The Sword and Laser discussion

Science fiction has depicted a Dyson Sphere as a solid structure that entirely encapsulates a star, but you don't necessarily have to make it solid. This article explores how we could undertake the construction project of the century and get it done with in 50 years with current (and soon to be developed) technologies.

http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2...

Currently reading Pandora's Star (and loving it) so thanks for the highly appropriate link!

Unfortunately Dvorsky is a crank and his idea no more plausible than mining the moon for he3.

I remember a Dyson sphere in Roger MacBride Allen's The Ring of Charon. There's a series I wish would've continued past the second volume . . .

After reading a bit about Dvorsky I have to agree that he seems to be a fringe science nut job. (He's the program director for Rights of Non-Human Persons).
Even if we did this, what would we use all that collected energy for?

Star Trek has an episode with a Dyson Sphere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics_(...

The engineering required to build one is perhaps achievable. The materials needed would be astronomical, if you can excuse the pun. Then there is the issue of construction time. I find the article interesting but not realistic given our current technology. Had to look to see if it was an April fool's joke. 3mm thick? Every asteroid, meteor, and comet is going to make a mess of that.

AndrewP wrote: " Even if we did this, what would we use all that collected energy for?"

iPad 4 charger? ultra-retina displays may use a fair bit of power :-P

Ringworld by Larry Niven is the most practical solution, mainly because it required Protectors to build it. We are a long way off that yet. The hardest thing is grasping the size of the finished construct. You could spend your whole life travelling from one side to the other and never get there.

David wrote: "Ringworld by Larry Niven is the most practical solution, mainly because it required Protectors to build it. We are a long way off that yet. The hardest thing is grasping the size of the finished co..."

Larry Niven also had a fascinating essay on megastructures (Ringworlds and Dyson spheres are somewhere in the middle of the scale); it was reprinted in Playgrounds of the Mind and probably elsewhere.

Almira wrote: "Currently reading Pandora's Star (and loving it) so thanks for the highly appropriate link!"

Me too! I love synergy.