The alarming Simpsons prophecies people think could come true this year
You know the drill when it comes to The Simpsons.
The hit cartoon TV programme has been going strong now for decades, boasting over 800 episodes since it first hit our screens way back in 1989, making it the longest-running American animated series, sitcom, and scripted primetime show by both seasons and episodes.
Over the years, fans have grown to love the chaos of Springfield and The Simpsons family within it - Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie - along with the rest of the weird yet wonderful cast.
It's also become somewhat of a lore that the show is somewhat of a pop culture oracle, with many fans convinced it's been able to successfully 'predict' a number of things that ended up coming true years later.
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Some stand-out examples include Donald Trump eventually becoming president of the United States of America, as well as technological advancements like video calls and smartwatches.
We're absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to so-called psychics and historical mystics' predictions for 2026; just look at Baba Vanga and the 'Living Nostradamus', and a lot of telly lovers reckon we can add The Simpsons to that list too.
Over the next 365 days, we may see quite a few headlines concerning artificial intelligence (AI) taking over jobs, a new type of flu, smart homes and even aliens, if The Simpsons' prophetic track record rings true again.
The rise of AI
If we jog our memories back to Season 23, Episode 17, 'Them, Robot,' we'll no doubt remember the freaky moment when AI starts to take over the jobs of the people in Springfield.
The episode, which came out in 2012, sees Mr Burns replacing his employees with robots only for them to eventually turn on him, prompting his laid-off workers to come to his rescue.
According to an analysis from October, which was based on ChatGPT findings, AI and automation could wipe out nearly 100 million jobs in the US over the next decade.
"The agricultural revolution unfolded over thousands of years. The industrial revolution took more than a century," the report said. "Artificial labour could reshape the economy in less than a decade."
D'oh!
Space travel
Rewinding all the way back to 1994 with the 'Deep Space Homer' episode, and you'll stumble upon a prediction on the rise of space tourism for the general population.
This episode, from Season 5, sees protagonist Homer hand-selected by NASA to go into space with astronaut Buzz Aldrin in an attempt to make space travel more appealing to the everyday person.
Sound familiar?
In April last year, we saw an all-female crew, including Katy Perry, which lasted 10 minutes and 21 seconds.
The stunt was part of a Blue Origin tourism flight with the private space company founded and owned by billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos (Amazon's founder).
'Super flu' strain surge
You've no doubt seen all the headlines over the so-called 'super flu' strain going about right now.
According to flu statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US is experiencing its highest infection rate in nearly three decades.
1993's 'Marge in Chains' episode similarly saw a fictional virus spreading throughout Springfield after it came from Japan in shipping crates.
The 'prediction' resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic too.
Smart houses
We're seeing technology advance at a higher rate than ever, with 'smart' versions of our functional belongings now being a regular part of everyday life.
Smartphones, smart watches, smart TVs, smart cars, smart doorbells, even smart fridges are common household objects for a fair few people now and The Simpsons predicts that we may need to be adding smart houses to that list too.
In Season 13, Episode 1, 'Treehouse of Horror XII,' the Simpson clan moves into a voice-controlled house that manages their day-to-day lives.
However, the longer the family of five lives there, the more threatening the abode becomes.
Alien life
The Simpsons loves a good dose of extraterrestrial life.
Back in 1997, in an episode titled 'The Springfield Files', we see two FBI agents come to investigate an alien that Homer claims to have seen in the woods.
He encounters a glowing, thin-boned figure with wide open eyes. Although it tells him, 'Don't be afraid,' Homer panics and runs home screaming.
After a whole load of chaos, it is revealed that the 'alien' in question was actually Mr Burns.
Mr Burns' assistant, Smithers, then explains that his boss receives longevity treatment once a week in order to cheat death; this includes intense chiropractic, administering eye drops and painkillers, as well as a vocal cord scraping.
The ordeal leaves Mr Burns in a state of disorientation and with a soft, high-pitched voice. Back to his normal self, Mr Burns reveals that his 'healthy' green glow is due to many years of working in his nuclear plant.
Topics: The Simpsons, TV And Film, Life, US News, News, Politics, World News, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle