Searching for Alien Megastructures with Dr. Jason Wright

Searching for Alien Megastructures with Dr. Jason Wright

Author: John Michael Godier January 30, 2026 Duration: 50:56

Is it possible to build a Dyson Sphere?How do we search for Dyson Swarms in the universe?Jason Wright is a professor of Astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State. His more recent paper titled, Dyson Spheres, looks at the overall history of the idea of building a megastructure to best use a star's energy. Professor Wright joins John Michael Godier on Event Horizon to discuss the subject in depth, looking at what can be done with the energy to how and have we searched for signs of these alien megastructures built by alien civilizations. One close call was Tabby's star or KIC8462 and what was causing the stars light to dim during transits.Link:AstroWright Blog: https://sites.psu.edu/astrowright/Jason Wright twitter: https://twitter.com/Astro_WrightDyson Spheres: https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.16734Want to support the channel?Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/EventHorizonShowFollow us at other places!Website: https://www.eventhorizonshow.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmgeventhorizonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmgeventhorizon/Music featured on Event Horizonhttps://stellardrone.bandcamp.com/https://migueljohnson.bandcamp.com/https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/https://aeriumambient.bandcamp.com/FOOTAGE:NASAESA/HubbleESO - M.KornmesserESO - L.CalcadaESO - Jose Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org)NAOJUniversity of WarwickGoddard Visualization StudioLangley Research CenterPixabayThumbnail: https://www.flickr.com/photos/djandywdotcom/31437348556Dyson SphereDyson SwarmAlien civilization


Curiosity about the cosmos often starts with a simple question, and that's where John Michael Godier's Event Horizon finds its rhythm. Hosted by author and futurist John Michael Godier, this podcast delves into the profound and the perplexing at the edges of our understanding. Each episode builds a narrative, weaving together discussions on astronomy, astrophysics, and the latest space science news with broader themes of technology, history, and futurism. The conversations are grounded by special guests who bring expertise and diverse perspectives, turning complex ideas into engaging explorations. You'll find the dialogue moves from the concrete details of scientific discovery to the speculative implications for our future, all with a thoughtful and accessible tone. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a deep dive into the context and consequences of what we're learning about the universe. For anyone who looks up at the night sky and wonders about black holes, the potential for life elsewhere, or where our technology might take us next, this podcast offers a compelling space to linger on those big ideas. The production emphasizes clarity and depth, making even the most daunting topics feel within reach. Tune in for a regular journey to the frontiers of science and human thought.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

John Michael Godier's Event Horizon
Podcast Episodes
10 Unsettling Future Technologies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:11
And exploration of ten of the more unsetting possible future technologies. https://www.youtube.com/eventhorizonshowMusic:Cylinder Eight by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https:/…
What’s Hiding Under Mars | Dr. Sam Courville [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:03
Mars may look dead, but under its surface lies a record of its ancient water and perhaps even the ingredients for life. Planetary scientist Dr. Samuel Courville discusses the latest research on Martian ice, groundwater,…
Fermi Paradox: The Population Problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:45
An exploration into the concept of population and how that affects the Fermi Paradox question. Do advanced alien civilizations necessarily have the population numbers to colonize the galaxy entirely?Music:Cylinder Eight…
10 of the Worst Extinction Events on Planet Earth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:08
An exploration of ten of the worst extinction events in our planet's history.https://www.patreon.com/johnmichaelgodierMusic:Cylinder Eight by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (http…
What Lies Beneath Ceres | Dr. Samuel Courville [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:43
New evidence suggests that Ceres may still harbor subsurface brine, cryovolcanic activity, and internal heat sources capable of sustaining habitable environments. The discussion explores how radioactive decay, methanogen…
10 Ways We Might Detect Alien Life Other Than Radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:18
10 Ways We Might Detect Alien Life Other Than Radio.Interview with Fraser Cainhttps://youtu.be/TJo6MV5Vu6wPapers:Orbiting Rainbows. https://www.nasa.gov/content/orbiting-rainbows-phase-ii/_test"Transit Lightcurve Signatu…
10 Reasons Aliens Won't Invade Earth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:25
An exploration into the concept of alien invasion and reasons why aliens would not attempt to invade earth.https://www.patreon.com/johnmichaelgodierMusic:Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Common…
10 Reasons Aliens Might Invade Earth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:51
An exploration of scenarios within scientific possibility of why aliens might choose to invade earth. https://www.patreon.com/johnmichaelgodierMusic:Cylinder Five by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons A…

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