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Looking beyond -

Humans have long been captivated by the allure of predicting the future. From meticulously analyzing weather patterns and disease outbreaks with sophisticated models, to consulting astrologers and interpreting tea leaves, we employ diverse approaches to peer into the future, trying to anticipate and prepare for the unknown.

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Scientific method -

Scientists today leverage powerful tools like data mining, statistical analysis, and complex simulations to forecast everything from climate change to the spread of infectious diseases.

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Alternative methods -

Meanwhile, other approaches, rooted in mysticism and spiritual beliefs, involve seeking guidance from oracles, interpreting dreams, or consulting horoscopes, offering alternative perspectives on unfolding future events.

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Cultural habit -

Ancient civilizations such as the Mayans documented their daily lives through intricate drawings, towering monuments, and enduring scriptures, which also articulated their hopes and expectations for future generations.

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Lost in translation -

Some prophecies, however, offered ominous and even confusing predictions. The 2012 doomsday scenario, linked to the Mayan calendar, is a prime example. Years later, a claimed misinterpretation of the calendar shifted the predicted end of the world to 2023.

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Nostradamus -

Numerous prophets have emerged throughout history, with French physician and astrologer Nostradamus being among the most celebrated. His renowned work, 'Les Prophéties' ('The Prophecies'), continues to captivate those seeking to decipher its cryptic predictions.

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Conflict foreshadowing -

Nostradamus' prophecies often depicted scenarios of war, disease, and environmental disasters, including apocalyptic visions. For 2025, his writings allude to conflict in Europe, with some interpreting this as foreshadowing the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

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Baba Vanga -

The Bulgarian mystic gained worldwide fame for her alleged predictions of major historical events, earning her the moniker "the Nostradamus of the Balkans." Notably, she reportedly foresaw the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, adding to her mystique and further fueling public fascination with her prophecies.

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New discovery -

Researchers at the online genealogy service Findmypast have recently unearthed the previously unknown predictions of a British scientist and inventor about life in 2025, offering a fascinating glimpse into his vision of the future a century ago.

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Ahead of his time -

A century after the publication of his book 'The Future,' some of the author's predictions have proven remarkably accurate. However, when he envisioned "a day in the life of a man of the future" a hundred years ago, his ideas were often met with skepticism and dismissed as "ruthlessly imaginative."

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Who was he? -

Born in London in 1888, Archibald Montgomery Low was a multifaceted professional who excelled as an engineer, research physicist, inventor, and prolific author, penning over 40 books throughout his career.

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Visionary inventor -

A visionary pioneer in numerous fields, Low is credited with inventing the first drone and, in 1914, developed the TeleVista, a precursor to the television, predating the work of Scottish engineer John Baird, who officially demonstrated a working television system to the public in 1925.

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Vision and sound - Recognized as the "father of radio guidance systems," Low pioneered their use in aircraft, torpedoes, and rockets. Notably, during World War II, the German military adapted his 1918 system for their own guided weapons.

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Faced with skepticism -

Ironically, widespread recognition for Low's contributions came later in his career. His contemporaries often viewed him with disdain. While his ideas were widely reported in the press, some journalists at the time dismissed his predictions as outlandish.

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Low's predictions -

While some of his predictions, like everyone wearing synthetic felt jumpsuits and hats, were indeed "ruthlessly imaginative" as a contemporary journalist aptly described them, many others hit the mark. Click on to discover which ones!

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TV and home speakers -

Given his pioneering work on the TeleVista, his accurate prediction of "home loudspeakers" and a "television machine" replacing newspapers for on-demand entertainment and global broadcasting at the press of a button is not that surprising.

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Going granular -

But he went further. Low envisioned a future where people would start their days by consuming news broadcasts and watching live events through "loudspeaker news" and "television glimpses," a remarkably accurate prediction of our modern morning routines.

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Escalators -

Low accurately predicted the development of escalators and travelators, anticipating a future where people could effortlessly navigate urban environments via "moving sidewalks" designed to minimize physical exertion.

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Mobile phones -

Fascinatingly, Low anticipated the concept of mobile phones, referring to them as "automatic telephones." He astutely observed that a key advantage of these devices would be the elimination of the frustrating manual dialing process prevalent in the 1920s.

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Communication methods -

Given his expertise in developing radio systems, it's no surprise that Low envisioned a future where we would communicate using "personal radio sets." This eerily foreshadows our modern use of voice notes and other forms of mobile communication.

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Renewable energy -

The rise of green energy sources like offshore wind and solar power validates Low's prediction that "wind and tide are also to be harnessed to the service of man." Moreover, his vision of machines handling "all the heavy and disagreeable work" is increasingly becoming a reality, as automation and robotics continue to shape our lives.

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Alarm clocks -

Today's alarm clock was once a revolutionary concept. Before automated alarms, workers known as "knocker-uppers" would wake people by tapping on their windows. Low envisioned a future where a radio alarm clock could be set for the time one wished to rise, a comfort that seemed unreachable at the time.

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Lye in -

However, Low’s prediction of standard wake-up times might have been a bit overly optimistic, as he expected the future norm to see alarm clocks being regularly set for "probably nine-thirty."

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Light treatments - One of Low's more unconventional predictions was the rise of "radio light treatment or massage" as a daily healthcare routine. While this might reflect his enthusiasm for the therapeutic potential of radio technology, his idea foreshadows the growing interest in light therapy and other non-invasive wellness practices.

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Cinematic experience -

While aiming to envision the future of cinema, Low inadvertently foreshadowed the rise of immersive technologies. He predicted viewers would enjoy multiple movies playing simultaneously, a vision that resonates with today's virtual reality experiences and the use of VR headsets to explore diverse digital environments.

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Surveillance -

Demonstrating his foresight, Low accurately predicted the use of covert surveillance technologies, such as hidden cameras and listening devices, as effective tools to catch criminals.

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Clothing -

Despite being considered radical in the 1920s, Low's prediction that women would embrace trousers as everyday attire has proven accurate.

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Blind spot -

Despite his forward-thinking ideas, Low held some surprisingly conservative views. In 1929, the Daily Express reported with outrage that Low declared it would take centuries for women to achieve intellectual parity with men, suggesting they would only do so by adopting masculine physical traits.

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All in all -

Despite these era-reflecting views and some incorrect predictions, such as herb-illuminated streets and mind-to-mind communication, Low continued to make predictions until his death, at age 68. Overall, his ability to foresee future technological advancements is remarkable.

Sources: (The Guardian) (Findmypast)

See also: Pandemic predictor warns of potential global conflicts

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