DEATH PREDICTION TOOLS AND THE QUESTION IF WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW?

If you knew the date of your death, how would you live?

In the past days, I’ve been reflecting on a fascinating yet unsettling question: Would we live differently if we knew exactly when we were going to die?

This thought first struck me while reading The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin on holidays recently. The novel follows four siblings who visit a psychic or mystical woman claiming to reveal the date of their death. Each of them carries this knowledge into adulthood, shaping their decisions, ambitions, and fears. Does knowing one’s fate offer clarity—or does it become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

A similar theme appears in the 2011 sci-fi film In Time, where time is literal currency (I coincidentally also watched that movie again last week). People see their lifespan ticking away on a countdown clock embedded in their skin, forcing them to make daily choices based on how much time they can afford. This premise raises the same question: Would awareness of our own deadline push us to live more intentionally, or would it create a constant sense of pressure and dread?

*Video still from movie “In Time” via* *Story Recapped* *(Youtube)*

The science of predicting death

The search for certainty about the date of death is not only the stuff of fiction. It also drives science. Recently, researchers have developed a cheek swab test capable of estimating biological age and predicting mortality risk. Created by Tally Health, the test measures DNA methylation, which reflects how quickly someone is aging. While marketed as a tool for longevity awareness, it raises ethical and psychological concerns.

Certainly, there is also AI coming into the mix: Researchers have developed an innovative AI-enabled mortality calculator that can estimate an individual's proximity to death. Published in Lancet Digital Health, this study highlights how AI-powered electrocardiograms (ECGs) can predict future health issues and mortality risk.

I'm wondering: Would this really encourage healthier living - or lead to fatalistic thinking? And how can you be sure the date is correct, or do you end up living with doubts all your life?

Last example, thinking about the implications: Psychological studies suggest that those who are aware of their impending death—whether through terminal illness or death row sentencing—tend to reflect more positively on life. They focus on cherished memories, close relationships, and personal accomplishments. Meanwhile, those who merely imagine their death struggle with fear, regret, and a sense of incompleteness. This contrast suggests that certainty about death might offer a strange form of peace, while ambiguity leaves room for existential anxiety.

Our growing interest in measuring mortality

In recent years, the death awareness movement has brought our mortality into sharper focus. Apps like Countdown simulate the experience of knowing one’s death date, and digital sculptures like the Carpe Vitam Clock or the Shortlife v3 by Dries de Poorter display a personalized countdown to one’s statistically estimated lifespan. These tools are supposed to motivate us to make the best of life - but they may also fool us into believing that we can gain control over the uncontrollable.

So, perhaps our growing interest in knowing when we’ll die isn’t just about awareness—it’s also about control. We like to quantify and measure everything, and death, the ultimate uncertainty, is no exception. The illusion of control might be comforting and this sense of power distracting.

So, do we really want to know?

Would a countdown to death push us to live more fully, or would it rob life of its spontaneity, embracing the unknown? Would we become hyper-focused on maximizing our time, or paralyzed by the weight of the inevitable?

Maybe the real takeaway isn’t about knowing when we’ll die—but rather ensuring that whenever it happens, we’ve lived in a way that feels meaningful.

What do you think? Would you want to know your expiration date? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

🥤 What I’ve Been Up To…

Apart from thinking about death countdowns 😏, a lot has been going on behind the scenes over the past few weeks. I'd like to share some projects with you:

Futures Friends Amsterdam #2

Together with Els Dragt, I hosted another Futures Friends breakfast session in Amsterdam—and to our surprise, it sold out within just a few hours! It’s clear that people are craving in-person gatherings again, where we can listen, learn, and exchange ideas over a good cup of coffee.

Our 333 format (3 signals, 3 slides, 3 minutes) was a wonderful framework again, packing an intense dose of insights into a short time. The event confirmed something I strongly believe: in uncertain times, we need spaces for community, reflection, and forward-thinking visions. The future needs more friends!

A huge thanks to our incredible speakers: Noortje van Eekelen (Next Nature Network), Rodrigo Turra (The Nexialist), Justus Bruns (VOUW Slowtech Design Studio), Tina Stieger (Color & Material Futures), Ali Kirby (Storytelling through Design), Nadia Piet (AIxDesign), and Erica Bol (Foresight & Innovation @ EU Policy Lab)—and a special surprise visit from Amy Daroukakis, bringing her Brain Dance experience to the room.

We might host another edition later this year—stay tuned!

*Screenshot from* *Protein* *Instagram page, mirror cross artwork by* *Maurycy Gomulicki*

Reframing Death in SEEDS Newsletter

I had the chance to contribute to SEEDS, the insights newsletter by global brand consultancy Protein, for an edition titled "Reframing Death"alongside other experts in this space. There were a couple of questions we all answered, such as:

💡 How have attitudes toward death and grief changed in recent years?

Western societies are breaking long-held taboos around death and grief. The pandemic forced us to confront mortality on a global scale, and younger generations, in particular, now approach grief as something to share rather than suppress. Platforms like TikTok (#GriefTok, #DeadDogTikTok) have made these conversations more visible, while the death positivity movement encourages open discussions and end-of-life planning.

Read the full piece HERE.

*Screenshot Culture Connectors document (Amy Daroukakis* *on Linkedin)*

Joining Culture Connectors

I’m thrilled to be part of Culture Connectors, a new initiative rethinking how we approach cultural insights and trend research.

🌍 Why is this important?
90% of trend reports come from just 10 cities, mostly in the West. This means we often miss the nuances and local shifts shaping the rest of the world.

✨ Culture Connectors, created by Amy Daroukakis and Arianna Marin, is changing that by bringing together diverse local voices to uncover cultural currents directly from those experiencing them.

And here’s something I’m especially excited about: Grief Trends are getting a dedicated focus within the project, recognizing how our relationship with death, loss, and legacy is evolving across cultures. Check out the document HERE.

🚀 Next Stops…

If you’re in Germany, I’ll be attending BEFA Forum in Hamburg (March 28+29) and the Leben und Tod fair in Bremen (May 16+17). If you’ll be there too and want to grab a coffee and chat, feel free to ping me!

Thanks for reading!

👉🏼 Are you interested in learning more about my research or exploring opportunities for collaboration? Send me an email and let's start the conversation!

💡 If you would like to book a ‘Pick my Brain call’, simply click here.

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Thank you for reading GOOD GRIEF NEWS, a monthly newsletter on trends and fresh perspectives around death, grief and remembrance. You can see more of my work at goodgrief.me or stefanieschillmoeller.com and feel free to follow me on Instagram.

03.03.2025