Possible Detection of Advanced Alien Megastructures Harvesting Energy from Stars

Dyson Sphere

Seven Stars Exhibit Signs of Potential Dyson Spheres, Suggests New Research

Recent findings suggest that seven stars in our galaxy may be enveloped by Dyson spheres, advanced megastructures hypothesized to capture a star's radiation energy. According to a paper in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, these stars are all low-mass M dwarf stars, much smaller than our sun, and are within 1,000 light-years of Earth.

The study detected unusual spikes in infrared wavelengths, known as infrared excess emissions (IEEs), in the light from these stars, which could indicate the presence of alien megastructures. "After analyzing the optical/NIR/MIR photometry of [around 5 million] sources, we found seven apparent M dwarfs exhibiting an infrared excess of unclear nature that is compatible with our [Dyson sphere] model," the researchers noted.

First proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, a Dyson sphere is a theoretical megastructure composed of solar energy collectors or habitats surrounding a star to harness its energy. This could take the form of a Dyson swarm—numerous small solar collectors orbiting the star—or a Dyson shell, a solid shell encasing the star. The Dyson swarm is considered more feasible due to the engineering challenges of constructing a solid shell.

Researchers hypothesize that if Dyson spheres exist, their solar collectors would emit significant infrared radiation due to the heat from the star. These emissions could be detected by current telescopes. "Starlight harvesting could, in principle, result in different observational signatures that may be detected using existing telescopes," the researchers explained. These signatures include optical dimming of the host star and waste-heat emission from the absorbing structure.

Analyzing these IEEs could offer an alternative method to traditional communication-based searches for advanced civilizations. The study utilized a computer program to analyze the light from over 5 million stars, identifying seven with IEE signatures that make them potential candidates for Dyson spheres.

While another study from March, which has not been peer-reviewed, also found 53 potential IEE candidates among 5 million stars, it's unclear if the same dataset was used. Other phenomena, such as debris disks or nebulas, could also cause these IEE signatures, but this new evidence will undoubtedly prompt further investigation into the search for intelligent life in the cosmos.