It’s a rumour that has spread though the internet since the beginning of June: the planet’s ecosystems may experience a total and irreversible collapse by 2100. The phrase “The end of the world in 2100” was posted on many blogs, forums and websites.

Unlike many prophecies about the end of the world, this story appeared in reliable news outlets such as the French Le Monde or American Forbes. The story intrigued bloggers actively writing about ecological issues, like Marcelino Fuentes and Christophe Magdelaine.