Episode · Stuff You Should Know · 2026-09-18

Books mentioned on SYSK Gets Weird Playlist: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Engineering Projects?

1 book · Listen · Watch on YouTube

In 1960 physicist Freeman Dyson suggested that in the hunt for alien life, we should search for evidence of massive engineering projects that encapsulate stars with solar arrays to harness their energy. Could we humans ever make one ourselves?

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

1. 

   Star Maker

   Olaf Stapledon · at 10:22

   Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon is a sweeping 1937 science fiction classic that explores the history of life across the cosmos, galactic civilizations, and the ultimate creation of the universe.

   Discussed

   “And he in 1937, well not 1937, he in the 1960s was reading a book from 1937 called Star Maker. From uh science fiction author Olaf Stapleton.”

   Josh Clark SYSK Gets Weird Playlist: Will We Find Evidence of Aliens by Their Eng… 2026-09-18 Listen at 10:22

   Where to get it

   Amazon Audible Bookshop.org Open Library