Jul 7, 2025, 3:28 PM
Jul 7, 2025, 3:28 PM

Scientists identify seven potential Dyson spheres in the cosmos

Highlights
  • A research team analyzed data from three astronomical surveys to search for Dyson sphere candidates.
  • Out of approximately five million celestial objects, seven potential Dyson spheres were identified.
  • The discoveries raise intriguing possibilities about advanced civilizations capable of building large-scale energy-harvesting structures.
Story

In a significant discovery emanating from Sweden, a group of scientists led by Matías Suazo from Uppsala University has identified seven candidate structures that may represent Dyson spheres. Their research, which was disseminated in a paper published on May 6, 2025, relied on comprehensive data from a combination of the European Space Agency's Gaia star mapping, the 2MASS infrared astronomical survey, and NASA's WISE infrared telescope. This meticulous analysis scrutinized approximately five million cosmic sources to pinpoint these seven intriguing candidates that may emit excess infrared radiation, a hallmark of Dyson sphere-type structures. The concept of Dyson spheres, proposed by physicist Freeman J. Dyson in 1960, posits that advanced civilizations might build large-scale constructs around stars to harness energy, protecting their growing energy needs. These theoretical megastructures could take the form of swarms of objects in orbit around a star, concentrating energy usage by their creators. In their recent work, Suazo's team has developed a methodology to detect potential technosignatures that arise from such constructions. By filtering through numerous sources, the researchers ultimately refined their search to identify seven promising candidates, believed to be M-type (red dwarf) stars, characterized by unexplained infrared emissions. The team acknowledges that while these seven sources display distinct mid-infrared emissions, there may be alternative explanations for these anomalies. For instance, the presence of warm debris disks around these candidates could account for the detected infrared excess, although the rarity of such disks around M dwarf stars strengthens the case for their hypothesis. Additional follow-up optical spectroscopy is recommended to ascertain the nature of these sources, as the scientists seek to comprehend the implications of their findings on the existence of extraterrestrial life. Overall, this investigation brings humanity a step closer to exploring the possibility of advanced civilizations through innovative astrophysical methodologies. The identification of these potential Dyson spheres not only illuminates humanity's quest for understanding cosmic neighbors but also raises critical questions about the nature and existence of life beyond Earth. While the current findings are promising, further research is essential to solidify these conclusions and expand our knowledge surrounding the phenomenon of technosignatures and the technologies that might emerge as humanity continues to explore the universe.

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