Paul Gilster
@gilster.bsky.social
Writer/editor Centauri Dreams
Beaming a lightsail to the stars demands a sail that can stand up to huge accelerations while remaining stable and on course. Holography is one solution. A flat sail carrying the holographic surface of a curved one is now being explored as a solution. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/28/h...
Holography: Shaping a Diffractive Sail | Centauri Dreams
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January 28, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Beaming a lightsail to the stars demands a sail that can stand up to huge accelerations while remaining stable and on course. Holography is one solution. A flat sail carrying the holographic surface of a curved one is now being explored as a solution. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/28/h...
Why the continued silence from SETI? Eduardo Carmona lays out factors that imply life is abundant but technology vanishingly scarce. Fermi's famous question is answered by constraints the universe presents. Keep looking, in other words, but be realistic. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/20/c...
Cellular Cosmic Isolation: When the Universe Seeds Life but Civilizations Stay Silent | Centauri Dreams
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January 20, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Why the continued silence from SETI? Eduardo Carmona lays out factors that imply life is abundant but technology vanishingly scarce. Fermi's famous question is answered by constraints the universe presents. Keep looking, in other words, but be realistic. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/20/c...
Pandora space telescope, now in space and going through system checks, will offer multiwavelength study of exoplanets transiting their stars. Highly important because we can filter misleading stellar noise from atmospheric data. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/14/p...
Pandora: Exoplanets at Multiple Wavelengths | Centauri Dreams
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January 14, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Pandora space telescope, now in space and going through system checks, will offer multiwavelength study of exoplanets transiting their stars. Highly important because we can filter misleading stellar noise from atmospheric data. www.centauri-dreams.org/2026/01/14/p...
David Kipping, brilliant Columbia astrophysicist, offers new take on SETI strategies called Eschatian Hypothesis. I explore its ramifications on today's Centauri Dreams. Is a truly ancient civilization indistinguishable not just from magic but from nature? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/12/17/n...
New Uses for the Eschaton | Centauri Dreams
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December 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
David Kipping, brilliant Columbia astrophysicist, offers new take on SETI strategies called Eschatian Hypothesis. I explore its ramifications on today's Centauri Dreams. Is a truly ancient civilization indistinguishable not just from magic but from nature? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/12/17/n...
TRAPPIST-1, with its seven transiting planets - three in the habitable zone - is attracting plenty of work. I look at recent papers on whether any of these worlds has an atmosphere, and what we can do to make a definitive call. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/12/09/c...
Catching Up with TRAPPIST-1 | Centauri Dreams
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December 9, 2025 at 6:54 PM
TRAPPIST-1, with its seven transiting planets - three in the habitable zone - is attracting plenty of work. I look at recent papers on whether any of these worlds has an atmosphere, and what we can do to make a definitive call. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/12/09/c...
Interesting paper on non-human species communication. Can we learn from signaling patterns in fireflies how to distinguish optical SETI signals in astronomical data? What about dolphin 'language' or bird-song? More on today's Centauri Dreams. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/20/t...
The Firefly and the Pulsar | Centauri Dreams
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November 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Interesting paper on non-human species communication. Can we learn from signaling patterns in fireflies how to distinguish optical SETI signals in astronomical data? What about dolphin 'language' or bird-song? More on today's Centauri Dreams. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/20/t...
Possible evidence that the accelerated expansion of the universe is being mis-read, based on new analysis of supernovae data. Is the cosmos in fact decelerating? Is the universe, after all, cyclical? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/12/a...
A Reversal of Cosmic Expansion? | Centauri Dreams
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November 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Possible evidence that the accelerated expansion of the universe is being mis-read, based on new analysis of supernovae data. Is the cosmos in fact decelerating? Is the universe, after all, cyclical? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/12/a...
Machine intelligence will guide our first interstellar missions. Putting non-biological 'crews' on journeys of this magnitude is inevitable, but it challenges us to revise our values and adjust our moral philosophy. Thoughts on why this is necessary. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/05/b...
Building an Interstellar Philosophy | Centauri Dreams
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November 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Machine intelligence will guide our first interstellar missions. Putting non-biological 'crews' on journeys of this magnitude is inevitable, but it challenges us to revise our values and adjust our moral philosophy. Thoughts on why this is necessary. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/11/05/b...
Will we ever study a black hole up close with a spacecraft? Some musings on how it might be done as we learn to locate solar-mass BHs within tens of light years. Interesting paper points out science opportunities. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/23/i...
Interstellar Mission to a Black Hole | Centauri Dreams
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October 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Will we ever study a black hole up close with a spacecraft? Some musings on how it might be done as we learn to locate solar-mass BHs within tens of light years. Interesting paper points out science opportunities. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/23/i...
Teegarden's Star has a planet that might be habitable, but only if we make key assumptions. I look at recent work on what those assumptions are, and how much we still don't know about the 'habitability' question. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/18/t...
Teegarden’s Star b: A Habitable Red Dwarf Planet? | Centauri Dreams
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October 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Teegarden's Star has a planet that might be habitable, but only if we make key assumptions. I look at recent work on what those assumptions are, and how much we still don't know about the 'habitability' question. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/18/t...
On that dark 'object' that may help refine dark matter models in the early universe. If indeed it is dark matter and not an ancient inactive dwarf galaxy. Striking detection via gravitational lensing pushed to its limits. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/14/a...
A Dark Object or ‘Dark Matter’? | Centauri Dreams
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October 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
On that dark 'object' that may help refine dark matter models in the early universe. If indeed it is dark matter and not an ancient inactive dwarf galaxy. Striking detection via gravitational lensing pushed to its limits. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/14/a...
Something no other propulsion system can do: Non-Keplerian orbits, essentially hovering over a target. Space weather mission concept illustrates the possibilities. Will we be smart enough to fund it? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/09/s...
Solar Sails for Space Weather | Centauri Dreams
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October 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Something no other propulsion system can do: Non-Keplerian orbits, essentially hovering over a target. Space weather mission concept illustrates the possibilities. Will we be smart enough to fund it? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/09/s...
Rogue planets move through interstellar space with no star to warm them. We've assumed they've been ejected from a parent star system, but now it appears some form in same way stars do. A fascinating example discussed in new paper. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/02/r...
Rogue Planets: A Stellar Infancy? | Centauri Dreams
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October 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Rogue planets move through interstellar space with no star to warm them. We've assumed they've been ejected from a parent star system, but now it appears some form in same way stars do. A fascinating example discussed in new paper. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/10/02/r...
If the Wow! Signal was result of power beaming accidentally sweeping across our sky from another star system, why would it be so narrow in bandwidth? James Benford offers an explanation that shows how physics forces the issue. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/22/b...
Beaming and Bandwidth: A New Note on the Wow! Signal | Centauri Dreams
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September 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If the Wow! Signal was result of power beaming accidentally sweeping across our sky from another star system, why would it be so narrow in bandwidth? James Benford offers an explanation that shows how physics forces the issue. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/22/b...
A new look at old data from Ohio's Big Ear, where the famous Wow! signal was recorded. Plus thoughts on a recent work that analyses the factors that make a technological civilization possible. How likely is it that we are alone? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/15/s...
SETI Odds and Ends | Centauri Dreams
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September 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
A new look at old data from Ohio's Big Ear, where the famous Wow! signal was recorded. Plus thoughts on a recent work that analyses the factors that make a technological civilization possible. How likely is it that we are alone? www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/15/s...
Life on Ceres? Almost certainly not now, but go back a few billion years ago and conditions in the asteroid's sub-surface ocean could have supported micro-organisms. New study makes us wonder about other outer system objects. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/03/a...
Ancient Life on Ceres? | Centauri Dreams
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September 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Life on Ceres? Almost certainly not now, but go back a few billion years ago and conditions in the asteroid's sub-surface ocean could have supported micro-organisms. New study makes us wonder about other outer system objects. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/09/03/a...
Keith Cooper's new book Amazing Worlds looks at the interplay of science fiction and exoplanet research. It's a crisp, well-informed survey rich in SF both classic and new, mingling with latest exoplanet data. My review is available here. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/29/a...
Amazing Worlds: A Review | Centauri Dreams
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September 1, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Keith Cooper's new book Amazing Worlds looks at the interplay of science fiction and exoplanet research. It's a crisp, well-informed survey rich in SF both classic and new, mingling with latest exoplanet data. My review is available here. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/29/a...
Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Italian physicist Claudio Maccone, a good friend and a leading figure in interstellar studies. I post some recollections about this fine man today on Centauri Dreams. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/22/c...
Claudio Maccone (1948-2025) | Centauri Dreams
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August 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Italian physicist Claudio Maccone, a good friend and a leading figure in interstellar studies. I post some recollections about this fine man today on Centauri Dreams. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/22/c...
Further thoughts on generation ships, including an obvious one. Will we insist on carrying humans to other stars, or are we more likely to send intelligent machines? www.centauri-dreams.org/2016/03/25/t...
Thirteen to Centaurus | Centauri Dreams
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August 15, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Further thoughts on generation ships, including an obvious one. Will we insist on carrying humans to other stars, or are we more likely to send intelligent machines? www.centauri-dreams.org/2016/03/25/t...
Project Hyperion generation ship design contest produced a solid result in 'Chrysalis,' a richly detailed study of how a ship like this could be constructed. Key problems: As always, propulsion, & especially closed loop life support. That last one is huge. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/12/c...
Chrysalis: Designing a Generation Ship | Centauri Dreams
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August 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Project Hyperion generation ship design contest produced a solid result in 'Chrysalis,' a richly detailed study of how a ship like this could be constructed. Key problems: As always, propulsion, & especially closed loop life support. That last one is huge. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/12/c...
A Saturn mass gas giant may be orbiting Alpha Centauri A, based on solid JWST infrared results and exhaustive simulations of its orbit. It's still a candidate rather than a confirmed world, but follow-up work will tell us soon. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/08/a...
A Candidate Gas Giant at Alpha Centauri A | Centauri Dreams
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August 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
A Saturn mass gas giant may be orbiting Alpha Centauri A, based on solid JWST infrared results and exhaustive simulations of its orbit. It's still a candidate rather than a confirmed world, but follow-up work will tell us soon. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/08/a...
David Kipping's Torqued Accelerator using Radiation from the Sun) concept gets a touch up by Alex Tolley, who asks whether there are ways to extract even more performance from a rotating system capable of exiting the Solar System. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/05/a...
A Rotating Probe Launcher Alternative to TARS | Centauri Dreams
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August 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM
David Kipping's Torqued Accelerator using Radiation from the Sun) concept gets a touch up by Alex Tolley, who asks whether there are ways to extract even more performance from a rotating system capable of exiting the Solar System. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/05/a...
Fresh thinking on the interstellar conundrum. David Kipping's TARS offers fast transit in-system and interstellar options as well. Key benefit is flexibility, capability of swarm missions, and very low cost. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/01/a...
A Space Catapult with Interstellar Potential | Centauri Dreams
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August 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Fresh thinking on the interstellar conundrum. David Kipping's TARS offers fast transit in-system and interstellar options as well. Key benefit is flexibility, capability of swarm missions, and very low cost. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/08/01/a...
SETI at the extremes. I look at science fictional treatments of life in high-energy environments like neutron stars. The SETI community is now beginning to consider possible technosignatures from places we've always ignored. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/07/22/s...
SETI at the Extremes | Centauri Dreams
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July 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
SETI at the extremes. I look at science fictional treatments of life in high-energy environments like neutron stars. The SETI community is now beginning to consider possible technosignatures from places we've always ignored. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/07/22/s...
A just released image from Gemini North shows interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, a cometary coma (gas & dust) still fairly compact but sure to grow larger as perihelion approaches in October. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/07/16/a...
A Better Look at 3I/ATLAS | Centauri Dreams
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July 16, 2025 at 5:44 PM
A just released image from Gemini North shows interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, a cometary coma (gas & dust) still fairly compact but sure to grow larger as perihelion approaches in October. www.centauri-dreams.org/2025/07/16/a...