There could be a big economic crisis and all the people would be swept in the rising tide of debt and dependency.
Or an outbreak of wide spread infertility and common cancers which would see the numbers of humans dwindling to nothing by the next leap year extra day.
There could be a general lack of interest in the catastrophic news about more and more frequent volcano eruptions, tidal waves and hurricanes tearing the planet apart.
Or a meteorite could crash into Earth surprising everyone feeling safe because someone should be monitoring them flying rocks.
There could be a breakthrough in technology leading to heavy implantation of tiny modems under peoples skin and subsequent complete withdrawal from this reality.
Oh wait...
We're almost there, aren't we?
