New research has emerged focusing on methods astronomers use to detect Dyson spheres. A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure designed to capture a star’s energy, first described by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960.

The original concept envisioned building a structure around a star to collect its energetic radiation. In modern scientific literature, the idea of a Dyson swarm is often discussed—a collection of solar collectors orbiting a star and gathering its energy.

Recent studies have aimed to determine how a Dyson swarm might appear to observers on Earth. Researchers primarily examined which types of stars would be most suitable for hosting such structures. Red and white dwarfs were identified as the most promising candidates due to their long lifespans, small size, and slow fuel consumption.

Stars are classified using the Hertzsprung–Russell (H-R) diagram, which plots stars by temperature and luminosity. A Dyson sphere blocks a star’s visible light, absorbing its radiation and re-emitting it in the infrared spectrum. This causes the emitting surface’s temperature to drop and shifts the star’s position on the diagram. The artificial panels making up the swarm contain no dust, and the structure itself can cause fluctuations in the star’s brightness, making it appear unusual in astronomical observations.

Powerful infrared telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), are most effective for searching for potential Dyson spheres. As part of the Hephaistos project in 2024, scientists examined 5 million stars and identified 7 possible Dyson sphere candidates, all orbiting red dwarfs. Further checks reduced this number to 5.

This research provides new tools for searching for technosignatures, expanding the possibilities for detecting signs of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations.