The scientist declared: giant alien space constructions are real

Giant space structures that hypothetical civilizations could use to harness the energy of stars or even move them may be feasible from the standpoint of physics. This is the conclusion reached by research engineer Colin McInnes from the University of Glasgow. The study has been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).

The subject concerns so-called megastructures — "stellar engines" and Dyson spheres. These grandiose projects have long captivated the minds of science fiction writers and astronomers as potential engineering creations of highly advanced civilizations.

A stellar engine is a colossal structure capable of using the radiation pressure of a star to alter its orbit and move an entire planetary system through outer space. It is believed that such technologies could save an entire civilization from impending cosmic catastrophes.

A Dyson sphere is a system of numerous reflective elements completely surrounding a star and collecting its energy. Theoretically, such a structure would allow harvesting incomparably more energy than any planetary sources.

However, until now a key question remained unanswered: can such structures exist without constant control, or will they inevitably collapse under the effects of gravity and radiation?

McInnes established that in their simplest form, such structures are indeed unstable. But with a certain configuration, they can maintain stability over an extraordinarily long period of time.

Specifically, a stellar engine becomes stable if the bulk of its mass is concentrated in a ring supporting the reflective surface. And a Dyson "bubble" can remain stable if it consists of a vast number of lightweight elements forming a dense cloud in which gravity and radiation pressure balance each other out.

Such calculations have more than just theoretical significance. If such structures exist somewhere, they may leave noticeable traces — so-called technosignatures.

According to the scientist, megastructures are capable of producing an excess of infrared radiation or unusual changes in a star's spectrum, which means they can be deliberately searched for through astronomical observations.

Furthermore, the author entertains an intriguing possibility: such objects may exist even without their creators — as "cosmic ruins" that have outlived the civilizations that built them.

The study demonstrates that ideas previously considered pure science fiction do not, in principle, contradict the laws of physics and could become a real tool in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.