Editing Dyson sphere (section)

==Feasibility and science-based speculation==
Although Dyson sphere systems are theoretically possible, building a stable megastructure around the Sun is currently far beyond humanity's engineering capacity. The number of craft required to obtain, transmit, and maintain a complete Dyson sphere exceeds present-day industrial capabilities. [[George Dvorsky]] has advocated the use of [[self-replicating robots]] to overcome this limitation in the relatively near term.<ref name="dvorsky2012">{{cite web |last1=Dvorsky |first1=George |date=2012-03-20 |title=How to build a Dyson sphere in five (relatively) easy steps |url=http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2012/03/how-to-build-dyson-sphere-in-five.html |access-date=2016-10-07}}</ref> Some have suggested that Dyson sphere habitats could be built around [[white dwarf#Habitability|white dwarf]]s<ref>{{cite arXiv |eprint=1503.04376 |class=physics.pop-ph |first1=İbrahim |last1=Semiz |first2=Salim |last2=Oğur |title=Dyson Spheres around White Dwarfs |year=2015}}</ref> and even [[pulsar]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Osmanov |first1=Z. |year=2015 |title=On the search for artificial Dyson-like structures around pulsars |journal=Int. J. Astrobiol. |volume=15 |issue=2 |pages=127–132 |arxiv=1505.05131 |bibcode=2016IJAsB..15..127O |doi=10.1017/S1473550415000257 |s2cid=13242388}}</ref>

[[Stellar engine]]s are hypothetical megastructures whose purpose is to extract useful energy from a star, sometimes for specific purposes. For example, [[Matrioshka brain]]s have been proposed to extract energy for computation, while [[Stellar engine#Class A (Shkadov thruster)|Shkadov thrusters]] would extract energy for propulsion. Some proposed stellar engine designs are based on the Dyson sphere.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Stellar engine |encyclopedia=The Internet Encyclopedia of Science |url=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/stellar_engine.html |access-date=2007-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Badescu |first1=Viorel |first2=Richard B. |last2=Cathcart |title=Space travel with solar power and a dyson sphere |url=http://www.astronomytoday.com/exploration/solartravel.html |access-date=2007-10-07 |work=Astronomy Today |archive-date=2012-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204090100/http://www.astronomytoday.com/exploration/solartravel.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From May until June 2024, speculation grew that potential signs of interstellar Dyson spheres had been discovered. The seven objects of interest{{snd}}all located within a thousand light-years of Earth{{snd}}are [[Red dwarf|M-dwarfs]], a class of stars that are smaller and less luminous than the Sun. However, the authors of the findings were careful not to make any overblown claims.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Simon |date=2024-05-22 |title=Dyson spheres: astronomers report potential candidates for alien megastructures – here's what to make of it |url=http://theconversation.com/dyson-spheres-astronomers-report-potential-candidates-for-alien-megastructures-heres-what-to-make-of-it-230364 |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite this, many media outlets picked up on the story. Less fantastical alternative explanations have been made, including a proposal that the infrared from the discoveries was caused by distant dust-obscured galaxies.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Paul |last=Sutter |date=2024-06-10 |title=7 potential 'alien megastructures' spotted in our galaxy are not what they seem |url=https://www.livescience.com/space/extraterrestrial-life/7-potential-alien-megastructures-spotted-in-our-galaxy-are-not-what-they-seem |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=livescience.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Today |first=Universe |date=2024-06-01 |title=Mysterious Dyson Spheres Could Have Another Explanation, Scientists Say |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/mysterious-dyson-spheres-could-have-another-explanation-scientists-say |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=ScienceAlert |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCi7T1z7FaE |title=New study finds potential alien mega-structures known as 'dyson spheres' |date=2024-06-14 |last=NBC News |access-date=2024-06-25 |via=YouTube}}</ref>