05.07.2009 2:43 pm
Let’s take a look at Star Trek and real world science
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I’ll admit right up front that I’m expecting to enjoy this latest incarnation of Star Trek - though, as far as I’m concerned, it’ll never compare to the Star Wars franchise. Just a personal preference.
Of course it’s always fun to see these spectacular movies and wonder if the technology on display will ever exist off the silver screen. Well, here’s a helpful link to MSNBC, which features an article examining some of the gadgets and equipment used in the movie.
Here are three:
- Teleportation. A work in progress: “Beam me up, Scotty!” Oh, how easy travel would be if the technology existed to disintegrate our bodies in one place and nearly instantaneously make them reappear at our destination. Unfortunately, that kind of teleportation remains firmly fixed in the realm of “Star Trek” fiction. However, scientists are meeting with some success as they try to teleport messages encoded in beams of light across table-length distances, such as this experiment from 2002. More recent advances include teleporting information from one trapped atom to another.
- U.S. Air Force develops PHaSER: The weapon of choice for Trekkies is the phaser, a device that directs an adjustable beam of energy at its target. The phaser is capable of a range of effects, from a momentary stun to instant obliteration. The U.S. Air Force has developed its own prototype device with the “Star Trek” moniker PHaSER (Personal Halting and Stimulation Response). The hefty gunlike device was originally developed to blind an attacker temporarily. A second laser has since been added capable of heating up skin.Cloaking devices
- Coming out of hiding: Cloaking devices are rampant in science fiction, from “Star Trek” to “Harry Potter,” but they are no longer confined to the imagination. Real-world scientists are creating new materials that manipulate wavelengths of light in ways that can hide objects from detection. This graphic shows the basic design of a 3-D metamaterial lined with nanocups that redirect the flow of light that hits it, making the object invisible.
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
Star Trek whips Star Wars easily. Admittedly everyone has their preferences but Star Trek has 11 movies, 6 television series, literally hundreds of novels, and a hotel resort in vegas based on it. Also Star Trek existed before Star Wars. If not for Star Trek I’m doubtful that there ever would have been a Star Wars Franchise.
Also when it comes to real world items that were originally envisioned in anyone one of the series or the movies Star Trek wins again. Star Trek’s communicator is strikingly similar to cell phones, especially any of the flip phones. The ear piece that both the characters of Spock and Uhura would wear, once again strikingly similar to bluetooth headsets. The “Data Pads” are amazingly like PDA’s and how much closer to Amazon’s Kindle could you get? Also just the sheer number of scientists and folks involved with NASA that readily admit that Star Trek was a huge influence in their choosing the career they did.
I’ll never dress up in one of the uniforms and go to a convention or sit on a jury but Star Trek is awesome.
Star Wars held the “best franchise” title for a long time, but then Jar Jar Binks came along. Trek won the North American title by default at that point.
But the best sf franchise of all time? Star Wars and Star Trek both take a back seat to Doctor Who.