Hacker News Reader

Comment by lawlessone | Hacker News Reader

This is probably the last star you would want your Dyson sphere on.

Could be a one-shot Dyson Sphere designed to capture the energy of a supernova. Like an advanced civilization's version of a nuclear explosion-pumped X-ray laser[1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_laser

I think if you're at that level of technology you'd rather make sure that the star doesn't explode and eject a bunch of valuable fuel into deep space.

That would be an interesting thought exercise for brains better than mine: if you are a civilization capable of building a physical barrier around an entire stellar system, what is the best way to generate energy?

I wonder if it would be something to do with neutron stars or magnetars?

The best way I know is creating small artificial black holes, feeding them matter at just the right rate and harvesting the Hawking radiation. That's actually a lot easier than building a Dyson sphere.

https://arxiv.org/abs/0908.1803

I think that if you have the technology to capture the energy of a supernova you probably don't need to capture it.

Maybe we're all wrong and a nearby civilization just wants to contain the supernova explosion...

If you were next door and you had magic infinitely strong materials, you might want to Dyson-sphere it before it explodes (this dubious concept is found in a number of pieces of science fiction).

No need for a Dyson sphere.

Theoretically, you could place a relatively small, dense object fairly close to Betelgeuse and protect your entire stellar neighborhood. I haven't done the math, but I suspect it would have to be so small and dense that it would be a black hole.

You'd probably be better off just trying to shield your planet from whatever lesser energies eventually arrive.

Which makes it the perfect star to cover with a Dyson sphere. What better way to flex on your interstellar neighbors than by harnessing one of the most powerful, violent things in nature?

I think the point being made is the size of it. To make it into a Dyson sphere would require encasing a star that, if centered on Sol, would consume at least the inner 4 planets if not Jupiter as well. It's 950 times the size of our own star and one of the largest in the known universe. There would surely be easier supernova-capturing flexes

"Four intergalactical-capable factions are trying to decide who holds the most power. In an average galaxy in a pretty anonymous corner of the universe one faction detects a unprecedented large star-about-to-go-nova and races to capture the imminent energy surge of a sort the universe hasn't experienced yet. Or will the galaxy implode before they have aligned it all."

A back cover blurb I wouldn't mind picking up! If something like this is already written I want to know.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com