Ringworlds, Dyson Spheres, and Death Stars: The Geometry That Holds Science Fiction Together

Some of science fiction’s most recognizable settings are not planets or starships but megastructures, artificial constructions on a scale that challenges anything humans have built. The Death Star from Star Wars, Halo’s ring from HALO, and the Dyson sphere from Star Trek: The Next Generation share a common feature: they are built around curves. Rings, spheres, and...