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?

Josh Clark discussed Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

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1. 

   Star Maker

   Olaf Stapledon · at 10:22

   Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon is a visionary 1937 science fiction novel that explores the history of life across the cosmos, scaling from planetary civilizations to the creation of the universe itself.

   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 ▶ Play 12:13

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