The Physics of Star Trek (22 page)
Read The Physics of Star Trek Online
Authors: Lawrence M. Krauss
Tags: #Astrophysics, #General, #Performing Arts, #History & Criticism, #Science, #Mathematics, #working, #Dance, #Physics, #Astrophysics & Space Science, #Television Plays And Programs, #Physics (Specific Aspects), #Star trek (Television program), #Video games, #Television, #Space sciences, #Television - History & Criticism, #Television - General
ASTRONOMERS GET PICKY: Perhaps it is not surprising to find that the physics errors
various people find in the series are often closely related to their own areas of
interest. As I polled people for examples, I invariably got responses that bore a
correlation to the specific occupations of those who volunteered the information. I
received several responses by e-mail from astronomer-trekkers who reacted to several
subtle Star Trek errors. One astronomy student turned a valiant effort by the Star Trek
writers to use a piece of real astronomy into an error. The energy-eating life-form in
“Galaxy's Child” is an infant space creature, who mistakes the
Enterprise
for its mother and begins draining its energy. Just in the nick of time LaForge comes up
with a way to get the baby to let go. The baby is attracted to the radiation the
Enterprise
is emitting, at a 21cm wavelength. By changing the frequency of the emission, the crew
“spoils the milk,” and the baby lets go. What makes this episode interesting, and at the
same time incorrect, is that the writers picked up on a fact I mentioned in chapter 8
namely, the 21- cm radiation is a universal frequency emitted by hydrogen, which
astronomers use to map out interstellar gas.
However, the writers interpreted this to mean that everything radiates at 21 cm, including
the
Enterprise.
In fact, the atomic transition in hydrogen responsible for this radiation is extremely
rare, so that a particular atom in interstellar space might produce such radiation on
average only once every 400 years. However, because the universe is filled with hydrogen,
the 21-cm signal is strong enough to detect on Earth. So, in this case, I would give the
writers A for effort and reduce this grade to B+ for the misinterpretationbut I am known
as an easy grader.
A NASA scientist pointed out an error I had missed and which you might expect someone
working for NASA to recognize. It is generally standard starship procedure to move into
geosynchronous orbit around planetsthat is, the orbital period of the ship is the same as
that of the planet. Thus the ship should remain above the same place on the planet's
surface, just as geosynchronous weather satellites do on Earth. Nevertheless, when the
Enterprise
is shown orbiting a planet it is usually moving against the background of the planet's
surface. And indeed, if it is not in a geosynchronous orbit, then you run into
considerable beaming-up problems.
THOSE DARNED NEUTRINOS: I suppose I can't help but bring up neutrinos again. And since I
have skipped lightly over
Deep Space Nine
in this book perhaps it is fair to finish with a blooper from this seriesone I was told
about by David Brahm, another physicist trekker. It seems that Quark has gotten hold of a
machine that alters the laws of probability in its vicinity. One can imagine how useful
this would be at his gambling tables, providing the kind of unfair advantage that a
Ferengi couldn't resist. This ruse is discovered, however, by Dax, who happens to analyze
the neutrino flux through the space station. To her surprise, she finds that all the
neutrinos are coming through left-handedthat is, all spinning in one direction relative to
their motion. Something must be wrong! The neutrinos that spin in the opposite direction
seem to be missing!
Unfortunately, of all the phenomena the Star Trek writers could have chosen to uncover
Quark's shenanigans, they managed to pick one that is actually true. As far as we know,
neutrinos
are
only left-handed! They are the only known particles in nature that apparently can exist in
only one spin state. If Dax's analysis had yielded this information, she would have every
reason to believe that all was as it should be.
What makes this example so poignant, as far as I am concerned, is exactly what makes the
physics of Star Trek so interesting: sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction.
Well, that's it for blunders and for physics. If I missed your favorite error or your
favorite piece of physics, I suppose you can send your suggestion to my publisher. If
there are enough, like Star Trek we can plan a sequel. I already have a name:
The Physics of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Krauss.
The point of finishing this book with a chapter on physics blunders is not to castigate
the Star Trek writers unduly. It is rather to illustrate that there are many ways of
enjoying the series. As long as Star Trek continues to remain on the air, I am sure that
ever-new physics faux pas will give trekkers of all ilks, from high school students to
university professors, something to look forward to talking about the morning after. And
it offers a challenge to the writers and producers to try to keep up with the expanding
world of physics.
So I will instead close this book where I begannot with the mistakes but with the
possibilities. Our culture has been as surely shaped by the miracles of modern physicsand
here I include Galileo and Newton among the modernsas it has by any other human
intellectual endeavor. And while it is an unfortunate modern misconception that science is
somehow divorced from culture, it is, in fact, a vital part of what makes up our
civilization. Our explorations of the universe represent some of the most remarkable
discoveries of the human intellect, and it is a pity that they are not shared among as
broad an audience as enjoys the inspirations of great literature, or painting, or music.
By emphasizing the potential role of science in the development of the human species, Star
Trek whimsically displays the powerful connection between science and culture. While I
have argued at times that the science of
the twenty-third century may bear very little resemblance to anything the imaginations of
the Star Trek writers have come up with, nevertheless I expect that this science may be
even more remarkable. In any case I am convinced that the physics of today and tomorrow
will as surely determine the character of our future as the physics of Newton and Galileo
colors our present existence. I suppose I am a scientist in part because of my faith in
the potential of our species to continue to uncover hidden wonders in the universe. And
this is after all the spirit animating the Star Trek series. Perhaps Gene Roddenberry
should have the last word. As he said on the twenty- fifth anniversary of the Star Trek
series, one year before his death: “The human race is a remarkable creature, one with
great potential, and I hope that Star Trek has helped to show us what we can be if we
believe in ourselves and our abilities.”
