The strange star that has serious scientists talking about an alien megastructure

Washington Post ^ | October 15, 2015 | Sarah Kaplan

[The Toll]

Trumps wall is the only Alien Mega-Structure.

[Slyfox]

It might be Farrakan’s “Planet X”

[GOPJ]

...pulsing brighter and dimmer when viewed from afar 1,500 years in the future.

Right - in the future from their point of view... took me a second.

[silverleaf]

Lol!!

[silverleaf]

Of course these astronomers never thought of that...

[Drew68]

Why would aliens need solar panels?

That giant nuclear furnace in the center of the solar system gives energy for free.

Sure, conservatives have scoffed at solar panels ever since Reagan ripped Carter's off the White House. Truth is, a truly advanced civilization may have energy needs that would require them to capture as much of their sun's output as possible.

[Drew68]

Dyson sphere under construction.

Under construction 1400 years ago. Could be finished by now.

[Norm Lenhart]

Unless the Alien chapter of the Sierra Club got involved.

[Drew68]

Of course these astronomers never thought of that...

The astronomers' research paper on this star describe only naturally-occurring explanations. There is no mention of aliens. So yes, they have thought of that.

At issue, all of the naturally-occurring explanations they've researched have problems. They're scratching their heads.

[Norm Lenhart]

I think plenty of us are ‘for’ solar, but it’s a case of the tech not yet being there yet. It’s ‘there’ sure, but too costly and inefficient yet.

Then there’s the political aspect about libs using what is essentially semi-vaporware to destroy the energy/extraction industries to fit their agendas. If solar was allowed to develop naturally in parallel I think there would be a lot of support. But as always, liberals ruin anything they encounter.

[Drew68]

I think plenty of us are ‘for’ solar, but it’s a case of the tech not yet being there yet. It’s ‘there’ sure, but too costly and inefficient yet.

Then there’s the political aspect...

Agree completely.

[dljordan]

“Truth is, a truly advanced civilization may have energy needs that would require them to capture as much of their sun’s output as possible. “

They must have panels with better efficiency than ours and don’t cause as much pollution in their manufacture.

[Drew68]

They must have panels with better efficiency than ours and don’t cause as much pollution in their manufacture.

I'm pretty sure by the time an advanced civilization starts building Dyson spheres, they will have long ago ironed out the inefficiencies of solar panels. ;-)

[Oatka]

Thanks for the links, but I suspect that with so many unknowns out there, this will prove to be another new discovery of natural phenomena. I do believe alien life exists, but I don’t believe this is an example.

Hell, I’ve been wrong before, and this stiff IS interesting as just another humbling example of what we still don’t know.

[kevao]

[publius911]

The strange star that has serious scientists talking about an alien megastructure

And I am having serious doubts about the competence of those so-called "serious scientists."

[Jaxter]

"Paging Larry Niven."

First thing I thought of.

[dljordan]

“I’m pretty sure by the time an advanced civilization starts building Dyson spheres, they will have long ago ironed out the inefficiencies of solar panels. ;-) “

Or abandoned them.

[beaversmom]

[Drew68]

And I am having serious doubts about the competence of those so-called "serious scientists."

To be fair, none of these scientists are seriously considering anything other than a natural explanation. The media has taken the answer to a "what if it isn't?" question and turned it into headlines around the world.