# Dyson tree

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Hypothetical genetically-engineered plant capable of growing inside a comet

External image Artist's concept of a spherical Dyson tree

Freeman Dyson in 2005

A **Dyson tree** is a hypothetical [genetically engineered](/source/Genetic_engineering) plant (perhaps resembling a tree) capable of growing inside a [comet](/source/Comet), suggested by the physicist [Freeman Dyson](/source/Freeman_Dyson).[1][2][3] Plants may be able to produce a breathable atmosphere within the hollow spaces of the comet (or maybe even within the plants themselves), utilising solar energy for photosynthesis and [cometary](/source/Cometary) materials for nutrients, thus providing [self-sustaining](/source/Self-sufficiency) habitats for humanity in the outer solar system analogous to a greenhouse in space, a shell grown by a [mollusc](/source/Mollusca) or the actions of [thermogenic plants](/source/Thermogenic_plant), such as the [skunk cabbage](/source/Skunk_cabbage) or the [voodoo lily](/source/Voodoo_lily).[4]

A Dyson tree might consist of a few main trunk structures growing out from a comet nucleus, branching into limbs and foliage that intertwine, forming a spherical structure possibly dozens of kilometers across.

## In science fiction

Dyson trees are mentioned a number of times in [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction), beginning in the 1980s:

- One of the first adoptions of the trope is [Rachel Pollack](/source/Rachel_Pollack)'s *Tree House* (1984).[5]

- The titular megaflora in Larry Niven's 1984 novel *[The Integral Trees](/source/The_Integral_Trees)* exist within an orbiting gaseous torus full of life adapted to free-fall.

- The concept is discussed in [Carl Sagan](/source/Carl_Sagan) and [Ann Druyan](/source/Ann_Druyan)'s 1985 non-fiction book *[Comet](/source/Comet_(book))*, and several paintings of Dyson trees around Saturn and in interstellar space are provided in the book by [Jon Lomberg](/source/Jon_Lomberg).[6]

- In [Michael Swanwick](/source/Michael_Swanwick)'s 1987 [transhumanist](/source/Transhumanism) novel *[Vacuum Flowers](/source/Vacuum_Flowers)*, "dysonsworlders" have established tree settlements in the [Oort Cloud](/source/Oort_Cloud).[7]

- Under the name of "Space Poplars", Dyson trees are described in [Donald Moffitt](/source/Donald_Moffitt)'s two science fiction novels, *[The Genesis Quest](/source/The_Genesis_Quest)* and *[Second Genesis](/source/Second_Genesis_(novel))*. Here they are used as both habitats and spacecraft, propelled by reflective outer leaves used as organic [solar sails](/source/Solar_sail).[8][9]

- [Dan Simmons](/source/Dan_Simmons), in *[Endymion](/source/Endymion_(Simmons_novel))* (1996) and the *[Rise of Endymion](/source/Rise_of_Endymion)* (1997) – both part of his [Hyperion Cantos](/source/Hyperion_Cantos) – refers to Dyson trees, and in the latter novel to a huge tree system that surrounds an entire star (reminiscent of a [Dyson sphere](/source/Dyson_sphere)).

- In [Stephen Baxter](/source/Stephen_Baxter_(author))'s *[Manifold: Space](/source/Manifold%3A_Space)* (2001), Baxter's protagonist [Reid Malenfant](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reid_Malenfant&action=edit&redlink=1) at one point finds himself inside a Dyson tree.[10]

- In the *[Orion's Arm](/source/Orion's_Arm)* [shared universe](/source/Shared_universe) (established 2000), Dyson trees and Dyson tree "forests" are called *orwoods*; these have been established in a number of star systems throughout terragen space.[11][12] The word "Orwood" in this context was originally coined by [Anders Sandberg](/source/Anders_Sandberg).[13][*[failed verification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability)*]

- The *[Transhuman Space](/source/Transhuman_Space)* [roleplaying game](/source/Roleplaying_game) includes the beginning of a Dyson tree endeavour on Yggdrasil Station.[14]

- *[Eclipse Phase Second Edition](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eclipse_Phase_Second_Edition&action=edit&redlink=1)* [role-playing game](/source/Role-playing_game) references the Dyson tree as an example of a Biological Habitat.

- In the *[Tenchi Muyo!](/source/Tenchi_Muyo!)* OVA series, the [Jurai](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jurai&action=edit&redlink=1) utilize trees that can live in space as ships, and in the temple of the goddess-like character [Tokimi](/source/Tokimi), a giant tree whose roots encompass a planet can be seen.[15]

- In *[The Dirty Pair](/source/The_Dirty_Pair)* series, the episode "Run From the Future" is set on the Nimkasi habitat, an outlaw habitat that is a Dyson tree.[16]

- The video game *[Eufloria](/source/Eufloria)* is based on the Dyson tree concept.[17]

## See also

- [Science Fiction portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Science_Fiction)

- [Bioship](/source/Bioship) – Type of fictional spacecraft or starship made of biological elements

- [Dyson sphere](/source/Dyson_sphere) – Hypothetical megastructure around a star

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Basu, SK (2007). [*Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Astrophysics*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ffNLyv3YV4UC&q=Dyson%20tree&pg=PA96). Global Vision Publishing. p. 96. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788182202207](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788182202207).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Freeman Dyson, Part I: From Physics to the Far Future*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWi_O-MLmB0). [Closer to Truth](/source/Closer_to_Truth). Vol. 2101. 9 December 2022. Event occurs at 22:43. Retrieved 1 May 2024 – via YouTube.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Freeman J. Dyson (November 1997). ["Warm-Blooded Plants and Freeze-Dried Fish"](https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/97nov/space.htm). *[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)*. Vol. 280, no. 5. pp. 71–80. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Lyra, Wladimir (8 March 2020). ["Living in a comet: How to build a Dyson treehouse"](https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/life/2020/03/08/living-comet-how-build-dyson-treehouse/4964074002/). *Las Cruces Sun-News*. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Westfahl, Gary (2009). [*Islands in the Sky: The Space Station Theme in Science Fiction Literature*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NR6wAvxlDncC&q=%22Dyson%20tree%22&pg=PA209). Wildside. p. 209. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781434403568](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781434403568).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Sagan, Carl; Druyan, Ann (1985). [*Comet*](https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1610179) (1st ed.). New York: Random House. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-394-54908-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-394-54908-8).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Swanwick, Michael (1988). *Vacuum flowers*. New York: Ace Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-441-85876-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-441-85876-7). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [20956579](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/20956579).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Moffitt, Donald (2003). *The Genesis quest*. New York: Ibooks. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7434-5833-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7434-5833-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [51676877](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/51676877).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Moffitt, Donald (1988). *Second Genesis*. Sphere. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7474-0016-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7474-0016-4). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [18982814](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/18982814).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Baxter, Stephen (2000). *Space*. London: HarperCollins. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-00-225771-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-00-225771-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [43718099](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/43718099).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Drashner, Todd; Sandberg, Anders; Kazlev, M. Alan (20 November 2001). ["Dyson Trees"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207230147/https://www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/48472ab83cce0). *Orion's Arm - Encyclopedia Galactica*. Archived from [the original](https://www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/48472ab83cce0) on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Kazlev, M. Alan (17 December 2001). ["Orwoods"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221209083543/https://www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/475d705969d99). *Orion's Arm - Encyclopedia Galactica*. Archived from [the original](https://www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/475d705969d99) on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Welcome to the Orion's Arm Universe Project"](https://www.orionsarm.com/). *www.orionsarm.com*. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Transhuman Space"](http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/transhuman/). *www.sjgames.com*. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Tenchi Muyo OVA Collector's Edition Review • Anime UK News"](https://animeuknews.net/2017/08/tenchi-muyo-ova-collectors-edition-review/). *Anime UK News*. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["The Dirty Pair: Run From the Future (Volume)"](https://comicvine.gamespot.com/the-dirty-pair-run-from-the-future/4050-19480/). *Comic Vine*. Retrieved 17 May 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Rose, Mike (2011). [*250 Indie Games You Must Play*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WsnzL0HYWEcC&q=%22Dyson%20tree%22&pg=PA265). [Taylor & Francis](/source/Taylor_%26_Francis). p. 265. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781439875759](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781439875759).

## External links

- [Wladimir Lyra](http://www.wladimirlyra.com/index.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112212926/http://www.wladimirlyra.com/index.html) 12 November 2023 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), "[Living in a comet: How to build a Dyson treehouse](https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/life/2020/03/08/living-comet-how-build-dyson-treehouse/4964074002/)". *Las Cruces Sun-News*, March 2020.

- [Dyson Tree](http://itsf.org/resources/factsheet.php?fsID=98) – Innovative Technologies from Science Fiction for Space Application.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dyson tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_tree) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_tree?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.