That alien megastructure surrounding a star? Yeah, it's probably just dust

Let's just call it the alien megastructure that wasn't.

More than 100 researchers have released a study showing that the mysterious star KIC 8462852, better known as Tabby's Star, is almost certainly not surrounded by a structure built by a technologically advanced alien civilization. 

In reality, the star's odd dimming and brightening quality has a far more natural explanation.

“Dust is most likely the reason why the star’s light appears to dim and brighten," astronomer Tabetha Boyajian, who the star is nicknamed for, explained in a statement about the study published in the The Astrophysical Journal Letters.  Read more...