10 Historical Predictions That Turned Out Shockingly Accurate
Some historical predictions were so eerily accurate that they felt less like guesses and more like glimpses into the future.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
There have been eerie prophecies throughout history that appeared to look into the future with near supernatural precision. From Jules Verne predicting the Moon landing to Mark Twain prophesying his own demise, these examples obfuscate the boundary between coincidence and premonition. Whether based on science, intuition, or dumb luck, these prophecies are some of the most chillingly accurate peeks into what was to be.
1. Jules Verne Foretold the Moon Landing (1865)
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In the book From the Earth to the Moon, Verne depicted a mission to the Moon that bore a spooky resemblance to Apollo 11—right down to the launch and splashdown of the spacecraft in the ocean from Florida. His fictional “Columbiad” rocket was almost the same size as the Apollo command module. Even the book referenced such details as weightlessness and a three-man crew, identical to the actual event more than a century later.
2. H.G. Wells Predicted the Atomic Bomb (1914)
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In The World Set Free, Wells accounted for a catastrophic “atomic bomb” capable of leveling entire cities with perpetual explosions. This was over 30 years before nuclear weapons. Physicists such as Leo Szilard, one of the pioneers of the bomb, credited Wells’ work as an inspiration.
3. Mark Twain Foretold His Own Death (1909)
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Twain famously stated, “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.” He died on April 21, 1910—just one day after the comet’s closest approach to our planet.
4. Nikola Tesla Foretold Smartphones (1909)
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Tesla imagined a machine that would be carried in an individual’s pocket and permit instant connection anywhere in the world. He wrote of a “wireless telephone” that was to be portable, sounding very much like today’s mobile phones. His dream, released in Popular Mechanics, was decried as science fiction back then.
5. Morgan Robertson Foretold the Titanic Tragedy (1898)
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In his novella Futility or the Wreck of the Titan, Robertson portrayed an “unsinkable” luxury ship named Titan that hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic. The fictional ship was suspiciously close to the Titanic, which sank 14 years afterward under almost identical conditions. Even the number of lifeboats was equally inadequate.
6. John Elfreth Watkins Foretold Televisions and Digital Pictures (1900)
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In an article in Ladies’ Home Journal, Watkins predicted that individuals would witness far-off events “as vividly as if actually present” via “photographs that will reproduce all of nature’s colors.” This was decades before television and digital photography became a reality. He also foresaw high-speed trains, central heating, and pre-cooked meals.
7. Winston Churchill Predicted the Rise of Hitler (1925)
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Churchill warned in The Strand Magazine about a possible new German leader who might take advantage of national complaints and drive the nation into yet another ruinous war. This was years before Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. His prophecy came eerily true as World War II went on.
8. Arthur C. Clarke foresaw Satellite Communication (1945)
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Clarke suggested geostationary satellites for world communication decades before they became a cornerstone of contemporary existence. He outlined how artificial satellites could be orbited to retransmit radio and television communications. This came to fruition years later with the introduction of communications satellites such as Telstar during the 1960s.
9. Ray Bradbury Anticipated Earbuds (1953)
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In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury wrote about “thimble radios” that were worn in the ear, so individuals could listen to music and the news in private. These small earpieces are almost identical to present-day wireless earbuds. His book cautioned us about a world where continuous media consumption would isolate individuals from reality.
10. Abe Lincoln’s Death Dream (1865)
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Only days before his death, Lincoln is said to have informed his wife and intimate friends of a dream in which he roamed the White House and discovered a funeral in the East Room. When he inquired of a guard who had passed away, the response was, “The President.” A week later, he was killed, and his body rested in state in that very room.