The "Zika Virus Outbreak" (2016)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Zika Virus Outbreak" (2016)

• What happened: In "Lisa's Sax" (1997), there is a reference to a virus that seems to resemble the Zika virus, which causes birth defects and other health issues in the infected.
• Reality: In 2015 and 2016, the Zika virus outbreak became a major concern, especially in Latin American countries. It was transmitted by mosquitoes and linked to serious birth defects like microcephaly, leading to a public health emergency. The similarities between the show's reference and the actual outbreak are striking.