Star Trek tech on the way!

There are times when I wonder whether the technological revolutions of the 90s and 2000s would have happened without Star Trek to inspire them. Just look at the cell phone in your hand - it's likely a combo flip-communicator/tricorder. It can even operate as a Universal Translator... more or less.

The next Star Trek tech on the way is the deflector shield, soon to be protecting interstellar probes, and maybe even missions to other planets.

UK scientists working at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford and the universities of York and Strathclyde have tested a “mini-magnetosphere” enveloping a model spacecraft in the lab. It turns out that their prototype offers almost total protection against high energy solar particles. By mimicking the natural protective environment of the Earth, the researchers have scaled the protective magnetic bubble down into an energy efficient, yet powerful deflector shield.

There are days I think the best thing we could do for innovation and science education would be for the Federal Government to sponsor the next Star Trek series.

Sadly True

MOVIE REVIEW: STAR TREK

MOVIE: Star Trek
MPAA RATING: [PG-13]
MOD-BLOG RATING: 4.75 out of 5

THE SHORT VERSION: A roller-coaster of a movie which starts with established Trek canon and then goes off in its own direction. Good acting, good writing, good effects, but stretches suspension-of-disbelief to its limits at times.

THE LONG VERSION: Star Trek has used up most of its 9 lives. We've had 5 series (Original Series, Next Generation, Deep Space 9, Voyager, and Enterprise), 6 original-cast movies, 4 next-generation movies, and countless spin-offs in novels, comic books, cartoons, etc. The quality of the product has steadily declined since the end of Next Generation, and skepticism from fans and non-fans has grown to unsustainable levels. So what do you do, if you are Paramount and eager not to lose this cash cow?

Apparently, you throw everything away and start over... as best you can within existing canon.

This new Star Trek movie is a reboot of the franchise which begins with a Star Trek staple - time travel. After a disaster on the home planet of the Romulans (an emotional offshoot of the Vulcans), a mining vessel goes back in time to avenge themselves upon the Federation. Their first act is to destroy the first ship they come across, which just so happens to be captained by George Kirk - father of James T. Kirk from the original series. From this kickoff point, we see the origin and development of the Original Series crew of the Enterprise through Starfeet Academy to taking their places on the bridge of the old ship. Several other key foundations of the earlier Star Trek universe are also wiped out along way, and it is made quite clear by another surprise cameo that this Star Trek is a different history than the one we knew before. Nothing is secure here, except that the Enterprise crew will come together before possibly being torn apart.

Overall, this is a solid film with a carefully thought-out story designed to be acceptable to existing Trekkies/Trekkers, but also accessible to those new to the series (or more likely, to those who grew fed up with the series long ago). The effects are amazing, including significant upgrades from the 1960s-designed Enterprise, but can be distracting at times (especially the random strobe effects that seem to appear all the time on the bridge). The actors do a great job representing the same characters as the original series, but bringing their own spin onto them. Zackary Quinto is especially memorable as Spock - believable as a young Leanard Nimoy while not being restricted to a copy of Nimoy. This film is up to a 21st century level of sexiness, and there are a few swears that parents will want to be aware of before allowing young children to see the film, but both are handled carefully and are consistent within the story.

The only major flaw in the film is the extent to which credibility is stretched at times. From the "major changes" mentioned earlier - which include a fundamental revision to all Trek canon - to mysterious technobable weapons which have no relation to any known physics, this Trek pushes the limits of audience suspension-of-disbelief at times. Likewise, coincidence upon coincidence piles up in such unlikely combinations that even the characters feel required to comment upon them. At times, this takes the audience out of the film, until the next time a phaser is fired and you are reminded this is just a popcorn flick.

Someone is laughing at Skywalker Ranch

OK, maybe this Star Trek "reboot" has a chance after all

If you're stay home on Black Friday, this may give you a chuckle

First step toward Replicators

One of the cooler technologies of Star Trek: The Next Generation is "replicators" - devices capable of producing nearly any food, material, or device from pure energy. In the mythology of Trek, these devices have essentially ended the laws of supply and demand by providing any material item, providing there is enough energy available. For the first time, scientists have taken a first step toward such technology by creating a primitive form of matter out of a beam of light.

It is only a first step, but who knows where it may lead?

Some interesting Trek movie details

Details for the new Star Trek movie are coming out slowly, but surely. I'm excited to see what they do with the franchise, especially since this movie is supposed to be a re-invention of it. I actually haven't seen the last couple films because I'm sort of tired of the Next Generation story lines. Hopefully this will reinvigorate the franchise, otherwise I think it'll be time to hang up the communicators and phasers.

Even Andriods hate the BSOD

This was a found image. I did NOT make it.

Where Star Trek and Politics meet

I never thought that Seven-of-Nine's rather public divorce would ever have any effect on the presidential race. Turns out in some way it's possible that Jeri Ryan's divorce is responsible for giving Barack Obama a national platform from which to mount his run for president. It's kind of a stretch, but an interesting tie in nonetheless.

For the geek who has everything...

I present you the Star Trek the Next Generation: Complete Series DVD set. Is it a grand 6 disk collection? No. Maybe 20 discs with lots of extra features? You're almost half way. No, it's a 49 disk set with all the features any Star Trek: TNG fan could ever want. I won't be buying this, but I'm sure there's at least one contributor to this site that's at least going to think about it.

Heros meets Star Trek: TOS...again

I, along with millions of other people, fell in love with the NBC show Heroes last year. One of the coolest things was seeing George Takei (Commander Sulu from Star Trek) on the show - not to mention he played a really cool/creepy/mysterious character. Well, the Heroes casting director has done it again. This time they hired Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) to be a relative to heroes. I know lots of people had a creepy-sexual thing with her character from ST:TOS, but I always just liked the character - at least as much as you can like a semi-unimportant character. Anyway, it will be cool to see her on TV again. Even though I never saw her on TV when ST:TOS was originally aired - obviously.

Kirk vs Picard

This will be of interest to the writers/Trekkies (Trekers?) in our audience. George Takei
and Wil Wheaton have announced a writing competition where every week a story with the theme of Kirk vs. Picard will be picked as a winner. Not being much of a Star Trek writer, this doesn't interest me too much, but those that enjoy writing sci-fi and Star Trek (yeah you Nomad) would probably be smart to enter one of their fabulous stories.

When a Star Trek fan has too much time on their hands...

...this happens. I can't imagine taking the time this map would require. Then again, I have been known to have my own obsessive streak here and there.

Shields Up!

Believe it or not, the first "Star Trek" technology that might make it to real life is "shields." As nations ponder a return to space, British scientists are considering how they can better protect astronauts from high-energy particles. However, the theory here is not exactly like the "Star Trek" approach which tends to be simply a projection of "force". This device would generate a powerful magnetic field and fill it with plasma (basically gas with an electric charge) which would be held in place by the field. Then high energy particles would be slowed down by the plasma until no longer dangerous or deflected to the sides.

This is technically more like a Star Trek deflector field, if there are any Trekkie Geeks out there ready to rip me a new one for my inaccurate technobabble.

Admit it, you've always wondered about this, too