Astronomers Search for Alien Megastructures Around Coldest Stars

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A new paper published in the journal Universe explores what Dyson spheres, hypothetical megastructures built by advanced alien civilizations to harvest the energy of their host stars, would look like if observed by astronomers. The research suggests the most promising candidates for finding Dyson spheres are around the coolest and most abundant stars in the Milky Way - red dwarfs and white dwarfs.

Why it matters

The discovery of a Dyson sphere would be one of the most significant scientific findings in history, providing evidence of the existence of an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. Understanding the characteristics of stars that are most likely to host Dyson spheres can help focus the search efforts of astronomers using powerful telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope.

The details

A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure that completely surrounds a star to harvest its entire energy output. While physically impossible to build as a solid shell, a 'Dyson swarm' of smaller components could potentially be constructed. The new research suggests red dwarfs and white dwarfs are the most promising candidates, as their smaller size and lower energy output make them more feasible to enclose with a Dyson swarm. A Dyson sphere would shift the star's location on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, making it appear much cooler and less luminous than a normal star.

• In May 2024, a paper identified seven strong Dyson sphere candidates, all around red dwarfs.
• This new paper will add another tool to astronomers' search for these elusive technosignatures.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Astronomers will continue to use powerful telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope to monitor the coldest stars in the galaxy for signs of Dyson spheres.