10 Deadliest Accidents In Star Trek

9. Molecular Mishap(s)

Curiosity is the universal constant, which at least comes with fair warning. History abounds with those who have made the ultimate self-sacrifice in the interest of science and invention. Risking the proverbial cat is a far cry from endangering an entire quadrant. To paraphrase Captain Janeway, when science steps over into mass destruction, it's time to know when to quit. Omega was several of those times.

The Federation first faced the devastating power of the Omega molecule in the second half of the 23rd century. In fact, a single molecule of Omega caused an explosion that killed its creator Ketteract and 126 other scientists at a classified research outpost in the Lantaru sector. The accident also ruptured subspace across several light years. A "handful" of Omega molecules could do the same across thousands.

In the Delta Quadrant, one pre-warp civilisation's experiments with Omega as a power source led to death and devastation across 300,000 square kilometres of their M-class moon. "Half the quadrant" was still in danger from the molecules that remained. "The final frontier has some boundaries that shouldn't be crossed," to quote Janeway once more.

The Borg were also more than simply curious about Omega. They sought to "assimilate it at all costs". Omega was perfection, though that particular quality would be forever wanting in the 600,000 drones "sacrificed" in the Collective's one (known and failed) attempt to synthesise the molecule. Forget fair warning, it only took one trillionth of a nanosecond for Omega to destabilise. That's not nearly time enough to blink.