Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Judi Lynn

(162,335 posts)
Tue Jun 18, 2024, 08:21 AM Jun 2024

'Dyson spheres' were theorized as a way to detect alien life. Scientists say they've found potential evidence.

Published at 4:39 pm, June 17, 2024
Jacopo Prisco, CNN



Freeman Dyson theorized that hypothetical alien megastructures would give off infrared radiation and searching for that byproduct would be a viable method for searching for extraterrestrial life. | 3D illustration, Getty Images/NASA via CNN Newsource


(CNN) — What would be the ultimate solution to the energy problems of an advanced civilization? Renowned British American physicist Freeman Dyson theorized it would be a shell made up of mirrors or solar panels that completely surrounds a star — harnessing all the energy it produces.

“One should expect that, within a few thousand years of its entering the stage of industrial development, any intelligent species should be found occupying an artificial biosphere which completely surrounds its parent star,” wrote Dyson in a 1960 paper in which he first explained the concept.

If it sounds like science fiction, that’s because it is: Dyson took the idea from Olaf Stapledon’s 1937 novel “Star Maker,” and he was always open about that. The late scientist was a professor emeritus at the Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.

Still, coming from a thinker who some in the scientific community say might have been worthy of a Nobel Prize early in his career, the concept took hold and the hypothetical megastructures became known as Dyson spheres, even though the physicist later clarified that they would actually consist of “a loose collection or swarm of objects traveling on independent orbits around the star.”

In his paper, Dyson also noted that Dyson spheres would give off waste heat detectable as infrared radiation, and suggested that looking for that byproduct would be a viable method for searching for extraterrestrial life. However, he added that infrared radiation by itself would not necessarily mean extraterrestrial intelligence, and that one of the strongest reasons for searching for such sources was that new types of natural astronomical objects might be discovered.

More:
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/06/dyson-spheres-were-theorized-as-a-way-to-detect-alien-life-scientists-say-theyve-found-potential-evidence

2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'Dyson spheres' were theorized as a way to detect alien life. Scientists say they've found potential evidence. (Original Post) Judi Lynn Jun 2024 OP
Just because we think it, does not mean they will do it. GreenWave Jun 2024 #1
Well, I think that if an intelligence has already gained the ability to build such a huge structure around their star, SWBTATTReg Jun 2024 #2

GreenWave

(8,990 posts)
1. Just because we think it, does not mean they will do it.
Tue Jun 18, 2024, 09:38 AM
Jun 2024

And what if that star attracts space rocks, comets et alia?

Our dinky dwarf Sun has trillions of of objects in orbit around it that could, on occasion, be dislodged,

SWBTATTReg

(24,011 posts)
2. Well, I think that if an intelligence has already gained the ability to build such a huge structure around their star,
Tue Jun 18, 2024, 11:05 AM
Jun 2024

that more than likely, they've already harvested all of the loose floating materials in their star system for the raw materials, thus, there won't be any loose floating materials to slam into alien made structures. And to boot, where would they get all of the raw materials to build such a sphere? The floating raw materials would be used I'd imagine.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Science»'Dyson spheres' were theo...