Dyson

Paul Sutter asks about assembling a Dyson around our Sun built from our home. I don't think that's happening... ever.

I mean sure: absent a megaproject, we're doomed here, from the sun heating up by itself on its way to gianthood. But we can do megaprojects like ringing Earth (and Venus and Mars). Dyson is, like... a gigaproject. And we'll want to keep Earth just because it's a museumpiece.

Dysons outside this system, to be built around nearby stars, seem more plausible. I don't think anyone's using the TRAPPIST system. There's lots of raw-material there and to coat a colder surface they'll need less of that material.