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
Are There Alien Artifacts in Our Solar System? with Dr. James Benford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:42
Von Neumann probes, self-replicating spacecraft, or Alien lurkers and alien artifacts all represent the idea that somewhere in our solar system there could be evidence of an alien civilization and that they may have been…
Why Humans Will Never Colonize Mars with Gizmodo’s George Dvorsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:50
George Dvorsky says in his article 'Humans Will Never Colonize Mars' on Gizmodo that,“The suggestion that humans will soon set up bustling, long-lasting colonies on Mars is something many of us take for granted. What thi…
A Quantum Beginning for a Two-Sided Universe with Dr. Neil Turok [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:56
How did it all begin? How did this universe in which we live come to be? The story begins in the early 20th century with Georges LeMaitre who originated the concept that an expanding universe could be extrapolated back t…
Looking for the Origin of our Universe with Dr. Brian Keating [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:57
John Michael Godier and Brian Keating discuss the experiment he designed to look at the physics of the big bang as well as why he rushed releasing his findings.Brian Keating is a professor of physics and author of Losing…
Why is Betelgeuse Dimming? With Dr. Edward Guinan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:55
Why is Betelgeuse dimming? Is Betelgeuse about to explode? Betelgeuse is a variable red super giant star located in the Orion constellation. Most estimations have it going supernova within the next 100,000 years, but cou…
Will Human Civilization End? with Dr. David Grinspoon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:26
How Long Will Human Civilization Last? When did the Anthropocene start?Looking for life on Europa and Pluto, do ice shell worlds have a better chance for life than terrestrial worlds?Dr. David Grinspoon is an Astrobiolog…
Cold Quasars: The Death of Galaxies with Dr. Allison Kirkpatrick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:07
What are quasars?Are Black Holes Really Black?Dr. Allison Kirkpatrick, astrophysicist at the University of Kansas, recently announced her discovery of cold quasars a new object in the field of astronomy — galaxies featur…
Why Pluto is a Planet with Dr. Alan Stern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:45
A discussion with New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern of the mission to explore Pluto and if Pluto can support life. As well as his thoughts on NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine’s recent statement that Pluto…