10 Examples Of Real Science In Star Trek
The writers of Star Trek went above and beyond to make the universe as realistic as possible.
Star Trek stands out from other science-fiction franchises because of its ability to stay grounded in real-life science. For the most part at least.
The creators of Trek try their hardest to this day to make its science and technology be theoretically possible (though not always likely). Star Trek at times even employed science consultants, scientists who would join the writing staff and adjust the scripts to make them more realistic. It's this attention to detail and appreciation for science that draws many people into the franchise.
From the technology used aboard Starfleet's ships, to the strange forms of life they encounter on their travels, Trek sprinkles in enough science in between the techno-babble to make the world seem incredibly real and immersive. So, while dilithium crystals and tractor beams may exist only in our imaginations, this list will be looking at ten times real-life science was used in Star Trek.
10. Silicon-Based Life
All life on Earth is carbon-based. Carbon is perfect for biology because of its abundance and its ability to maintain four valence bonds with other elements, especially hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other carbon atoms. These types of bonds make up most of the complex biological molecules that allow life to exist.
While it is true that carbon can create more possible molecules than any other element on the periodic table (by a longshot), many scientists theorise that aliens that evolved on a different planet may also be silicon-based. Silicon, like carbon, can form four stable bonds with itself and other atoms, and can create long chemical chains known as silane polymers, which are very similar to hydrocarbons, an essential ingredient of life made with carbon, but the two elements are still vastly different. Silicon is far more reactive to elements like oxygen than carbon is, so silicon-based life may not be possible in reality, but still, the rampant scientific speculation of carbon-based lifeforms led to one appearing on Star Trek.
In the Star Trek: The Original Series episode, The Devil In The Dark, the Enterprise crew encountered a silicon-based life form known as the Horta. The Horta is one of the strangest creatures ever encountered by Starfleet, with an appearance more similar to molten rock than a living animal.