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
What is it like working for Fermilab? with Dr. James Annis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
Get 50% off NordPass! Only $2.49/mo, plus you get an additional month FREE at: https://nordpass.com/eventhorizonUse Coupon code: eventhorizonCan Neutrinos be used as deep space communications?Dr. James Annis is a Senior…
Mathematical SETI with Dr. Claudio Maccone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:59
How does SETI search for intelligent life?What is radio SETI?SETI is becoming a complicated business as our capabilities to search increase, but the payoff increases. Dr. Claudio Maccone has worked on a mathematical way…
Has Planet 9 Been Found? w/ Prof. Michael Rowan-Robinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:48
Planet nine found? Emeritus Professor Michael Rowan-Robinson of Imperial College London new paper, A search for Planet 9 in the IRAS data, is the result of having narrowed down a search in the IRAS data to one possible c…
How Exotic is Oumuamua? with Dr. Sergey Mashchenko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
A look at the many possible shapes and explanations for the unusual nature of our first interstellar visitor Oumuamua. Including evidence for torque and disc-like shape as John Michael Godier is joined by Dr. Sergey Mash…