The future is unpredictable, but that hasn’t stopped people from making bold claims about what’s to come. From failed technology predictions to outrageous statements about culture and society, some of these guesses aged so poorly, they’re laughable today.
Today, the Bored Panda team scoured the internet to find exactly that. Whether it’s outdated scientific forecasts or overconfident business takes, these moments prove that even the smartest minds can get it wrong. Keep reading to see some of the worst predictions that didn’t stand the test of time!
#1 Found This In The Supply Closet(It’s A Box Of Plastic Bags)
Image credits: Fattall
#2 Google In 1999 And Today Its Completely Opposite
Image credits: imgur.com
#3 Classic Daily Mail
Image credits: RopesAreForP*ssies
While many of us joke about what the future holds, there are people who take it very seriously—and even make a career out of it. Whether it’s astrologers, fortune tellers, or numerologists, predicting the future has fascinated humanity for centuries.
Some people swear by it, while others remain skeptical, but there’s no denying that astrology has remained a part of cultures worldwide.
#4 Happy New Year!
Image credits: AlphaCoronae
#5 "There Is No Reason Anyone Would Want A Computer In Their Home." --Ken Olson, President, Chain-Nan And Founder Of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
Image credits: phys.ufl.edu
#6 This Old Cartoon About Transportation
Image credits: bowiesbootycall
Astrology is based on the belief that planetary movements and positions influence human behavior and events on Earth. It’s a practice that has been studied and refined over thousands of years, with different schools of thought emerging across the world. While some see it as a science of the stars, others view it as a guiding tool for self-awareness and decision-making.
#7 Kevin...you Sweet, Sweet Summer Child
Image credits: 2343252621
#8 An Old "Helpful" Tip In A Magazine
Image credits: Nyxel_
#9 The Last Page Of This Book From 1981…
Image credits: SlickestIckis
To gain a deeper understanding, Bored Panda spoke with Acharya Anju Agarwal, a MahaVastu consultant and expert in Vaastu & Astrology, who provides both home and online consultations from Mumbai, India.
With years of experience, she helps people understand how astrology influences various aspects of their lives—from relationships to career choices.
#10 "Everything That Can Be Invented Has Been Invented." - Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office Of Patents, 1899
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#11 50 Years Isn't That Long
Image credits: decaturbadass
#12 Sorry Man
Image credits: l-am-Not-Me
“An astrological chart is a wheel divided into 12 zodiac signs, which correspond to 12 different houses—each representing a specific area of life,” Acharya Anju explained.
“These houses are influenced by planetary placements, and the interactions between these planets shape a person’s unique astrological profile.”
#13 Lady Gaga Had A Hater Group
Image credits: Canadian_Kartoffel
#14 "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us." - A memo at Western Union, 1878 (or 1876).
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#15 "If excessive smoking actually plays a role in the production of lung cancer, it seems to be a minor one." - W.C. Heuper, National Cancer Institute, 1954
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
Over the centuries, astrologers have studied these planetary movements and developed interpretations that range from understanding individual personalities to analyzing world events. “There are different branches of astrology,” she shared.
“Like the branches of a tree, they all stem from the same core but take different directions—some focus on personal traits, while others predict larger events in politics, economics, or natural disasters.”
#16 Well This Didn’t Age Well
Image credits: zedzuuzaaa
#17 ‘King Charles & Queen Diana’ - Well This One Tops The Cake
A prediction of the future about Prince Charles and Lady Diana from a 1992 royal magazine.
Image credits: Cedarbush
#18 Not Sure Why He Deleted This Comment From November?
Image credits: calamitousyob
So how does astrology actually work? “It’s all about the alignment of celestial bodies at a given time,” she explained. “Your birth chart, for instance, is a snapshot of the sky at the exact moment and location of your birth. It’s like your cosmic blueprint, revealing your strengths, challenges, and tendencies.”
Astrology isn’t one-size-fits-all—there are different types, each offering a unique perspective. Some focus on personal insight, while others examine broader societal changes. “For example, mundane astrology is used to predict global events, while medical astrology looks at health patterns based on planetary alignments,” she added.
#19 "A Rocket Will Never Be Able To Leave The Earth's Atmosphere." New York Times, 1936
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#20 Found This In My Photos Recently
Image credits: alittlewaysaway
#21 There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. Steve Ballmer, USA Today, April 30, 2007.
Image credits: wikiquote.org
One of the most common types is natal astrology, which revolves around an individual’s birth chart. “It highlights everything from career tendencies to relationship dynamics,” Acharya Anju said. “Then there’s relationship astrology, which compares two or more birth charts to analyze compatibility and connection between individuals.”
Of course, astrology has its fair share of critics. “Some people believe in it deeply, while others dismiss it as pure superstition,” she admitted. “And that’s completely fine—everyone has the right to their own beliefs.”
#22 They Had To End Him In The End
Image credits: s1nur
#23 Found In A Local Thrift Shop
Image credits: roe_vs_wade_boggs
#24 Guy Regrets A Financial Decision
Image credits: Supernova008
“We don’t claim to be God,” she emphasized. “Astrology isn’t about controlling fate, but rather understanding patterns and tendencies. It’s meant to offer guidance, not definitive answers.”
Regardless of where you stand on the subject, there’s no denying that astrology continues to intrigue millions of people. Whether you check your horoscope daily or roll your eyes at the idea of Mercury Retrograde ruining your week, it’s a practice that’s deeply rooted in history and human curiosity.
#25 Rapture Faster
Image credits: ria_rokz
#26 This Meme I Sent To A Friend On 21/12/19
Image credits: HoneyyBadgers
#27 Quote From Ellen In A Book My Daughter Is Reading
Image credits: pestario
While the people in these posts aren’t professional astrologers, they certainly made some bold predictions—some eerily accurate, others wildly off the mark.
Whether you’re a believer in the stars or just enjoy a good laugh at how things turn out, these predictions prove that the future is always full of surprises. Which one did you find the most peculiar? Let us know!
#28 “Movies are a fad. Audiences really want to see live actors on a stage.” - Charlie Chaplin
Image credits: goodreads
#29 Comments About Computers From Long Ago
Image credits: reddit.com
#30 Welp, This Aged Like Milk Now, Didn’t It?
Image credits: 1Hate17Here
#31 It will be gone by June.- Variety, passing judgement on rock 'n roll in 1955
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#32 "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." - Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of science, 1949
Image credits: Pixabay
#33 Prediction From 1913
Image credits: usa2z
#34 An Old Memory Of Mine... Don't Ask Me For Any Future Advice
Image credits: wrpg
#35 “There Will Never Be A Bigger Plane Built.” Allegedly A Boeing Engineer, After The First Flight Of The 247, A Plane That Held Ten People
Image credits: AvQuote
#36 "X-Rays will prove to be a hoax." - Lord Kelvin, President of the Royal Society, 1883
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#37 "There is nothing new to be discovered in physics now; All that remains is more and more precise measurement." - Lord Kelvin, speaking to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1900
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#38 "Who the hell wants to hear actors talk ?" - Harry M. Warner, Warner Bros, 1927
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#39 "The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to no one in particular?" - Associates of David Sarnoff responding to the latter's call for investment in the radio in 1921.
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#40 Experts Predicting Future In 1964
Image credits: reddit.com
#41 Never Say Or Type It Out Loud
Image credits: SolSparrow
#42 That the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development is suggested by the fact that during the past year no improvements of a radical nature have been introduced. Scientific American, Jan. 2 edition, 1909.
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#43 "We are probably nearing the limit of all we can know about astronomy." - Simon Newcomb, Canadian-born American astronomer, 1888.
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#44 "Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy." - Associates of Edwin L. Drake refusing his suggestion to drill for oil in 1859
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#45 Umm Guess We Aren’t Going
Image credits: GracefullyShivering
#46 Democracy will be dead by 1950. - John Langdon-Davies, A Short History of The Future, 1936
Image credits: wikiquote.org
#47 Mmmmmm, Radium
Image credits: sadklf21
#48 Did Anyone Get Raptured Recently?
Image credits: briangun1
#49 Oops…
Image credits: kingdrew2007
#50 French Artists View On How 21st Century Would Look Like [1962]
Image credits: redvakho
#51 Boycott? Boycott
Image credits: PhenomenalPancake
#52 Yeah…
Image credits: Supergameplayer
#53 2020 Showed Them
Image credits: liefieblue
#54 Every Past Rapture Claim
Image credits: flannelman37
#55 Very Old Graffiti In The Boys Locker Room Of My School
Image credits: Passer-byStranger
#56 Reddit Comments After First iPhone Was Announced 14 Years Ago
Image credits: Johnwesleya
#57 “You Could Think Of Them As The Sixth Basic Food Group”
Image credits: SingerRestorer
#58 He’s Gonna Miss It
Image credits: reddit.com
#59 "Television won't last. It's a flash in the pan." - Mary Somerville, pioneer of radio educational broadcasts, 1948
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#60 Luther, a German priest and professor of theology, predicted the end of the world would occur no later than 1600, Martin Luther
Image credits: wikipedia.org
#61 Someone Wrote This Article In 1982. Gaming Has Come A Long Way!
Image credits: Arup_98
#62 Fasted Aged Like Milk In The West
Image credits: sadtrav
#63 ~100 Year Old Milk: Then Prince Edward Talking About His Future In A Book Printed During His Father’s Reign
Image credits: Weasley9
#64 A 4 Month Old Comment By Me
Image credits: reddit.com
#65 This early French bishop announced the end of the world would happen during this year, 365 CE, Hilary of Poitiers
Image credits: wikipedia.org
#66 Forgot The iPhone…
Image credits: visual-appearance69
#67 Aged Like Curdled Cheese
Image credits: Curious-Parsley-9003
#68 Never Obsolete
Image credits: nashweed914
#69 Spoke Wayyyy Too Soon
Image credits: I_Drew_a_Dick
#70 :(
Image credits: ZaytherLegit
#71 "Law will be simplified (over the next century). Lawyers will have diminished, and their fees will have been vastly curtailed."- journalist Junius Henri Browne, 1893
Image credits: humanscience.fandom.com
#72 Illustrations Of Miller's Views Of The End Of The World In 1843
Image credits: Adventist Digital Library
#73 One Day We’ll Be Laughing At The Paperhands Too
Image credits: Beaumarine
#74 What A Dumba*s
Image credits: reddit.com
#75 It Was Already "Aged Like Milk" In 2011, But Now It's Aged X1662 Better Since Current Bitcoin Price Is $13,300
Image credits: Crypt0n0ob
#76 I'm So Sorry Guys, I Was Only Joking. It Was 2016 And Trump Had Just Won, I Was Trying To Think Of Something Even More Ridiculous
Image credits: Tarfire42
#77 Hopefully No One Listened
Image credits: nujabes02
#78 Facebook Memories Reminding Me Of This L From 2014
Image credits: Kevo55
#79 What I Found On Linkedin The Other Day
Image credits: reddit.com
#80 "Nuclear-Powered Vacuum Cleaners Will Probably Be A Reality In 10 Years." - Alex Lewyt, President Of Vacuum Cleaner Company Lewyt Corp., In The New York Times In 1955
Image credits: phys.ufl.edu
#81 "Stocks Have Reached What Looks Like A Permanently High Plateau." - Irving Fisher, Professor Of Economics, Yale University, 1929, Right Before The 1929 Stock Market Crash
Image credits: columbia.edu
#82 Well It’s 2025 Now
Image credits: reddit.com
#83 Anyone Remember This Forgotten Reality Show?
Image credits: TheGoldDigga
#84 This Is Awkward
Image credits: fuck_ur_portmanteau
#85 It’s Not Rigged
Image credits: __starburst__
#86 What can be more palpably absurd than the prospect held out of locomotives traveling twice as fast as stagecoaches? The Quarterly Review, March, 1825.
Image credits: wikiquote.org
#87 Lebron Just Turned 40 And The F*****y Is Still Ongoing LOL
Image credits: Testosteronomicon
#88 Newspapers
Image credits: HayBre
#89 Obama Countdown Clock
Image credits: byrobot
#90 That Aged Quickly…
Image credits: Jorjebear
#91 Movie Of The Year, Right?
Image credits: LocalPlatypus994
#92 I Was Going Through My Super Old iPod Touch For A Nostalgia Trip When I Found This Scheduled For My Birthday 2020. Yikes
Image credits: omgihatemylifepoo
#93 Where’s My £1000?
Image credits: reddit.com
#94 Thanks To The La Fires, It Smells Like A BBQ Down Here
Image credits: BulbasaurArmy
#95 Kids Would Love Drake
Image credits: Conscious-Capital-21
#96 This Shirt Is Chunky Lemon Milk
Image credits: SpoiledPoser
