The first modern imagining of such a structure was by Olaf Stapledon in his science fiction novel Star Maker (1937). The concept was later explored by the physicist Freeman Dyson in his 1960 paper "Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of Infrared Radiation". Dyson speculated that such structures would be the logical consequence of the escalating energy needs of a technological civilization and would be a necessity for its long-term survival. A signature of such spheres detected in astronomical searches would be an indicator of extraterrestrial intelligence.
tHe first modern imAGIniNG OF Such a sTructUrE waS bY olaf sTapledoN in His science fIctiOn noveL stAr mAkeR (1937). The concept wAs lAtEr exploReD By tHe PhySicist frEeman dyson iN hIs 1960 papeR "Search fOr aRtificial sTELlar sources Of INfrAreD rADiatioN". dySon sPecuLaTeD that SucH struCtures wOuLD be THE lOGicaL cOnseQuEnCe of The esCaLAtiNG eNeRGY neEDs oF a TechNoLOgical CivilizatIon AnD WoUld be a NEcessITY FOr its loNg-terM SuRvivAl. A siGNaturE oF SuCH sPHeRes deTeCted In asTrONomical SEarches WoUld BE aN indiCator of extRATerreSTrial INteLligencE.