
:;2057
 +
::150 Japanese settlers on Mars
 +
::Colorado River runs dry
 +
:;2058
 +
::Smoking ends in New Zealand
 +
:;2059
 +
::Humans have domesticated robots
 +
:;2060
 +
::Human race lives in peace
 +
::Extreme droughts across much of Earth
 +
::Global temperature rise reaches 4°C
 +
::Oil runs out again
 +
:;2061
 +
::Halley's comet returns
 +
:;2062
 +
::Uganda hosts World Cup
 +
::The Jetsons
 +
:;2063
 +
::First human clones reach adulthood
 +
::Population of Moon reaches 100,000
 +
::Population of Mars reaches 10,000
 +
::Spacecraft exceed speed of light
 +
:;2064
 +
::Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels
 +
:;2065
 +
::Last coral reefs die out
 +
::Chernobyl cleanup complete
 +
:;2066
 +
::Cyprus achieves its goal
 +
:;2067
 +
::Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV
 +
::Redheads go extinct
 +
:;2068
 +
::Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering
 +
::Lord Jesus rules the Earth from Throne in Jerusalem.
 +
::Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water
 +
:;2069
 +
::Public masturbation legalized
 +
:;2070
 +
::World population peaks
 +
::City-scale flooding disasters
 +
::60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources
 +
:;2071
 +
::Europe's temperatures rise by 3°C
 +
::World summer temperatures rise by 5°C
 +
:;2072
 +
::US retirement age is set to 75
 +
:;2073
 +
::Oceans do not rise one foot
 +
:;2074
 +
::Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million
 +
::Supertyphoons hit Japan
 +
:;2075
 +
::US retirement age set to 69
 +
:;2076
 +
::Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors
 +
::Social Security trust fund exhausted
 +
:;2077
 +
:;2078
 +
::Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 +
:;2079
 +
::US debt reaches 716% of GDP
 +
::Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest
 +
::Floods commonplace
 +
::Religion marginalized
 +
:;2080
 +
::Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP
 +
::UK population doubles
 +
:;2081
 +
:;2082
 +
::World population declines to one billion
 +
:;2083
 +
:;2084
 +
::Robot policemen introduced
 +
:;2085
 +
::US deficit reaches 62% of GDP
 +
:;2086
 +
:;2087
 +
:;2088
 +
::Japan becomes all-robot country
 +
:;2089
 +
::World halts fossil fuel use
 +
:;2090
 +
::Global warming hits 7°C
 +
::Global warming hits 4°C
 +
:;2091
 +
:;2092
 +
:;2093
 +
:;2094
 +
:;2095
 +
:;2096
 +
:;2097
 +
:;2098
 +
:;2099
 +
:;2100
 +
::Global warming around 5-7°C
 +
::Sea levels have risen by a meter or more
 +
::Joshua trees nearly extinct
 +
::Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous
 +
::Germany tropical
 +
::Emperor penguins extinct
 +
::Arctic permafrost thaws
 +
::Rising seas flood coastal cities
 +
::Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts
 +
::All coral reefs gone
 +
::Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor
 +
:;2101
 +
::WAR WAS BEGINNING
  
:{|
+
{{comic discussion}}
|-
 
|rowspan="4" width="50px" valign="top"|2012
 
|World population reaches 7 billion
 
|-
 
|Flying cars reach market
 
|-
 
|Canada cuts greenhouse emissions to 6% below 1990 levels as per Kyoto
 
|-
 
|Apocalypse occurs
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2013
 
|National debt paid off through President Clinton's plans
 
|-
 
|Microchipping of all Americans begins
 
|-
 
|Homelessness ended in Massachusetts
 
|-
 
|Health care reform law repealed
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2014
 
|US leaves Afghanistan
 
|-
 
|GNU/Linux becomes dominant OS
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2015
 
|New Horizons reaches Pluto
 
|-
 
|Health care law causes hyperinflation
 
|-
 
|192 UN member nations achieve millennium development goals:
 
*Extreme poverty and hunger eradicated
 
*Universal primary education implemented
 
*Women empowered, gender equality reached
 
*Environmental stability ensured
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2016
 
|Baby boomers begin turning 65
 
|-
 
|Android takes 38% of the smartphone market
 
|-
 
|Android takes 45% of the smartphone market
 
|-
 
|Windows Phone overtakes iOS in smartphones
 
|-
 
|rowspan="5" valign="top"|2017
 
|China completes unmanned Lunar sample-return mission
 
|-
 
|Social Security stops running surplus
 
|-
 
|US budget balanced
 
|-
 
|Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
|-
 
|Cosmetic surgery doubles
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2018
 
|Social Security stops running surplus
 
|-
 
|Jesus returns to Earth
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2019
 
|Social Security stops running surplus
 
|-
 
|Every baby has genes mapped at birth
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2020
 
|Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels
 
|-
 
|Keyboards and mice become obsolete
 
|-
 
|New Tappan Zee bridge constructed
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2021
 
|US debt reaches 97% of GDP
 
|-
 
|US unemployment falls to 2.8%
 
|-
 
|Restored caliphate unifies Middle East
 
|-
 
|Lake Mead evaporates
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2022
 
|Kilimanjaro snow-free
 
|-
 
|HTML 5 finished
 
|-
 
|Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2023
 
|Jesus returns to Earth (again)
 
|-
 
|US debt passes 100% of GDP
 
|-
 
|All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest
 
|-
 
|rowspan="5" valign="top"|2024
 
|Atlantis begins to reappear
 
|-
 
|Orangutans extinct in wild
 
|-
 
|China lands men and women on the moon
 
|-
 
|NASA sets up permanent moon base
 
|-
 
|Female professionals pass males in pay
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2025
 
|World population reaches 8 billion
 
|-
 
|Two billion people face water shortages
 
|-
 
|62 MPG cars introduced
 
|-
 
|US power fades
 
|-
 
|rowspan="5" valign="top"|2026
 
|Atlantis emerges completely
 
|-
 
|Rock Bands die out
 
|-
 
|US debt paid off
 
|-
 
|Car accidents cease
 
|-
 
|West coast falls into ocean
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2027
 
|Japan introduces new fastest Maglev train
 
|-
 
|Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony is established
 
|-
 
|Social Security stops running surplus
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2028
 
|Tobacco outlawed
 
|-
 
|40% of coral reefs gone
 
|-
 
|US debt paid off
 
|-
 
|Social Security stops running surplus
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2029
 
|Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
|-
 
|Computers pass the Turing test
 
|-
 
|Aging reversed
 
|-
 
|Wikipedia reaches 30 Million articles
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2030
 
|Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging
 
|-
 
|Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels
 
|-
 
|Arctic ice-free in summer
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2031
 
|Computers controlled by thought
 
|-
 
|Realtors replaced by technology
 
|-
 
|Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2032
 
|"Big One" hits San Francisco
 
|-
 
|US elects first married lesbian President
 
|-
 
|Entire world converted to Christianity
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2033
 
|Kilimanjaro ice disappears
 
|-
 
|India becomes superpower
 
|-
 
|Europe reaches Mars
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2034
 
|US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple
 
|-
 
|US builds autonomous robot army
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2035
 
|80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources
 
|-
 
|Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size
 
|-
 
|Arctic sea lane opens
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2036
 
|80% of US has access to high-speed rail
 
|-
 
|Asteroid Apophis misses/hits Earth
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2037
 
|Arctic ice-free in September
 
|-
 
|Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2038
 
|32-bit timestamps roll over, causing Y2K-level chaos
 
|-
 
|"Big One" hits California
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2039
 
|US population hits 400 Million
 
|-
 
|Severe heat waves become commonplace
 
|-
 
|Scientology becomes majority religion in US
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2040
 
|Arctic summers ice-free
 
|-
 
|Nanotechnology makes humans immortal
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2041
 
|Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2042
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2043
 
|World population passes 9 Billion
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2044
 
|Mankind genetically engineered to be happy
 
|-
 
|Childhood obesity reaches 100%
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2045
 
|Humans and machines merge
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2046
 
|World's natural resources depleted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2047
 
|World ruled by banks and corporations
 
|-
 
|Tobacco industry fails
 
|-
 
|US begins using autonomous attack drones
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2048
 
|Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing
 
|-
 
|Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle
 
|-
 
|Entire US population overweight
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2049
 
|$1.000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity
 
|-
 
|Singularity occurs
 
|-
 
|Fishing industry collapses
 
|-
 
|rowspan="5" valign="top"|2050
 
|80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers
 
|-
 
|China controls space
 
|-
 
|Sex with robots possible
 
|-
 
|Cars banned from European cities
 
|-
 
|One million species extinct from climate change
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2051
 
|Atmosphere escapes into space
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2052
 
|Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2053
 
|US budget balanced
 
|-
 
|Majority of Americans in prison
 
|-
 
|Cars driven by dogs
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2054
 
|Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2055
 
|Atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> doubled
 
|-
 
|Oil runs out
 
|-
 
|Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2056
 
|RFID-tagged driverless cars
 
|-
 
|Robots given same rights as humans
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2057
 
|150 Japanese settlers on Mars
 
|-
 
|Colorado River runs dry
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2058
 
|Smoking ends in New Zealand
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2059
 
|Humans have domesticated robots
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2060
 
|Human race lives in peace
 
|-
 
|Extreme droughts across much of Earth
 
|-
 
|Global temperature rise reaches 4&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|Oil runs out again
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2061
 
|Halley's comet returns
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2062
 
|Uganda hosts World Cup
 
|-
 
|The Jetsons
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2063
 
|First human clones reach adulthood
 
|-
 
|Population of Moon reaches 100,000
 
|-
 
|Population of Mars reaches 10,000
 
|-
 
|Spacecraft exceed speed of light
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2064
 
|Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2065
 
|Last coral reefs die out
 
|-
 
|Chernobyl cleanup complete
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2066
 
|Cyprus achieves its goal
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2067
 
|Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV
 
|-
 
|Redheads go extinct
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2068
 
|Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering
 
|-
 
|Lord Jesus rules Earth from throne in Jerusalem
 
|-
 
|Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2069
 
|Public masturbation legalized
 
|-
 
|rowspan="3" valign="top"|2070
 
|World population peaks
 
|-
 
|City-scale flooding disasters
 
|-
 
|60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2071
 
|Europe's temperatures rise by 3&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|World summer temperatures rise by 5&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2072
 
|US retirement age is set to 75
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2073
 
|Oceans do not rise one foot
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2074
 
|Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million
 
|-
 
|Supertyphoons hit Japan
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2075
 
|US retirement age set to 69
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2076
 
|Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors
 
|-
 
|Social Security trust fund exhausted
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2077
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2078
 
|Newspapers become obsolete and die out
 
|-
 
|rowspan="4" valign="top"|2079
 
|US debt reaches 716% of GDP
 
|-
 
|Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest
 
|-
 
|Floods commonplace
 
|-
 
|Religion marginalized
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2080
 
|Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP
 
|-
 
|UK population doubles
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2081
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2082
 
|World population declines to one billion
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2083
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2084
 
|Robot policemen introduced
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2085
 
|US deficit reaches 62% of GDP
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2086
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2087
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2088
 
|Japan becomes all-robot country
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2089
 
|World halts fossil fuel use
 
|-
 
|rowspan="2" valign="top"|2090
 
|Global warming hits 7&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|Global warming hits 4&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2091
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2092
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2093
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2094
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2095
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2096
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2097
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2098
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2099
 
|
 
|-
 
|rowspan="11" valign="top"|2100
 
|Global warming around 5-7&nbsp;°C
 
|-
 
|Sea levels have risen by a meter or more
 
|-
 
|Joshua trees nearly extinct
 
|-
 
|Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous
 
|-
 
|Germany tropical
 
|-
 
|Emperor penguins extinct
 
|-
 
|Arctic permafrost thaws
 
|-
 
|Rising seas flood coastal cities
 
|-
 
|Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts
 
|-
 
|All coral reefs gone
 
|-
 
|Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor
 
|-
 
|rowspan="1" valign="top"|2101
 
|WAR WAS BEGINNING
 
|}
 
  
{{comic discussion}}
+
[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Charts]]
+
[[Category:Timelines]]
 
[[Category:Google Search]]
 
[[Category:Google Search]]
 +
[[Category:Climate change]]
 +
[[Category:Singularity]]
 +
[[Category:Renewable energy]]
 +
[[Category:Smartphones]]
 +
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

Revision as of 02:55, 21 May 2022

Future Timeline
↓ Skip to explanation ↓
Not shown: the approximately 30,000 identical, vaguely hysterical articles titled "WHITE PEOPLE IN [THE US/BRITAIN] TO BECOME MINORITY BY [YEAR]!", which came up for basically any year I put in.
Title text: Not shown: the approximately 30,000 identical, vaguely hysterical articles titled "WHITE PEOPLE IN [THE US/BRITAIN] TO BECOME MINORITY BY [YEAR]!", which came up for basically any year I put in.

Explanation

This comic uses the same strategy as comic 715: Numbers, in which Randall uses Google to search for phrases and then charts the results. This one is charted as a timeline, whereas 715 was charted as line graphs. It is a list of things predicted or announced by anyone at any time (the ones you see on Google search using "by the year..." or similar statements).

"2101 - War Was Beginning" is a reference to the opening narration of video game Zero Wing; the same narration is famous for the internet meme "All your base are belong to us". As there are not any other out and out references in the comic, and the rest are actually results that you can find using Randall's methods, "War Was Beginning" was probably the only thing he got when he googled 2101 as well.

Certain events in this comic, e.g. "Social Security stops running surplus", are repeated multiple times. Also, certain bizarre events, like "Apocalypse occurs", or "Flying cars reach market", happen before rather plausible things, like "'Big one' hits California". Certain events, like "Japan is a robot-only country" or "Gillette introduces 14-blade razor" may be related to the recurring theme 605: Extrapolating.

The title text is a reference to a reoccurring scaremonger theory that European people will become a minority or extinct as other ethnicities outbreed them. For maximum scaremongering they will claim this could happen in the near future, complete with extrapolated graphs. In the years since this comic was published these conspiracy theories have come to be known as "the great replacement" or "white genocide". Scaremongers are banking on the idea their target audience will rarely bother to fact check, as analysis of their extrapolations usually reveals incorrect methodology if not outright lies.

This comic has similar features to 1413: Suddenly Popular, 1093: Forget, and 891: Movie Ages.

The predictions

Year Prediction Further Details Outcome
2012 World population Ever since the advent of modern medicine and the more efficient agricultural processes developed since the Industrial Revolution, the human population had been growing at an unprecedented rate. This has caused some people to worry about overpopulation, which would cause a scarcity of resources and overcrowding, and propose various solutions, most of which involve some form of eugenics. 7 billion is a landmark number because it is a multiple of 1 billion. Close; Earth reached 7 billion in late 2011.
Flying cars For decades, flying cars have been a staple of futuristic sci-fi and technological predictions. So far very few of these predictions, which to tend to hover around 5–10 years from whatever the current date is, have come true. Too early; a flying car was first demonstrated in July 2021.[actual citation needed] You could argue that helicopters count as flying cars, but these are not affordable[citation needed] and hence not widely used by the general public.
Canada cuts greenhouse emissions Currently, the Earth is experiencing an unprecedented period of warming we call global warming, caused in part by greenhouse emissions, which are gases that help trap heat in the atmosphere. Countries have repeatedly gotten together and promised to stop emitting greenhouse gases, but so far they have failed to meet their targets. False. Canada withdrew from the Kyoto treaty in late 2011, and its emissions in 2012 were 18% above 1990 levels (though its population had grown 26% and its GDP had grown 67% in that period).
Apocalypse occurs The end of a cycle of the Mayan calendar on December 22, 2012 has been used in popular culture as a basis for predicting the end of the world. Amongst other things, this included the film '2012'. Some people took this rather more seriously, and actually believed that the world would end on this date. False.[citation needed]
2013 National debt paid off For years, the subject of national debt (in the USA) has been a political point of contention. While both parties theoretically support reducing the debt or paying it off entirely, Democrats are more willing to spend to pull the country out of recessions in the economy and Republicans to cut taxes. The last time that spending did not exceed revenue begin under Clinton, a Democrat, and ended after George W. Bush, a Republican, said that this amounted to taxpayers being "overcharged" and taxes were lowered, followed by the Great Recession. Clinton at one point proposed paying off the debt by 2015. False.
Microchipping Americans Microchips are small computer chips, typically embedded in pets in case they get lost, that contain information about the pet. Some, more paranoid, people worry about the government microchipping everyone in an effort to monitor their activities. False, although RFID implants do exist.
Homelessness ended in MA In 2008, the Commission To End Homelessness in Massachusetts, under Governor Deval Patrick, proposed a plan to all but eliminate homelessness over the next five years (hence the 2013 end-date on the comic). False.
Health care reform law repealed A health care reform law, popularly known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. Ever since, many Republicans have tried (in vain) to repeal it, disliking the idea that government should provide and require healthcare. However, President Joe Biden has stated to restore Obamacare. Too early; almost repealed in 2017.
2014 US leaves Afghanistan After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York on September 11, 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan, which at the time allegedly hosted the headquarters of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization behind the attacks. The war has gone on since then, with the public growing increasingly tired of it. Public support then favored a withdrawal, but for military and logistical reasons, the government could not simply move all the US troops in Afghanistan to their home. Therefore, the government promised to eventually withdraw all troops, initially planned to do so by the end of 2014. Too early; the remaining US troops left Afghanistan in June 2021.
GNU/Linux dominant OS An operating system, or OS, is the software that forms the structure in which applications on you computer function. Some typical OSs include Mac OS X, Windows 10, and Linux. The first two of those three are commercial products, sold as a copy by a company. The last is an open-source OS, one that anyone can download and modify free. Typically, open-source software is used by a small number of socially conscious people. False, although Linux-based Android dominated phones since 2011.
2015 New Horizon reaches Pluto The New Horizon spacecraft is a U.S. space mission designed to go to Pluto and take photographs, collect samples, etc. True. It reached Pluto on July 14, 2015.
Healthcare law causes hyperinflation The National Inflation Association warned that the healthcare bill would cause U.S. hyperinflation by 2015. False.
Millennium development goals achieved Millennium Development Goals False.
2016 Baby boomers begin turning 65 Baby boomers are individuals conceived in the years following World War Two, roughly defined as those born from 1946-1959. This isn't so much a prediction as basic math; if you were born in 1946, you turned 65 in 2011. True.
Android takes 38%/45% of market share Android is a popular operating system for smartphones and tablets, created by Google. Market share is the percentage of all devices that use the product, in this case the Android operating system. These entries together are humorous because they cannot both happen at the same time. Too late; passed these marks in 2010. Android OS's market share was already 84.4% as of the third quarter of 2014, showing that both estimates were overly conservative.
Windows phone overtakes iOS iOS is the operating system used by Apple iPhones. At the time of the comic, Apple's mobile OS is much more popular than Microsoft's. The article Randall found predicts that the tables will turn. However, Windows Phone was discontinued in 2017, with support for the last version (Windows Phone 10) ending on December 10, 2019. False.
2017 China completes lunar mission The Chinese space program has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon. False. The first sample-return mission was completed in November 2020.
Social Security stops running surplus The first of many predictions about the United States Social Security trust fund program, all predicting its decline due to a variety of factors. False.
US budget balanced The United States federal budget outlines how much the US government spends on what in a given fiscal year. The budget is not required to be balanced, and so often more money is spent than is earned in revenue, causing the national debt to rise. False. Still pretty negative.
Newspapers become obsolete and die out The increasing popularity of internet media and mobile devices has caused a steady decline in the popularity of print media. False. Though newspapers are in decline, they are certainly not obsolete as of 2017, or 2022, for that matter.
Cosmetic surgery doubles Cosmetic Surgery False. According to the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), 1.6 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2011, while 1.8 million were performed in 2017, an increase of only 0.2 million.
2018 Social Security stops running surplus Social Security again. Still false.
Jesus returns to Earth A number of Christians have attempted to predict the return of Christ (a.k.a. the second coming, the rapture) using clues from The Bible, even though the Bible itself says that "no man can know the date". Several predicted dates have come and gone. False.
2019 Social Security stops running surplus Social Security again. Still false.
Every baby has genes mapped at birth Gene Mapping False.
2020 Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels Scientists estimate that more than half of the fossil fuels in existence have already been found and that fossil fuel production will begin to decline due to the scarcity, causing prices to increase. At the same time, improvements in solar technology are causing the prices for solar energy to steadily decrease. True, though only in certain cases.
Keyboards and mice become obsolete Computer input devices are beginning to adopt other inputs, such as voice commands, touch screens, and eye tracking. While the use of touch screens in particular is gaining widespread use, as of 2014 none has come close to making keyboards and mice obsolete. None of them allow text input that are as fast as a keyboard, and none are suitable for writing program code. False. While touchscreen devices are increasingly common, both laptop and desktop computers are still very much in use. Mice continue to be used alongside touchscreens and trackpads, and keyboards remain the dominant method of writing on computers.
New Tappan Zee bridge constructed A replacement bridge was announced in 2008. Too late; completed in 2017.
2021 US debt reaches 97% of GDP US Debt Too late; reached in 2011.
US unemployment falls to 2.8% Unemployment in the United States False: because of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment has actually increased.
Restored caliphate unifies Middle East A caliphate is a form of Islamic political-religious leadership, centred around a Caliph, or successor to the prophet Muhammad. This may be foreshadowing of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has as its goal the creation of a restored caliphate. False.
Lake Mead evaporates Formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States (measured by maximum capacity). It hasn't reached its capacity since 1983, due to drought and increased demand for water. This is linked to global warming. False, although water levels continue to fall.
2022 Kilimanjaro snow-free At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Around 85% of its ice cover disappeared between 1912 and 2011, and it continues to recede.
HTML 5 finished The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) began work on HTML 5 in 2004. Too late; 5.0 specification released in 2014, but incremental updates continue.
Newspapers become obsolete and die out This is the second time this prediction has appeared.
2023 Jesus returns to Earth (again) Again.
US debt passes 100% of GDP This references the common fear that US Debt will exceed GDP, possibly causing economic turmoil. Too late; reached in 2012.
All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest Likely due to a combination of wildfire and deforestation.
2024 Atlantis begins to reappear Atlantis is the name of a fictional/hypothetical island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea.
Orangutans extinct in wild Orangutans are a species of great ape, currently classed as an endangered species, and found only in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
China lands men and women on the moon The Chinese space program has plans for extraterrestrial exploration, including a manned mission to the moon. False; the Chinese government planned a manned mission to the moon for the 2030s.
NASA sets up permanent moon base There has been a lot of hype recently about finally returning to the moon, vis-a-vis Orion.
Female professionals pass males in pay There are two possible explanations for this entry: Either it's fear-mongering from misogynists or, more probably, an erroneous extrapolation from the current rate at which female incomes are catching up to male incomes.
2025 World population reaches 8 billion Given current rates, it seems unlikely it will take this long to hit 8 billion, but advances in birth control options and especially their availability in developing nations may slow the current rate considerably.
Two billion people face water shortages http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/28-01-2008/103693-water_crisis-0/
62 MPG cars introduced 62 miles per gallon, ~3.8 L/100km. 62 MPG is a very good mileage rate at today's standard, even though some cars can be driven carefully so as to attain over 100 MPG.
US power fades http://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-us-power-will-fade-by-2025/ Hard to know what the precise metric for this would be.
2026 Atlantis emerges completely Atlantis is the name of a fictional/hypothetical island, which is supposed to have been lost beneath the sea. It seems that it has taken 2 years for it to emerge completely.
Rock Bands die out https://bestbands.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/rock-bands-to-die-out-by-2026/
US debt paid off It’s 2026, and the Debt Is Due.
Car accidents cease Presumably, cars will be fully automated and able to pilot themselves at this point and will have fail-safes that prevent collisions currently attributed to user error. Car accidents will always be possible, however, due to mechanical and electrical failures.
West coast falls into ocean Most likely due to a significant seismic event.
2027 Japan introduces new fastest Maglev train Japan's railway systems are famous for their "bullet trains", or Shinkansen. The Chūō Shinkansen is planned to be opened in this year.
Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony is established http://totse.mattfast1.com/en/technology/space_astronomy_nasa/moonmars.html
Social Security stops running surplus Social Security again.
2028 Tobacco outlawed Tobacco products (cigarettes and chewing tobacco) have become more and more taboo in modern culture, with most public places and private businesses forbidding their use indoors and near places children congregate.
40% of coral reefs gone Many factors have been attributed to the decline of coral reefs, including mining, over fishing, and rising ocean tempteratures.
US debt paid off US Debt
Social Security stops running surplus Social Security again
2029 Social Security trust fund exhausted Social Security
Computers pass the Turing test It is no coincidence that 2029 is the timeline for Terminator Movies. Some computer programs already clear the Turing Test about 30% of the time.
Aging reversed Manhattan Beach Project to reverse aging by 2029
Wikipedia reaches 30 million articles As of 1 November 2021, Wikipedia has over 57.6 million total articles, if all languages are included. The source being cited may have meant the English language Wikipedia, which has only 6.5 million articles.
2030 Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging WWF press release - Climate Change Speeds Up Amazon’s Destruction referring to a report on the Amazon's vicious cycles.
Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels From the Global Cancer Burden to Nearly Double by 2030 article about the article from page 37 of Global Cancer Facts & Figures 2nd edition.
Arctic ice-free in summer http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091015-arctic-ice-free-gone-video-ap.html
2031 Computers controlled by thought http://www.gizmag.com/future-mobile-technology/17554/ As of 2017, this is already possible, but still not used in any mass available devices as of 2021.
Realtors replaced by technology http://agbeat.com/editorials/will-realtors-be-replaced-by-technology-by-the-year-2031/
Social Security trust fund exhausted http://crfb.org/blogs/cbo-95-percent-confident-social-security-trust-fund-runs-out-25-years
2032 "Big One" hits San Francisco San Franscisco is located on the San Andreas Fault, which is predicted to produce a magnitude 7+ earthquake in the 'near future'. This event is referred to as "The Big One".
US elects first married lesbian President http://4chandata.org/g/In-what-major-ways-do-you-think-the-world-of-2032-will-be-different-from-that-of-today-a20155
Entire world converted to Christianity http://www.goddiscussion.com/38920/christian-domininionsts-to-take-over-the-world-by-2032/
2033 Kilimanjaro ice disappears http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/02/idUSL2210825
India becomes superpower https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-A-SuperPower-by-2033/151177191568098
Europe reaches Mars Specifically, a manned European mission. ESA's Mars Express probe landed in 2003.
2034 US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple U.S. diabetes cases to double, costs triple by 2034
US builds autonomous robot army The concept of robots built for military service is another common element of science fiction stories. Unmanned Systems article, about the 2009-2034 Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap publication (details at Amazon).
2035 80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources From fact sheet on Obama's State of the Union.
Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size From an IPCC report on The Himalayan glaciers that has been analysed in quite some depth. See for example detailed article on an anatomy of IPCC’s mistake.
Arctic sea lane opens Arctic sea lane could open by 2035
2036 80% of US has access to high-speed rail Obama: 80 Percent of Americans Should Have Access to High Speed Rail By 2036
Asteroid Apophis misses/hits Earth 99942 Apophis is a near-Earth asteroid that caused a brief period of concern in December 2004 because initial observations indicated a probability of up to 2.7% that it would hit Earth on April 13, 2029.
2037 Arctic ice-free in September Arctic sea ice decline
Social Security trust fund exhausted Social Security
2038 32-bit timestamps roll over, causing Y2K-level chaos On 03:14:07 UTC on 19 January 2038, the value of time_t rolls over, that is it will return to zero. time_t is a computing standard measurement of time; it is a count of the number of seconds since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970. time_t is used by most computer systems to store date and time information. It is recommended that new software should convert to a 64 bit time_t; indeed, most operating systems designed to run on 64-bit hardware already use signed 64-bit time_t integers. This would give an epoch of 15:30:08 UTC on 4 December 292,277,026,596 (292 billion years away). Of course, legacy systems may not be upgradable so action taken now should prevent this becoming a problem closer to 2038...
"Big One" hits California `The big one' likely to hit by 2038
2039 US population hits 400 Million U.S. Population Projected to Hit 400 Million in 2039
Severe heat waves become commonplace Heat waves and extremely high temperatures could be commonplace in the U.S. by 2039, Stanford study finds
Scientology becomes majority religion in US Essay: Scientology in the year 2039
2040 Arctic summers ice-free Arctic Summer Could be Ice-Free by 2040
Nanotechnology makes humans immortal Nanotech could make humans immortal by 2040, futurist says
2041 Social Security trust fund exhausted Social Security
2043 World population passes 9 Billion Population growth
2044 Mankind genetically engineered to be happy Premise of the movie Zenith - further details are in the film review for Zenith.
Childhood obesity reaches 100% 100-Percent Childhood Obesity Predicted by 2044
2045 Humans and machines merge Ray Kurzweil predicts of a 'singularity' which will lead to a race of super intelligent beings.
2046 World's natural resources depleted Peak uncertainty, when will we run out of fossil fuels?
2047 World ruled by banks and corporations Future Schlock - the story of a world turned upside down in 2047
Tobacco industry fails Experts: Big Tobacco dead by 2047, possibly sooner
US begins using autonomous attack drones US Air Force prepares drones to end era of fighter pilots
2048 Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing WWF report on unsustainable fishing.
Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle RyansWorld: Bathing Suits of the Future
Entire US population overweight Scientists Say Thin People Face Extinction in United States: Everyone Will Be Overweight by 2048 – And Less Smart (archive)
2049 $1,000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity TechNotes: Trends in Technology
Singularity occurs The Singularity Is Near
Fishing industry collapses This tends to happen when your food-stock is extinct[citation needed] - see WWF report on unsustainable fishing.
2050 80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers 80% of world population will soon be in urban areas
China controls space Space Science & Technology in China: A Roadmap to 2050
Sex with robots possible Forecast: Sex and Marriage with Robots by 2050
Cars banned from European cities EU to ban cars from cities by 2050
One million species extinct from climate change By 2050 Warming to Doom Million Species, Study Says
2051 Atmosphere escapes into space Conspiracy theory relating to Fallstreak hole or hole punch clouds.
2052 Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue Social Security
2053 US budget balanced OMB releases long-term projections for the FY2015 budget proposal
Majority of Americans in prison 'Beyond Bricks And Bars' As Jails Overflow, The Lock-'em-up Credo Is Drawing Unlikely Criticism - From Prison Officials Themselves
Cars driven by dogs This has already occurred in 2012! However, it is not as widespread as the prediction may be implying.
2054 Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem Hunger Could Be 'Unimaginable' Global Problem By 2054
2055 Atmospheric CO2 doubled Carbon Mitigation Initiative: Stabilization Wedges
Oil runs out Peak uncertainty, when will we run out of fossil fuels?
Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted 5 Valuable Metals That Could Vanish by 2055
2056 RFID-tagged driverless cars RFID-tagged driverless cars on roads by 2056
Robots given same rights as humans Robots Given Same Rights As Humans By 2056
2057 150 Japanese settlers on Mars Will Japan colonize Mars?
Colorado River runs dry Colorado River Reservoirs Could Bottom Out From Warming
2058 Smoking ends in New Zealand Smoking to die out in NZ by 2058
2059 Humans have domesticated robots Virtual necking, demography, and robots
2060 Human race lives in peace ARAS vision/mission
Extreme droughts across much of Earth Extreme drought across most of Earth by 2060
Global temperature rise reaches 4 °C Avoiding dangerous climate change
Oil runs out again Oil may run out by 2060: HSBC
2061 Halley's comet returns Halley's comet returns to the inner solar system (the vicinity of earth and the sun) every 75.3 years. The last time it was near earth was in 1985-1986. When it next returns, its closest approach to the sun will occur on 28 July 2061.
2062 Uganda hosts World Cup Uganda to host world cup in 2062
The Jetsons The Jetsons was an animated science fiction sitcom that first aired in 1962. The show was set in the year 2062.
2063 First human clones reach adulthood The Fall - Last Days of Gaia Diary #2
Population of Moon reaches 100,000 Reading Eagle newspaper article from July 17, 1963 - Moon Population of 100,000 Is Predicted for 2063 and Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)
Population of Mars reaches 10,000 Air Force Predictions for 2063 (1963)
Spacecraft exceed speed of light Physics as currently understood states that it is impossible to exceed the speed of light. A monumental shift in our physics would have had to have occurred for this to come true. This is a reference to the 8th Star Trek feature Film: "Star Trek: First Contact" where Zefram Cochrane performs the first human Warp Flight on April 5, 2063.
2064 Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels State plan guarantees a hazy future for Texas’ wilderness areas
2065 Last coral reefs die out From an article about a video called Reefs on the Edge set in 2065 where a 15-year-old girl tells her grandfather's stories of coral reefs, and their demise.
Chernobyl cleanup complete Chernobyl clean in 55 years time?
2066 Cyprus achieves its goal This is from some forum posts on the decendants of Cypriots that lends support to the autonomy of Cyprus from Greek or Turkey.
2067 Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV The article at Artifact of the Month: Slide rule, 1916 includes information from the International Slide Rule Museum that "in 1967, Keuffel & Esser Co. commissioned a study of the future, predicting that Americans in 2067 would live in domed cities and watch 3D television."
Redheads go extinct Are redheads going extinct?
2068 Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering NASA Study Finds Clock Ticking Slower On Ozone Hole Recovery
Lord Jesus rules the Earth from Throne in Jerusalem. The Resurrections -- What Really Happens
Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water Alex Jones talks about chemicals that make people gay
2069 Public masturbation legalized It's still not okay to Pull Your Penis out in Public
2070 World population peaks Global population to peak in 2070
City-scale flooding disasters City-scale flooding disasters predicted by 2070
60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources What Is Alternative Energy All About?
2071 Europe's temperatures rise by 3 °C Projection of Economic impacts of climate change in Sectors of the European Union based on bottom-up Analysis
World summer temperatures rise by 5 °C See "Air temperature changes in the 21st century"
2072 US retirement age is set to 75 Up to 70-80 years
2073 Oceans do not rise one foot More like 2 feet
2074 Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million UK to have 1 million centenarians by 2074
Supertyphoons hit Japan Super typhoons in store as seas warm
2075 US retirement age set to 69 Retirement age at 69? Deficit plan hits Social Security
2076 Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors Multiple Authorship in Biochemistry and Other Fields (PDF)
Social Security trust fund exhausted Social Security
2078 Newspapers become obsolete and die out The same prediction was made for 2017 and 2022. Even when most prognosticators agree that something will happen, there can still be much disagreement about when it will happen.
2079 US debt reaches 716% of GDP US Debt
Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest Climate change causing demise of lodgepole pine in western North America
Floods commonplace Floods To Become Commonplace By 2080
Religion marginalized http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-11347073
2080 Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP Our debt problems are far from solved (PDF)
UK population doubles Britain's population to hit 110 million
2082 World population declines to one billion Population: The Elephant in the Room
2084 Robot policemen introduced Robotic cops set to stamp out crime by 2084
2085 US deficit reaches 62% of GDP Paul Krugman Throws In Towel, Says We’re Headed For Another Depression
2088 Japan becomes all-robot country Japan To Become All Robot Country By 2088
2089 World halts fossil fuel use Fossil Fuels
2090 Global warming hits 7 °C Models warn of 7C dangerous climate change by 2090. Climate change, especially global warming, is a recurring theme in xkcd.
Global warming hits 4 °C Summarized here. In reference to Andy Bowers, “Analysis: Scientists say global warming could affect California's drinking water supply,” NPR All Things Considered, June 22, 2001
2100 Global warming around 5-7 °C Hadley Center study warns of ‘catastrophic’ 5-7°C warming by 2100 on current emissions path
Sea levels have risen by a meter or more Future sea level
Joshua trees nearly extinct Joshua Trees Nearly Wiped Out by 2100?
Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous Atmospheric CO2 concentrations during ancient greenhouse climates were similar to those predicted for A.D. 2100
Germany tropical Climate Change Predictions: A Tropical Germany by 2100?
Emperor penguins extinct Emperor penguins face extinction
Arctic permafrost thaws Surface Permafrost Could Disappear by 2100
Rising seas flood coastal cities Rising Seas Will Affect Major U.S. Coastal Cities by 2100
Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts Massive Loss of Rainforest Species by 2100
All coral reefs gone Coral Reefs Gone by 2100?
Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor Each iteration of the Gillette line of safety razors has one more blade than the previous one. MadTV has also parodied this. Over five years before MadTV did so, the Australian comedy group the D-Generation parodied the first two-bladed razor as the Gillette 3000 with 16 blades.
2101 WAR WAS BEGINNING References Zero Wing, a 1989 Japanese computer game set in 2101, famous for poorly translated English and the source for "All your base are belong to us". See 286: All Your Base


Transcript

THE FUTURE
According to Google search results
Events for each year determined by the first page of Google search results for the phrases:
"By <year>" "In year"
"By the year <year>" "In the year <year>"
"Will * by the year <year>" "Will * in the year <year>"
"In <year>, * will" "By <year>, * will"
2012
World population reaches 7 billion
Flying cars reach market
Canada cuts greenhouse emissions to 6% below 1990 levels as per Kyoto
Apocalypse occurs
2013
National debt paid off through President Clinton's plans
Microchipping of all Americans begins
Homelessness ended in Massachusetts
Health care reform law repealed
2014
US leaves Afghanistan
GNU/Linux becomes dominant OS
2015
New Horizons reaches Pluto
Health care law causes hyperinflation
192 UN member nations achieve millennium development goals:
  • Extreme poverty and hunger eradicated
  • Universal primary education implemented
  • Women empowered, gender equality reached
  • Environmental stability ensured
2016
Baby boomers begin turning 65
Android takes 38% of the smartphone market
Android takes 45% of the smartphone market
Windows Phone overtakes iOS in smartphones
2017
China completes unmanned Lunar sample-return mission
Social Security stops running surplus
US budget balanced
Newspapers become obsolete and die out
Cosmetic surgery doubles
2018
Social Security stops running surplus
Jesus returns to Earth
2019
Social Security stops running surplus
Every baby has genes mapped at birth
2020
Solar power becomes cheaper than fossil fuels
Keyboards and mice become obsolete
New Tappan Zee bridge constructed
2021
US debt reaches 97% of GDP
US unemployment falls to 2.8%
Restored caliphate unifies Middle East
Lake Mead evaporates
2022
Kilimanjaro snow-free
HTML 5 finished
Newspapers become obsolete and die out
2023
Jesus returns to Earth (again)
US debt passes 100% of GDP
All unprotected ancient forests gone from Pacific Northwest
2024
Atlantis begins to reappear
Orangutans extinct in wild
China lands men and women on the moon
NASA sets up permanent moon base
Female professionals pass males in pay
2025
World population reaches 8 billion
Two billion people face water shortages
62 MPG cars introduced
US power fades
2026
Atlantis emerges completely
Rock Bands die out
US debt paid off
Car accidents cease
West coast falls into ocean
2027
Japan introduces new fastest maglev train
Lyndon Larouche-planned Mars colony established
Social Security stops running surplus
2028
Tobacco outlawed
40% of coral reefs gone
US debt paid off
Social Security stops running surplus
2029
Social Security trust fund exhausted
Computers pass the Turing Test
Aging reversed
Wikipedia reaches 30 million articles
2030
Half of Amazon rain forest lost to logging
Cancer deaths double from 2008 levels
Arctic ice-free in summer
2031
Computers controlled by thought
Realtors replaced by technology
Social Security trust fund exhausted
2032
"Big One" hits San Francisco
US elects first married lesbian president
Entire world converted to Christianity
2033
Kilimanjaro ice disappears
India becomes superpower
Europe reaches Mars
2034
US diabetes cases double, treatment costs triple
US builds autonomous robot army
2035
80% of America's energy comes from renewable sources
Himalayan glaciers down 80% in size
Arctic sea lane opens
2036
80% of US has access to high-speed rail
Asteroid Apophis hits/misses Earth
2037
Arctic ice-free in September
Social Security trust fund exhausted
2038
32-bit timestamps role over, causing Y2K-level chaos
"Big One" hits California
2039
US population hits 400 million
Severe heat waves become commonplace
Scientology becomes majority religion in US
2040
Arctic summers ice-free
Nanotechnology makes humans immortal
2041
Social Security trust fund exhausted
2042
2043
World population passes 9 billion
2044
Mankind genetically engineered to be happy
Childhood obesity reaches 100%
2045
Humans and machines merge
2046
World's natural resources depleted
2047
World ruled by banks and corporations
Tobacco industry fails
US begins using autonomous attack drones
2048
Salt-water fish extinct from overfishing
Unisex bathing suits cover body from shoulder to ankle
Entire US population overweight
2049
$1.000 computer exceeds computational ability of humanity
Singularity occurs
Fishing industry collapses
2050
80% of Earth's population lives in urban centers
China controls space
Sex with robots possible
Cars banned from European cities
One million species extinct from climate change
2051
Atmosphere escapes into space
2052
Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security spending exceed total US revenue
2053
US budget balanced
Majority of Americans in prison
Cars driven by dogs
2054
Hunger becomes unimaginable global problem
2055
Atmospheric CO2 doubled
Oil runs out
Copper, tin, lead, gold, and nickel all exhausted
2056
RFID-tagged driverless cars
Robots given same rights as humans
2057
150 Japanese settlers on Mars
Colorado River runs dry
2058
Smoking ends in New Zealand
2059
Humans have domesticated robots
2060
Human race lives in peace
Extreme droughts across much of Earth
Global temperature rise reaches 4°C
Oil runs out again
2061
Halley's comet returns
2062
Uganda hosts World Cup
The Jetsons
2063
First human clones reach adulthood
Population of Moon reaches 100,000
Population of Mars reaches 10,000
Spacecraft exceed speed of light
2064
Clean Air Act finishes reducing haze in national parks to natural levels
2065
Last coral reefs die out
Chernobyl cleanup complete
2066
Cyprus achieves its goal
2067
Americans live in domed cities and watch 3D TV
Redheads go extinct
2068
Ozone hole over Antarctic finishes recovering
Lord Jesus rules the Earth from Throne in Jerusalem.
Entire world population gay due to chemicals in the water
2069
Public masturbation legalized
2070
World population peaks
City-scale flooding disasters
60% of world's energy comes from renewable sources
2071
Europe's temperatures rise by 3°C
World summer temperatures rise by 5°C
2072
US retirement age is set to 75
2073
Oceans do not rise one foot
2074
Number of 100-year-olds reaches one million
Supertyphoons hit Japan
2075
US retirement age set to 69
2076
Average scientific paper has more than 24 authors
Social Security trust fund exhausted
2077
2078
Newspapers become obsolete and die out
2079
US debt reaches 716% of GDP
Lodgepole pines disappear from Northwest
Floods commonplace
Religion marginalized
2080
Federal spending reaches 70% of GDP
UK population doubles
2081
2082
World population declines to one billion
2083
2084
Robot policemen introduced
2085
US deficit reaches 62% of GDP
2086
2087
2088
Japan becomes all-robot country
2089
World halts fossil fuel use
2090
Global warming hits 7°C
Global warming hits 4°C
2091
2092
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2100
Global warming around 5-7°C
Sea levels have risen by a meter or more
Joshua trees nearly extinct
Earth's climate resembles that of the Cretaceous
Germany tropical
Emperor penguins extinct
Arctic permafrost thaws
Rising seas flood coastal cities
Rain forests mostly gone due to climatic shifts
All coral reefs gone
Gillette introduces 14-bladed razor
2101
WAR WAS BEGINNING


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Discussion

The explanation is really messed up. You can hardly tell where one year ends and the next begins. Can someone who's better at editing than me fix this, perhaps by putting a line across the page after each year? GizmoDude (talk) 19:11, 7 April 2016 (UTC)

This one slipped under the transcripting radar. I may do it. --Quicksilver (talk) 20:52, 17 August 2013 (UTC)

Do not talk about radars, just do it. The transcript is done right now, but the explain section still does need a big radar!--Dgbrt (talk) 20:20, 18 August 2013 (UTC)

Find the song! I have no idea so far but the repeating phrase "Social security trust fund exhausted" should match a refrain.--Dgbrt (talk) 20:20, 18 August 2013 (UTC)

They now have the dogs driving cars... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWAK0J8Uhzk Let's not wait for 2053.173.245.54.90 21:01, 20 March 2014 (UTC)

Out of curiosity (I'm new to the standards of explainxkcd), are out of date pages considered incomplete? Or is it up to editors to chose when to update a pages explination. I would assume the former, except that would make maintaining the pages significantly more difficult. Also, referencing the Linux takes over. Since Android is now a part of the libux kernel,should thia be changed? It would definently put linux over the 50% mark. Mrmakeit (talk) 05:03, 4 April 2014 (UTC)

Pages can not become out of date, as they refrence the meening of the comic at the time of creation. 108.162.216.209 15:24, 10 December 2014 (UTC)

I would change the 2nd paragraph to say that the entirety of the search results are a super long set-up and "All your base..." is the punch-line. Smperron (talk) 08:46, 10 November 2014 (UTC)

I would correct the entry in 2014 that says that the Taliban are the organisation responsible for the September 11th attacks. The more accurate explanation would be that The US believed Al Qaeda (the real organisation responsible) were hiding out in Afghanistan and that defeating the Taliban, and bringing stability to the country was an important stepping stone towards finding Osama Bin Laden. Of course we now know he was in Pakistan all along, but still that was the original rationale for invading Afghanistan.--141.101.98.192 15:27, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

This further details stuff is wrong about the comic. The lines are just random answers to Google searches. There is no explanation. I move to remove this table, or convert it into links or summaries of the articles in the links. This sucks. It is good enough as it is now without the table (as the table is random and the explanations on the table are incorrect. 108.162.216.209 22:12, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

Let's get to work on the table then. I'm adding suitable references to incomplete sections to aid as jumping off points, from where further expansion can be done on a case-by-case basis. Can you provide some inspiration as to which explanations are most egregiously in need of correction? Pmw57 (talk) 01:44, 8 January 2015 (UTC)

As of 2014 I have noticed that a lot of US sites are moving from html to closed sources such as Adobe so the quote: "The prediction about GNU/Linux Operating Systems is ambiguous" is now fighting through government agencies. Users of Linux trying to access the volcano archive (once supplied by listserv using linux) now have to get access via Windows machines. This has to be the saddest computing news in a long time. Weatherlawyer (talk) 08:19, 4 January 2015 (UTC)

“The prediction about GNU/Linux Operating Systems is ambiguous, as Android (based on Linux) constitutes nearly 50% of the mobile OS market” — GNU/Linux refers to an operating system consisting of the GNU userland toolchain over the Linux kernel. Android is based on Linux but not GNU, therefore, it is irrelevant in GNU/Linux context. 108.162.230.107 11:18, 23 January 2015 (UTC)

Can we change this to Incomplete explanation of the month? Foldark (talk) 22:03, 28 March 2015 (UTC)

2145:War... War never changes (the Great War happens) 173.245.54.252 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

Is it just my reading, or does it say "ACHEIVE" instead of "ACHIEVE" where it says something about 192 UN member nations achieving millennium development goals in the comic? (It's under 2015.) --172.68.55.70 21:45, 10 November 2016 (UTC)

No, it reads like this for me too. (Even on the original comic page, where I'd expect it to have been long fixed already.) --172.68.11.87 19:35, 11 November 2016 (UTC)

Some of these predictions seem very realistic. 162.158.59.172 00:22, 25 December 2016 (UTC) Jawa457

I am not sure if this needs to be added or not since it was not happening when the comic was produced and it is not the government doing it but a private tech company microchipping its employees in 2017 Google results since I do not know which news articles will disappear over time. 162.158.62.231 12:03, 17 August 2017 (UTC)

I think we can delete incomplete tag. -- -- 1337-PI (talk) 04:21, 26 February 2021 (UTC) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I feel it would have been funny, if a bit confusing, if the first few years numbers after 2037/2038 started referring to, e.g. 1970, 1971, before suddenly "Year 2038 bug finally exterminated". You know it's gonna happen... at least to some poor schmucks somewhere in the world.--Twisted Code (talk) 12:52, 22 November 2022 (UTC)

The link is bad

Here's a working one. 162.158.93.27 14:57, 22 December 2018 (UTC)


How do I add an Incomplete tag to the top? It's now 2024 so more stuff needs to be added. -- Danger Kitty (talk) 20:18, 1 February 2024 (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

You just need the {{incomplete}} template.
e.g. {{incomplete|This page will need updating to account for facts known up until the start of 2024}}, but you might instead prefer a version that follows a comment format more of Created by THE 2024 EQUIVALENT OF A BOT - Needs to be updated to the current year. Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon. to blend in with the 'starter' version currently used and then tweaked... 172.70.90.92 21:12, 1 February 2024 (UTC)