List of Star Trek materials
Encyclopedia
This is a list of fictional materials from the science fiction
universe
of Star Trek
. Like other aspects of stories in the franchise, some were recurring plot elements from one episode or series to another.
s used in starship
hulls.
. Panels of ultra-thick acrylic glass were needed to construct water tanks within their ship's cargo bay for containing two humpback whale
s and tons of water. However, the Enterprise crew, without money appropriate to the period, found it necessary to barter for the required materials. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott
exchanges the chemical formula
for transparent aluminum for several sheets of plexiglass from a manufacturer called Plexicorp. When Dr. Leonard McCoy
informs Scott that giving Dr. Nichols the formula is altering the future, the engineer responds, "Why? How do we know he didn't invent the thing?" (In the novelization of the film, Scott is aware that Dr. Marcus "Mark" Nichols(Alex Henteloff
), the Plexicorp scientist with whom he and McCoy deal, was its "inventor," and concludes that his giving of the formula is a predestination paradox
/bootstrap paradox
.) The substance is described as being as transparent as glass while possessing the strength and density of high-grade aluminum. André Bormanis
has concluded that the material would not be a good conductor of electricity
.
Coincidently Transparent Aluminum has become another Star Trek fiction turned reality when it was created as a new state of matter
by a team of scientists in 2009.
Aluminium oxynitride
is a form of ceramic whose properties are similar to those of the fictional substance seen in Star Trek
.
, was an alloy used in the Delphic Expanse as a protection against spatial anomalies there. It had unusual effects on Vulcan
physiology, and became a recurring plot element in the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise
, exploring the theme of drug addiction.
Other materials were occasionally mentioned in the scripts, such as nitrium, a radiation-resistant material.
, since they were necessary to regulate the matter-antimatter reactions needed to generate the required energy. Dilithium was frequently featured in the original series
as a scarce resource. By the time in which the later series were set, dilithium could be synthesized
.
Trilithium is a material used in a star-destroying weapon in Star Trek Generations. This is due to the fact that Trilithium is termed as a "nuclear inhibitor", which is believed to be any substance that interferes with nuclear reactions. In the film, Trilithium is known to be capable, when used to its full potential, of stopping all fusion within a star, thereby collapsing the star and destroying everything within its solar system via a shock wave.
as a medium of exchange used by Ferengi
s and others. It was a liquid usually traded as "gold-pressed latinum"; once the latinum was extracted, the gold
was discarded.
Tholian silk was a valuable fabric mentioned in multiple series.
Bio-mimetic gel is a volatile substance with medical applications. It is also highly sought after for use in illegal activities, such as genetic experimentation and biological weapons development. As such, its use is strictly regulated by the United Federation of Planets
, and sale of the substance is prohibited. The substance was first mentioned in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
, and was used as a plot element in several episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
, in the episode Plato's Stepchildren, the Platonians (the inhabitants of the planet Platonius) have telekinetic
powers including the ability to levitate from consuming plant
s containing the mineral kironide.
Pergium is a substance mined in The Devil in the Dark.
Venus drug, introduced in Mudd's Women, cause women to appear much lovelier and more exciting than they really are.
is a key component of the Genesis Device prototype--an experimental terraformation
device introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
. Protomatter is presented as a very unstable substance that, due to its instability, is considered unethical for usage in scientific research. The substance is used as a plot device to compare David Marcus with his father, James T. Kirk
, both of whom, in Lieutenant Saavik
's words, "changed the rules"--David Marcus in using the forbidden protomatter, and James T. Kirk in "cheating" to win the Kobayashi Maru
test. The inclusion of protomatter ultimately results in both the accelerated maturation of the regenerated Spock
during his stay on the Genesis planet, and the planet's subsequent explosion into an asteroid belt.
The Omega Molecule is a highly unstable molecule believed to be the most powerful substance known to exist. If not properly disposed of, it may destroy subspace and render warp travel impossible. In Star Trek: Voyager
, during the episode The Omega Directive, Voyager encounters Omega particles and Captain Janeway
must ignore the Prime Directive
and destroy the particles. Later in the episode, they spontaneously stabilize for a brief moment before they are destroyed.
Red matter was a red, liquid material introduced in Star Trek (the 2009 film) that was able to create a black hole when not properly contained. Spock attempted to use it to stop a massive, galaxy-threatening supernova
, but the resultant black hole caused his own ship and a Romulan mining vessel to travel back in time. Later in the film, the antagonist Nero used it to destroy the planet Vulcan. Shortly after, the future Spock's ship containing the red matter was used to destroy Nero's Romulan mining vessel.
Eve Online
. In the Eve universe, tritanium is a versatile material and is the primary material used in the construction of virtually all star ships and star ship components. It is described as being unstable at atmospheric temperatures, and thus is only used in constructing objects intended to stay in space permanently.
Other
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. Like other aspects of stories in the franchise, some were recurring plot elements from one episode or series to another.
Metals for starship construction
The fictional metals duranium and tritanium were referred to in many episodes as extremely hard alloyAlloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
s used in starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
hulls.
Transparent aluminum
Star Trek technical manuals indicate that transparent aluminum is used in various fittings in starships, including exterior ship portals and windows. It was notably mentioned in the 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a 1986 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. It is the fourth feature film based on the Star Trek science fiction television series and completes the story arc begun in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and continued in Star Trek III: The...
. Panels of ultra-thick acrylic glass were needed to construct water tanks within their ship's cargo bay for containing two humpback whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s and tons of water. However, the Enterprise crew, without money appropriate to the period, found it necessary to barter for the required materials. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott
Montgomery Scott
Montgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
exchanges the chemical formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
for transparent aluminum for several sheets of plexiglass from a manufacturer called Plexicorp. When Dr. Leonard McCoy
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
informs Scott that giving Dr. Nichols the formula is altering the future, the engineer responds, "Why? How do we know he didn't invent the thing?" (In the novelization of the film, Scott is aware that Dr. Marcus "Mark" Nichols(Alex Henteloff
Alex Henteloff
Alex Henteloff is an American actor.Born in Los Angeles, California, he portrayed the attorney Arnold Drake Ripner in a recurring on the television series Barney Miller...
), the Plexicorp scientist with whom he and McCoy deal, was its "inventor," and concludes that his giving of the formula is a predestination paradox
Predestination paradox
A predestination paradox is a paradox of time travel that is often used as a convention in science fiction. It exists when a time traveller is caught in a loop of events that "predestines" or "predates" them to travel back in time...
/bootstrap paradox
Bootstrap paradox
The bootstrap paradox is a paradox of time travel in which information or objects can exist without having been created. After information or an object is sent back in time, it is recovered in the present and becomes the very object/information that was initially brought back in time in the first...
.) The substance is described as being as transparent as glass while possessing the strength and density of high-grade aluminum. André Bormanis
André Bormanis
Andre Bormanis is an American television producer, screenwriter and author of the book Star Trek: Science Logs. Bormanis is most notable for his involvement in the long-running Star Trek franchise, and was the science consultant on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star...
has concluded that the material would not be a good conductor of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
.
Coincidently Transparent Aluminum has become another Star Trek fiction turned reality when it was created as a new state of matter
State of matter
States of matter are the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on. Solid, liquid and gas are the most common states of matter on Earth. However, much of the baryonic matter of the universe is in the form of hot plasma, both as rarefied interstellar medium and as dense...
by a team of scientists in 2009.
Aluminium oxynitride
Aluminium oxynitride
Aluminium oxynitride or AlON is a transparent polycrystalline ceramic with cubic spinel crystal structure composed of aluminium, oxygen and nitrogen. It is currently marketed under the name ALON by Surmet Corporation. ALON is optically transparent in the near ultra violet, visible and near...
is a form of ceramic whose properties are similar to those of the fictional substance seen in Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
.
Trellium-D
Trellium-D, shown in Star Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
, was an alloy used in the Delphic Expanse as a protection against spatial anomalies there. It had unusual effects on Vulcan
Vulcan (Star Trek)
Vulcans, or sometimes Vulcanians, are an extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion. They were the first extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek...
physiology, and became a recurring plot element in the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
, exploring the theme of drug addiction.
Other materials were occasionally mentioned in the scripts, such as nitrium, a radiation-resistant material.
Energy sources
Dilithium crystals, in all Star Trek series, were shown to be an essential component for a starship's faster than light drive, or warp driveWarp drive (Star Trek)
Warp drive is a faster-than-light propulsion system in the setting of many science fiction works, most notably Star Trek. A spacecraft equipped with a warp drive may travel at velocities greater than that of light by many orders of magnitude, while circumventing the relativistic problem of time...
, since they were necessary to regulate the matter-antimatter reactions needed to generate the required energy. Dilithium was frequently featured in the original series
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
as a scarce resource. By the time in which the later series were set, dilithium could be synthesized
Replicator (Star Trek)
In Star Trek a replicator is a machine capable of creating objects. Replicators were originally seen used to synthesize meals on demand, but in later series they took on many other uses.-Origins and limitations:...
.
Trilithium is a material used in a star-destroying weapon in Star Trek Generations. This is due to the fact that Trilithium is termed as a "nuclear inhibitor", which is believed to be any substance that interferes with nuclear reactions. In the film, Trilithium is known to be capable, when used to its full potential, of stopping all fusion within a star, thereby collapsing the star and destroying everything within its solar system via a shock wave.
Precious materials
Latinum featured in many episodes of Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
as a medium of exchange used by Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
s and others. It was a liquid usually traded as "gold-pressed latinum"; once the latinum was extracted, the gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discarded.
Tholian silk was a valuable fabric mentioned in multiple series.
Bio-mimetic gel is a volatile substance with medical applications. It is also highly sought after for use in illegal activities, such as genetic experimentation and biological weapons development. As such, its use is strictly regulated by the United Federation of Planets
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
, and sale of the substance is prohibited. The substance was first mentioned in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, and was used as a plot element in several episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Minerals
Kironide is a mineral by which, in Star Trek: The Original SeriesStar Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
, in the episode Plato's Stepchildren, the Platonians (the inhabitants of the planet Platonius) have telekinetic
Psychokinesis
The term psychokinesis , also referred to as telekinesis with respect to strictly describing movement of matter, sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term...
powers including the ability to levitate from consuming plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s containing the mineral kironide.
Pergium is a substance mined in The Devil in the Dark.
Drugs
Cordrazine, introduced in The City on the Edge of Forever is a powerful stimulant used to revive patients in an emergency. Overdoses cause hallucinations, madness and death.Venus drug, introduced in Mudd's Women, cause women to appear much lovelier and more exciting than they really are.
Unstable substances
ProtomatterStar Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is a 1984 motion picture released by Paramount Pictures. The film is the third feature based on the Star Trek science fiction franchise and is the center of a three-film story arc that begins with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and concludes with Star Trek IV:...
is a key component of the Genesis Device prototype--an experimental terraformation
Terraforming
Terraforming of a planet, moon, or other body is the hypothetical process of deliberately modifying its atmosphere, temperature, surface topography or ecology to be similar to those of Earth, in order to make it habitable by terrestrial organisms.The term is sometimes used more generally as a...
device introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a 1982 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. The film is the second feature based on the Star Trek science fiction franchise. The plot features James T...
. Protomatter is presented as a very unstable substance that, due to its instability, is considered unethical for usage in scientific research. The substance is used as a plot device to compare David Marcus with his father, James T. Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
, both of whom, in Lieutenant Saavik
Saavik
Lieutenant JG Saavik is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe. She first appeared in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan played by Kirstie Alley. Robin Curtis took on the role after a salary dispute caused Alley to drop out of the sequel, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock...
's words, "changed the rules"--David Marcus in using the forbidden protomatter, and James T. Kirk in "cheating" to win the Kobayashi Maru
Kobayashi Maru
The Kobayashi Maru is a test in the fictional universe of Star Trek. It is a Starfleet training exercise designed to test the character of cadets in the command track at Starfleet Academy. The Kobayashi Maru test was first depicted in the opening scene of the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan...
test. The inclusion of protomatter ultimately results in both the accelerated maturation of the regenerated Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
during his stay on the Genesis planet, and the planet's subsequent explosion into an asteroid belt.
The Omega Molecule is a highly unstable molecule believed to be the most powerful substance known to exist. If not properly disposed of, it may destroy subspace and render warp travel impossible. In Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
, during the episode The Omega Directive, Voyager encounters Omega particles and Captain Janeway
Kathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, she was the lead character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and later, a Starfleet admiral, as seen in the 2002 feature film Star Trek...
must ignore the Prime Directive
Prime Directive
In the universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet's General Order #1, is the most prominent guiding principle of the United Federation of Planets...
and destroy the particles. Later in the episode, they spontaneously stabilize for a brief moment before they are destroyed.
Red matter was a red, liquid material introduced in Star Trek (the 2009 film) that was able to create a black hole when not properly contained. Spock attempted to use it to stop a massive, galaxy-threatening supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
, but the resultant black hole caused his own ship and a Romulan mining vessel to travel back in time. Later in the film, the antagonist Nero used it to destroy the planet Vulcan. Shortly after, the future Spock's ship containing the red matter was used to destroy Nero's Romulan mining vessel.
Fictional substances within Star Trek
Corbomite was named by Captain Kirk in a bluff in The Corbomite Maneuver as a material and a device that prevents attack, because if any destructive energy touches the vessel, a reverse reaction of equal strength is created, destroying the attacker.Non-Star Trek references
Tritanium is also a metallic mineral used in the construction of star ships in the MMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Eve Online
EVE Online
Eve Online is a video game by CCP Games. It is a player-driven, persistent-world MMORPG set in a science fiction space setting. Characters pilot customizable ships through a galaxy of over 7,500 star systems. Most star systems are connected to one or more other star systems by means of stargates...
. In the Eve universe, tritanium is a versatile material and is the primary material used in the construction of virtually all star ships and star ship components. It is described as being unstable at atmospheric temperatures, and thus is only used in constructing objects intended to stay in space permanently.
See also
- List of Star Wars substances
- 'Leucoemeraldine'PolyanilinePolyaniline is a conducting polymer of the semi-flexible rod polymer family. Although the compound itself was discovered over 150 years ago, only since the early 1980s has polyaniline captured the intense attention of the scientific community. This is due to the rediscovery of its high electrical...
- real world equivalent of transparent aluminum
External links
Articles at Memory AlphaOther
- Jeffrey de Fourestier, "The Mineralogy of Star Trek"