Context
Scientists find potential evidence for ‘Dyson Sphere’
About Dyson Sphere
- A hypothetical megastructure designed to encompass a star and capture a significant portion of its solar power output.
- It shows how a spacefaring civilization might meet its energy needs once they exceed what can be generated from the resources of their home planet.
- Physicist Freeman Dyson formalized the concept
- Constructing a Dyson sphere is far beyond current human engineering capabilities.
- Types of Dyson Spheres:
- Dyson Swarm: Rather than a solid shell, a Dyson Swarm consists of a vast number of independently orbiting structures (often satellites or solar collectors) around the star.
- These structures collectively harness the star’s energy.
- Dyson Shell: This is the classic concept of a solid shell completely enclosing the star.
- Dyson Bubble: A speculative variant where a partially constructed sphere is built around the star, capturing only a portion of its energy output.
- Dyson Swarm: Rather than a solid shell, a Dyson Swarm consists of a vast number of independently orbiting structures (often satellites or solar collectors) around the star.
- Applications:
- To capture and utilize the energy emitted by a star.
- This energy can be used for powering advanced civilizations, interstellar travel, etc.
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) Distances among stellar bodies do not change.
(b) Gravity of stellar bodies does not change.
(c) Light always travels in straight line.
(d) Speed of light is always same.
Answer: (d)
