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Essay:Star Trek Science Controversies (view source)
Revision as of 00:10, August 24, 2016
, 00:10, August 24, 2016Creating new essay
{{Essay By|TerryH}}
'''''Star Trek'' [[Science]] Controversies'''
''[[Star Trek]]'' makes several scientific assertions that go beyond current understandings of [[biology]], [[chemistry]], and [[physics]]. Names of hypothetical chemical [[element]]s need not concern.<ref name="Elements">The ''Star Fleet Technical Manual'' features a [[Periodic Table]] of the Elements having many elements that since have gained other names. It names other elements that simply should not be present where the table places them. Whoever composed that table, has no idea of how an element finds its place in it. But one may assume that future generations of chemists changed names of elements we know. They would want to make them less “[[Earth]]-centric.” For instance: “celebium,” from the “Turnabout Intruder” episode, is probably ''[[plutonium]]'' with a new name. The chemical-toxic properties Dr. McCoy attributes to it, fit plutonium. The new name likely would connote its relatively short half-life.</ref> But other assertions run from the controversial to the flat-out erroneous.
= Biology, Astrobiology, and Exobiology =
Again, ''Star Trek'' assumes biological [[evolution]]. The series finale of ''The Next Generation'' explicitly endorses [[abiogenesis]]. Captain Picard’s arch-jokester, Q, thrusts his hand into a gooey puddle he identifies as “primordial soup.”<ref name="ftn2">“All Good Things” in ''The Next Generation''</ref> An episode of ''Voyager'' explores forward projection of evolution. It tells the tale of sentient ''[[reptile]]s'' who evolved from terrestrial dinosaurs. Ironically, these intelligent saurians refuse to accept evolution themselves.<ref name="ftn3">“Distant Origin” in ''Voyager''</ref>
The producers couldn’t seem to decide whether to endorse ''convergent evolution'' or another kind of [[directed panspermia]]. At least one episode of the original series described an advanced race, the Preservers, who transplanted colonies of threatened humans to distant worlds. These colonies demonstrably included [[American Indian]]s<ref name="ftn4">“The Paradise Syndrome” in the original series</ref> but might have included ancient [[Sparta]]ns, too.<ref name="ftn5">“The Cloud Minders” in the original series</ref>
== A plethora of origins of life ==
But mainly ''Star Trek'' assumes that life began on worlds associated with ''any'' G-type [[star]]. In fact, the “permanent member star systems” of the Federation Council all lie in a tight cluster around the [[Sun]]. They include the Sun itself, Alpha Centauri A and B, Omicron 2 Eridani (“Vulcan”), 61 Cygni (“Andoria,” moon of “Andor”), and Epsilon Indi (“Tellar”). The Klingon Empire, the Ferengi Alliance, and the Cardassian Union, of course, began on star systems much further away. (The Romulan Star Empire began as an ancient breakaway Vulcan colony. So long ago did the first Romulans leave that the Vulcans literally forgot all about them.<ref name="ftn6">See “Balance of Terror” and “The Enterprise Incident” in the original series, and “Kir’Shara” on ''Enterprise'', among others.</ref>)
As further support for convergent evolution, many foodstuffs native to various worlds seem almost universally palatable. Taste aside, rarely does one species’ meat become another species’ poison. And even if it is, one can test that with ridiculous ease. (''Voyager'' solves this incongruity more plausibly. Captain Janeway takes on a native guide and cook. This man makes a life-or-death difference by serving on foraging parties.)
== Where is everybody? ==
The social implications of evolution have already borne mention. The ''scientific'' implications bear concern here. Can life truly arise in so many places at once? If so, why haven’t the Vulcans contacted us already? Maybe they have. In one episode of ''Enterprise, ''a Vulcan survey craft crashes, killing its “skipper.” The survivors must then sustain and resupply themselves without betraying their otherworldly origin.<ref name="ftn7">“Carbon Creek” in ''Enterprise''</ref>
But the Vulcans do not contact us ''officially'' until we show we can travel faster than light. They decided long ago to contact no one before they could do this. Otherwise, they might interfere with our “normal development.” (That maxim continues as ''Star Fleet General Order Number One'', the ''Prime Directive''.) We should be so lucky. (And for that matter, so should they. One episode of ''Enterprise'' described an alternate future in which the developer of “warp drive” lures the Vulcans in, then hijacks their ship.<ref name="ftn8">“In a Mirror, Darkly” in ''Enterprise''</ref>)
For that matter, the Ferengi might have contacted us, and the Air Force covered it up!<ref name="ftn9">Specifically, a Ferengi bartender, his brother, and his nephew become the “Little Green Men” (''Deep Space Nine'') who crash-landed at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.</ref>
In real life, the [[United States]] [[government]] have listened for extra-terrestrial radio signals for years. And found none.
= Parapsychology =
''Star Trek'' assumes humanity will meet several races – Vulcans, for one – having limited, but effective [[paranormal]] gifts. Mr. Spock introduces the “mind meld” early.,<ref name="ftn10">“Dagger of the Mind” in the original series</ref> as a plot device. After that, Spock must use this technique often when circumstances seem to call for it. Likewise, “Betazoids” are true telepaths, and hybrid children are at least ''empathic''. The Organians play an obvious role in keeping galactic peace.<ref name="ftn11">“Errand of Mercy,” “The Trouble with Tribbles,” etc., in the original series. In ''The Next Generation'' the Organians need restrain the Klingons no longer. Thank Ambassador Curzon Dax for that.</ref>
No one has yet proved paranormal gifts. Nor has anyone explained why Vulcans and Betazoids should have them, while other races lack them. (For that matter, the Romulans seem to have ''lost'' their gifts after leaving Vulcan—for whatever reason.) One can likely put this down to lazy writing. Such gifts find an obvious—and convenient—role in intelligence. One wonders why no one drafted any telepaths as court officers!
= Medicine =
[[Medicine]] follows from biology, of course. Here, ''Star Trek'' stays on solid ground in projecting advances in diagnosis and the management of acute trauma. In fact, within less than a month of the show’s premiere, three separate research organizations contacted Desilu Productions and Gene Roddenberry’s crew. All demanded to know who leaked sensitive information on current development projects.<ref name="ftn12">Whitfield SE and Roddenberry G. ''The Making of Star Trek''</ref>
''Star Trek'' makes many blithe assumptions about universal vegetable edibility. But it faces squarely the problem of cross-world infection. Would any species’ immune system necessarily protect against a germ that “evolved” on a different world? Many of the most riveting episodes involve various infectious ailments.
== Genetic augmentation ==
But ''Star Trek'' medicine does present many problems. Foremost among them, it explores ''augmentation'' of species. The most notorious [[villain]] in all of ''Star Trek'' lore, Khan Noonien Singh, was an “augment.” (Worse yet, he had a crew of “augments” who sought to make themselves [[dictator]]s.<ref name="ftn13">“Space Seed” in the original series, and the motion pictures ''The Wrath of Khan'' and ''Into Darkness''</ref>) In another story, a crew of slightly less dangerous “augments” capture a Klingon light cruiser and seek to become either pirates or dictators. (They can’t decide which until too late.<ref name="ftn14">“Borderland,” “Cold Station 12,” and “The Augments” in ''Enterprise''</ref>)
After that, a Klingon scientist tries to “augment” his own people. And ends up ''disfiguring'' every member of his race. Somehow they lay the blame on human society; hence the long Federation-Klingon Cold War.<ref name="ftn15">See “Affliction” and “Divergence” in Enterprise. These stories explain why, in the original series, Klingons lack the pronounced forehead ridges they sport in other projects.</ref>
=== The Too-smart-for-society Rule? ===
In reaction to these horrors, the Federation and all its societies pass a universal law: ''no individual may enhance himself or his children genetically for any reason''. An ethic arises that compares such enhancement to ''cheating at [[athletic]] competition''. But the treatment of this concept turns into an attitude of banishment of all who could out-qualify their fellows.<ref name="ftn16">“Doctor Bashir, I Presume” and “Statistical Probabilities” in ''Deep Space Nine''</ref>
In fact, no one can prove that genetic enhancement would have such highly tailorable effects. Worse, genetic enhancement of modern foodstuffs has already created identifiable problems. For instance, genetically modified corn and soy threaten the honeybee ''[[Apis mellifera]]'' with extinction. So how can anyone predict anyone ''could'' “augment” himself or his children, let alone the entire human race? Or the Klingon race?
== Food from replicators ==
This leads to another consideration: those [[food]] replicators. ''Does anyone in the ''Star Trek'' world eat real food anymore?'' The ubiquitous replicator descends spiritually from the [[microwave oven]] of today. Not one person has considered the long-term effects of “re-sequencing” proteins and making instant foodstuffs from that process. Surely this would produce dozens of vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies. And that covers only the basic idea of eating such food. In fact, characters routinely order the most decadent, and frankly ''slowly poisonous'', foods and drinks imaginable. Did anyone consider these shortcomings of the Western diet of our own century?
=== Diseases from diet ===
'''[[Diabetes mellitus]]''', about fifteen years ago, eclipsed arthritis as the most common clinical problem bearing mention in consumer advertising. Drug companies advertise insulin substitutes and other drugs as they once advertised painkillers. They even advertise ''home laboratory devices'', like blood sugar and lipid analyzers. (What must the College of American Pathologists think of ''that?'')
'''[[Cancer]] and sarcoma''' run rampant in Western society. The same heavy loads of sugar and corn syrup that induce diabetes mellitus, also promote malignant tumor growth. Malignant cells thrive on sugar. All those characters replicating cheesecakes and ice cream should think of that. They don’t. So why doesn’t Dr. McCoy think of that? Or Dr. Crusher, or Dr. Bashir, or the Emergency Medical Hologram aboard ''Voyager''?
'''[[Alcoholic drinks]]''' present their own special hazards. Then again, the Federation buys the secret of “synthohol” from the Ferengi Alliance. But did they really get a good bargain?
=== Vitamin deficiencies ===
To be sure, at least the replicator would not replicate all the bad things that go into modern food. “Round-Up” (glyphosphate/Monsanto) and other herbicides and pesticides spring to mind. (For that matter, the communist society likely de-chartered Monsanto and imprisoned its last executives.) But surely no replicator could possibly reproduce all the micro-nutrients in food. A society that accepts evolution would surely set great store by foodstuffs that stood the test of deep time. Would they not?
=== Who eats real food? ===
Exceptions do come up. The ''Enterprise'' show does not count—Captain Archer was the last captain to ship out with a cook. But of course Captain Janeway ''must'' have a cook. She finds herself unable to re-fuel easily. So she tells her crew: eat real food, or the ship runs out of fuel. It’s that simple. (The enterprising native cook, finding no regular galley on board, ''builds'' one!<ref name="ftn17">“Phage” in ''Voyager''</ref>) Beyond that, Captain Sisko enjoys cooking real food. He knows replicators can’t give creole food its subtle flavors.
But everyone regards that as recreation, not a lifestyle to recommend to everyone. Perhaps if more people ''did'' cook real food, they’d come down with fewer diseases, and would live longer. ''But:'' how much land can they spare for farms, pastures, and so forth? “We’ll show you how to feed a thousand people,” boasts Captain Kirk to one native race, “where you fed one before!”<ref name="ftn18">“Errand of Mercy” in the original series</ref> Yes, but how well?
But ''Star Trek'' did not approach the problem consistently. One original-series story centered on an effort to supply a human colony with a super-hybrid grain. Why would that even present a problem?
= Environmentalism =
''Star Trek'' assumes the truth of every canard liberals make about the effect of heavy industry on the [[environment]]. A time-traveling character asks explicitly, “Do these people know their [[fossil fuels]] are nearing depletion?”<ref name="ftn19">“Carpenter Street” in ''Enterprise''</ref> [[Global warming]]? Check. Internal combustion? The Academicians, whoever they are, forbid this.<ref name="ftn20">See, for instance, “The Thirty-sevens” in ''Voyager''. The namesake ship brings aboard a 1936 Ford truck. The ship’s helmsman, an aficionado of United Nations prehistory, starts this truck. His fellow officers express amazement at the profligacy of the “propulsion system.” Indeed the master-at-arms threatens to clap him in the brig for stinking up the hangar deck.</ref>
The canon says little about how people get around on a [[planet]] in that future era. (Getting around in [[space]] presents only one possible environmental problem. The chief problems of space travel have to do with trespass or passing through someone else’s [[war]] zone.) And it says nothing whatever about how human beings moved away from the fossil fuel economy the producers obviously hate.
Nor do they describe the sources of energy or how United Earth society acquires that energy. Do they rely on new technology they also “scored” from other Federal member societies in exchange for stopping their various wars? No one says.
= Theoretical physics =
== Warp drive ==
[[File:Wormhole travel as envisioned by Les Bossinas for NASA.jpg|350px|right]]''Star Trek'' takes great dramatic license with theoretical physics. Flying faster than [[light]] presents the obvious problem. [[Albert Einstein]] regarded that as flatly impossible. True enough, the Special and General Theories of [[Relativity]] might not accurately explain the universe. They might even ''conflict'' with one another. But why do the writers of ''Star Trek'' accept some parts of Einsteinian physics, but not others?
Even so: one scientist now believes one ''might'' be able to fly faster than light.<ref name="ftn21">Alcubierre M, “[http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/11/5/001/meta;jsessionid=916C75A2F377C6DADBB75AC9621370B9.ip-10-40-2-73 The warp drive: hyper-fast travel within general relativity],” ''Classical and Quantum Gravity'', 11(5), 1994. doi: [https://dx.doi.org/10.1088%2F0264-9381%2F11%2F5%2F001 10.1088/0264-9381/11/5/001].</ref><ref name="ftn22">White H. “Warp Field Mechanics 101.” NASA.</ref> But that would require the energy of annihilating the planet Jupiter. (And then, how would they ''stop?'')
== Time travel ==
Worse yet, the original show had not played for half a season before it jumped into [[time]] travel. It began with a story of a starship appearing as a UFO, and the [[Air Force]] scrambling to intercept her.<ref name="ftn23">“Tomorow is Yesterday” in the original series</ref> Then it explored the other side of time travel: ''parallel [[universe]]s''.<ref name="ftn24">See “Mirror, Mirror” in the original series, “Crossover” and its sequels in ''Deep Space Nine'', and “In a Mirror, Darkly” in ''Enterprise''. “The Alternative Factor” does not count. Even fans will not accept its thoroughly flawed science.</ref> Evolutionists love that concept. To them the concept can ''guarantee'' that a universe will arise in which life will spring up on any world having liquid water on it. When you can try a game an infinite number of times, you will certainly win at least once. Right?
That creates problems enough. Add to it: ''Star Trek'' can’t make up its mind whether “changing the past” merely creates a new universe, or changes ours. It has handled the concept with ''no'' attempt to enforce consistency. To be fair, Manuel Coto, in the ''Enterprise'' show, came close. But the producers of the last three films have destroyed the concept completely.
== Transporters ==
Last of all, the ''Transporter'' presents the worst problem. How can one “transport” any object without setting off a nuclear explosion? What possible or even imaginable [[information system]] could remember all the myriad placements of trillions of [[cell]]s—and septillions of [[molecule]]s—that make up a human being? And does a person making a trip by transporter still carry his immortal [[soul]], or not? Is that person ''even the same person''? Novelist James Blish admitted: ''No, he isn’t.''<ref name="ftn25">Blish, James. ''Spock Must Die!'' New York: Bantam Books, 1970.</ref>
The only reason for the Transporter system was financial. Without it, the crew would land a space-borne [[rocket]] whaleboat on a planet every week, and take off again. That kind of special effect costs money. Gene Roddenberry could not or would not afford it. In this and other examples, ''drama informed the science''. And as long as the franchise continues, it still does.
= A few good things =
''Star Trek'' created characters anyone could believe. It also inspired several inventions we use today. The developer of the first flip-style [[mobile phone]]s wanted to imitate the “communicator.” The armed services have already developed directed-energy weapons. (''Hand'' weapons remain a dream, but ''main ship weapons'' show promise.) The holographic research laboratories of ''The Next Generation'' inspired “virtual reality.” The extra-versatile touch screens in the same series inspired modern “smart phones” with flat, programmable screens. And one engineer wants to build a full-scale ''Enterprise.'' He hopes to encourage more people to pursue scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.<ref name="ftn26">See the site [http://www.buildtheenterprise.org/ Build the Enterprise]. The creator hopes to stimulate STEM applicants in two ways. First, the research for building such a ship would alone inspire thousands. Second, such a ship could fly deep-space missions of which NASA, ESA, JAXA, and RKK Energia can scarcely dream. It would also extend aeronautical and astronautical work life to new crafts and professions. Imagine space-borne divisions of construction craft unions, like the Ironworkers, for instance.</ref>
But the teams also created a setting only a liberal idealist could believe. Even then it ignores certain facts of physics and even biology and medicine, and distorts others. By all accounts, they will make those problems worse, not better.
= References =
{{reflist|2}}
= Internal Links =
*Essay 1: [[Essay:Star Trek: A Tarnished Jubilee|''Star Trek'': A Tarnished Jubilee]]
*Essay 2: [[Essay:Communism: the Star Trek economy|Communism: the ''Star Trek'' economy]]
*Essay 3: [[Essay:Articles of Federation|Articles of Federation]]
*Essay 4: [[Essay:Philosophy and Theology in Star Trek|Philosophy and theology in ''Star Trek'']]
*Essay 6: The future in, and of, ''Star Trek''
'''''Star Trek'' [[Science]] Controversies'''
''[[Star Trek]]'' makes several scientific assertions that go beyond current understandings of [[biology]], [[chemistry]], and [[physics]]. Names of hypothetical chemical [[element]]s need not concern.<ref name="Elements">The ''Star Fleet Technical Manual'' features a [[Periodic Table]] of the Elements having many elements that since have gained other names. It names other elements that simply should not be present where the table places them. Whoever composed that table, has no idea of how an element finds its place in it. But one may assume that future generations of chemists changed names of elements we know. They would want to make them less “[[Earth]]-centric.” For instance: “celebium,” from the “Turnabout Intruder” episode, is probably ''[[plutonium]]'' with a new name. The chemical-toxic properties Dr. McCoy attributes to it, fit plutonium. The new name likely would connote its relatively short half-life.</ref> But other assertions run from the controversial to the flat-out erroneous.
= Biology, Astrobiology, and Exobiology =
Again, ''Star Trek'' assumes biological [[evolution]]. The series finale of ''The Next Generation'' explicitly endorses [[abiogenesis]]. Captain Picard’s arch-jokester, Q, thrusts his hand into a gooey puddle he identifies as “primordial soup.”<ref name="ftn2">“All Good Things” in ''The Next Generation''</ref> An episode of ''Voyager'' explores forward projection of evolution. It tells the tale of sentient ''[[reptile]]s'' who evolved from terrestrial dinosaurs. Ironically, these intelligent saurians refuse to accept evolution themselves.<ref name="ftn3">“Distant Origin” in ''Voyager''</ref>
The producers couldn’t seem to decide whether to endorse ''convergent evolution'' or another kind of [[directed panspermia]]. At least one episode of the original series described an advanced race, the Preservers, who transplanted colonies of threatened humans to distant worlds. These colonies demonstrably included [[American Indian]]s<ref name="ftn4">“The Paradise Syndrome” in the original series</ref> but might have included ancient [[Sparta]]ns, too.<ref name="ftn5">“The Cloud Minders” in the original series</ref>
== A plethora of origins of life ==
But mainly ''Star Trek'' assumes that life began on worlds associated with ''any'' G-type [[star]]. In fact, the “permanent member star systems” of the Federation Council all lie in a tight cluster around the [[Sun]]. They include the Sun itself, Alpha Centauri A and B, Omicron 2 Eridani (“Vulcan”), 61 Cygni (“Andoria,” moon of “Andor”), and Epsilon Indi (“Tellar”). The Klingon Empire, the Ferengi Alliance, and the Cardassian Union, of course, began on star systems much further away. (The Romulan Star Empire began as an ancient breakaway Vulcan colony. So long ago did the first Romulans leave that the Vulcans literally forgot all about them.<ref name="ftn6">See “Balance of Terror” and “The Enterprise Incident” in the original series, and “Kir’Shara” on ''Enterprise'', among others.</ref>)
As further support for convergent evolution, many foodstuffs native to various worlds seem almost universally palatable. Taste aside, rarely does one species’ meat become another species’ poison. And even if it is, one can test that with ridiculous ease. (''Voyager'' solves this incongruity more plausibly. Captain Janeway takes on a native guide and cook. This man makes a life-or-death difference by serving on foraging parties.)
== Where is everybody? ==
The social implications of evolution have already borne mention. The ''scientific'' implications bear concern here. Can life truly arise in so many places at once? If so, why haven’t the Vulcans contacted us already? Maybe they have. In one episode of ''Enterprise, ''a Vulcan survey craft crashes, killing its “skipper.” The survivors must then sustain and resupply themselves without betraying their otherworldly origin.<ref name="ftn7">“Carbon Creek” in ''Enterprise''</ref>
But the Vulcans do not contact us ''officially'' until we show we can travel faster than light. They decided long ago to contact no one before they could do this. Otherwise, they might interfere with our “normal development.” (That maxim continues as ''Star Fleet General Order Number One'', the ''Prime Directive''.) We should be so lucky. (And for that matter, so should they. One episode of ''Enterprise'' described an alternate future in which the developer of “warp drive” lures the Vulcans in, then hijacks their ship.<ref name="ftn8">“In a Mirror, Darkly” in ''Enterprise''</ref>)
For that matter, the Ferengi might have contacted us, and the Air Force covered it up!<ref name="ftn9">Specifically, a Ferengi bartender, his brother, and his nephew become the “Little Green Men” (''Deep Space Nine'') who crash-landed at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.</ref>
In real life, the [[United States]] [[government]] have listened for extra-terrestrial radio signals for years. And found none.
= Parapsychology =
''Star Trek'' assumes humanity will meet several races – Vulcans, for one – having limited, but effective [[paranormal]] gifts. Mr. Spock introduces the “mind meld” early.,<ref name="ftn10">“Dagger of the Mind” in the original series</ref> as a plot device. After that, Spock must use this technique often when circumstances seem to call for it. Likewise, “Betazoids” are true telepaths, and hybrid children are at least ''empathic''. The Organians play an obvious role in keeping galactic peace.<ref name="ftn11">“Errand of Mercy,” “The Trouble with Tribbles,” etc., in the original series. In ''The Next Generation'' the Organians need restrain the Klingons no longer. Thank Ambassador Curzon Dax for that.</ref>
No one has yet proved paranormal gifts. Nor has anyone explained why Vulcans and Betazoids should have them, while other races lack them. (For that matter, the Romulans seem to have ''lost'' their gifts after leaving Vulcan—for whatever reason.) One can likely put this down to lazy writing. Such gifts find an obvious—and convenient—role in intelligence. One wonders why no one drafted any telepaths as court officers!
= Medicine =
[[Medicine]] follows from biology, of course. Here, ''Star Trek'' stays on solid ground in projecting advances in diagnosis and the management of acute trauma. In fact, within less than a month of the show’s premiere, three separate research organizations contacted Desilu Productions and Gene Roddenberry’s crew. All demanded to know who leaked sensitive information on current development projects.<ref name="ftn12">Whitfield SE and Roddenberry G. ''The Making of Star Trek''</ref>
''Star Trek'' makes many blithe assumptions about universal vegetable edibility. But it faces squarely the problem of cross-world infection. Would any species’ immune system necessarily protect against a germ that “evolved” on a different world? Many of the most riveting episodes involve various infectious ailments.
== Genetic augmentation ==
But ''Star Trek'' medicine does present many problems. Foremost among them, it explores ''augmentation'' of species. The most notorious [[villain]] in all of ''Star Trek'' lore, Khan Noonien Singh, was an “augment.” (Worse yet, he had a crew of “augments” who sought to make themselves [[dictator]]s.<ref name="ftn13">“Space Seed” in the original series, and the motion pictures ''The Wrath of Khan'' and ''Into Darkness''</ref>) In another story, a crew of slightly less dangerous “augments” capture a Klingon light cruiser and seek to become either pirates or dictators. (They can’t decide which until too late.<ref name="ftn14">“Borderland,” “Cold Station 12,” and “The Augments” in ''Enterprise''</ref>)
After that, a Klingon scientist tries to “augment” his own people. And ends up ''disfiguring'' every member of his race. Somehow they lay the blame on human society; hence the long Federation-Klingon Cold War.<ref name="ftn15">See “Affliction” and “Divergence” in Enterprise. These stories explain why, in the original series, Klingons lack the pronounced forehead ridges they sport in other projects.</ref>
=== The Too-smart-for-society Rule? ===
In reaction to these horrors, the Federation and all its societies pass a universal law: ''no individual may enhance himself or his children genetically for any reason''. An ethic arises that compares such enhancement to ''cheating at [[athletic]] competition''. But the treatment of this concept turns into an attitude of banishment of all who could out-qualify their fellows.<ref name="ftn16">“Doctor Bashir, I Presume” and “Statistical Probabilities” in ''Deep Space Nine''</ref>
In fact, no one can prove that genetic enhancement would have such highly tailorable effects. Worse, genetic enhancement of modern foodstuffs has already created identifiable problems. For instance, genetically modified corn and soy threaten the honeybee ''[[Apis mellifera]]'' with extinction. So how can anyone predict anyone ''could'' “augment” himself or his children, let alone the entire human race? Or the Klingon race?
== Food from replicators ==
This leads to another consideration: those [[food]] replicators. ''Does anyone in the ''Star Trek'' world eat real food anymore?'' The ubiquitous replicator descends spiritually from the [[microwave oven]] of today. Not one person has considered the long-term effects of “re-sequencing” proteins and making instant foodstuffs from that process. Surely this would produce dozens of vitamin and other nutrient deficiencies. And that covers only the basic idea of eating such food. In fact, characters routinely order the most decadent, and frankly ''slowly poisonous'', foods and drinks imaginable. Did anyone consider these shortcomings of the Western diet of our own century?
=== Diseases from diet ===
'''[[Diabetes mellitus]]''', about fifteen years ago, eclipsed arthritis as the most common clinical problem bearing mention in consumer advertising. Drug companies advertise insulin substitutes and other drugs as they once advertised painkillers. They even advertise ''home laboratory devices'', like blood sugar and lipid analyzers. (What must the College of American Pathologists think of ''that?'')
'''[[Cancer]] and sarcoma''' run rampant in Western society. The same heavy loads of sugar and corn syrup that induce diabetes mellitus, also promote malignant tumor growth. Malignant cells thrive on sugar. All those characters replicating cheesecakes and ice cream should think of that. They don’t. So why doesn’t Dr. McCoy think of that? Or Dr. Crusher, or Dr. Bashir, or the Emergency Medical Hologram aboard ''Voyager''?
'''[[Alcoholic drinks]]''' present their own special hazards. Then again, the Federation buys the secret of “synthohol” from the Ferengi Alliance. But did they really get a good bargain?
=== Vitamin deficiencies ===
To be sure, at least the replicator would not replicate all the bad things that go into modern food. “Round-Up” (glyphosphate/Monsanto) and other herbicides and pesticides spring to mind. (For that matter, the communist society likely de-chartered Monsanto and imprisoned its last executives.) But surely no replicator could possibly reproduce all the micro-nutrients in food. A society that accepts evolution would surely set great store by foodstuffs that stood the test of deep time. Would they not?
=== Who eats real food? ===
Exceptions do come up. The ''Enterprise'' show does not count—Captain Archer was the last captain to ship out with a cook. But of course Captain Janeway ''must'' have a cook. She finds herself unable to re-fuel easily. So she tells her crew: eat real food, or the ship runs out of fuel. It’s that simple. (The enterprising native cook, finding no regular galley on board, ''builds'' one!<ref name="ftn17">“Phage” in ''Voyager''</ref>) Beyond that, Captain Sisko enjoys cooking real food. He knows replicators can’t give creole food its subtle flavors.
But everyone regards that as recreation, not a lifestyle to recommend to everyone. Perhaps if more people ''did'' cook real food, they’d come down with fewer diseases, and would live longer. ''But:'' how much land can they spare for farms, pastures, and so forth? “We’ll show you how to feed a thousand people,” boasts Captain Kirk to one native race, “where you fed one before!”<ref name="ftn18">“Errand of Mercy” in the original series</ref> Yes, but how well?
But ''Star Trek'' did not approach the problem consistently. One original-series story centered on an effort to supply a human colony with a super-hybrid grain. Why would that even present a problem?
= Environmentalism =
''Star Trek'' assumes the truth of every canard liberals make about the effect of heavy industry on the [[environment]]. A time-traveling character asks explicitly, “Do these people know their [[fossil fuels]] are nearing depletion?”<ref name="ftn19">“Carpenter Street” in ''Enterprise''</ref> [[Global warming]]? Check. Internal combustion? The Academicians, whoever they are, forbid this.<ref name="ftn20">See, for instance, “The Thirty-sevens” in ''Voyager''. The namesake ship brings aboard a 1936 Ford truck. The ship’s helmsman, an aficionado of United Nations prehistory, starts this truck. His fellow officers express amazement at the profligacy of the “propulsion system.” Indeed the master-at-arms threatens to clap him in the brig for stinking up the hangar deck.</ref>
The canon says little about how people get around on a [[planet]] in that future era. (Getting around in [[space]] presents only one possible environmental problem. The chief problems of space travel have to do with trespass or passing through someone else’s [[war]] zone.) And it says nothing whatever about how human beings moved away from the fossil fuel economy the producers obviously hate.
Nor do they describe the sources of energy or how United Earth society acquires that energy. Do they rely on new technology they also “scored” from other Federal member societies in exchange for stopping their various wars? No one says.
= Theoretical physics =
== Warp drive ==
[[File:Wormhole travel as envisioned by Les Bossinas for NASA.jpg|350px|right]]''Star Trek'' takes great dramatic license with theoretical physics. Flying faster than [[light]] presents the obvious problem. [[Albert Einstein]] regarded that as flatly impossible. True enough, the Special and General Theories of [[Relativity]] might not accurately explain the universe. They might even ''conflict'' with one another. But why do the writers of ''Star Trek'' accept some parts of Einsteinian physics, but not others?
Even so: one scientist now believes one ''might'' be able to fly faster than light.<ref name="ftn21">Alcubierre M, “[http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/11/5/001/meta;jsessionid=916C75A2F377C6DADBB75AC9621370B9.ip-10-40-2-73 The warp drive: hyper-fast travel within general relativity],” ''Classical and Quantum Gravity'', 11(5), 1994. doi: [https://dx.doi.org/10.1088%2F0264-9381%2F11%2F5%2F001 10.1088/0264-9381/11/5/001].</ref><ref name="ftn22">White H. “Warp Field Mechanics 101.” NASA.</ref> But that would require the energy of annihilating the planet Jupiter. (And then, how would they ''stop?'')
== Time travel ==
Worse yet, the original show had not played for half a season before it jumped into [[time]] travel. It began with a story of a starship appearing as a UFO, and the [[Air Force]] scrambling to intercept her.<ref name="ftn23">“Tomorow is Yesterday” in the original series</ref> Then it explored the other side of time travel: ''parallel [[universe]]s''.<ref name="ftn24">See “Mirror, Mirror” in the original series, “Crossover” and its sequels in ''Deep Space Nine'', and “In a Mirror, Darkly” in ''Enterprise''. “The Alternative Factor” does not count. Even fans will not accept its thoroughly flawed science.</ref> Evolutionists love that concept. To them the concept can ''guarantee'' that a universe will arise in which life will spring up on any world having liquid water on it. When you can try a game an infinite number of times, you will certainly win at least once. Right?
That creates problems enough. Add to it: ''Star Trek'' can’t make up its mind whether “changing the past” merely creates a new universe, or changes ours. It has handled the concept with ''no'' attempt to enforce consistency. To be fair, Manuel Coto, in the ''Enterprise'' show, came close. But the producers of the last three films have destroyed the concept completely.
== Transporters ==
Last of all, the ''Transporter'' presents the worst problem. How can one “transport” any object without setting off a nuclear explosion? What possible or even imaginable [[information system]] could remember all the myriad placements of trillions of [[cell]]s—and septillions of [[molecule]]s—that make up a human being? And does a person making a trip by transporter still carry his immortal [[soul]], or not? Is that person ''even the same person''? Novelist James Blish admitted: ''No, he isn’t.''<ref name="ftn25">Blish, James. ''Spock Must Die!'' New York: Bantam Books, 1970.</ref>
The only reason for the Transporter system was financial. Without it, the crew would land a space-borne [[rocket]] whaleboat on a planet every week, and take off again. That kind of special effect costs money. Gene Roddenberry could not or would not afford it. In this and other examples, ''drama informed the science''. And as long as the franchise continues, it still does.
= A few good things =
''Star Trek'' created characters anyone could believe. It also inspired several inventions we use today. The developer of the first flip-style [[mobile phone]]s wanted to imitate the “communicator.” The armed services have already developed directed-energy weapons. (''Hand'' weapons remain a dream, but ''main ship weapons'' show promise.) The holographic research laboratories of ''The Next Generation'' inspired “virtual reality.” The extra-versatile touch screens in the same series inspired modern “smart phones” with flat, programmable screens. And one engineer wants to build a full-scale ''Enterprise.'' He hopes to encourage more people to pursue scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.<ref name="ftn26">See the site [http://www.buildtheenterprise.org/ Build the Enterprise]. The creator hopes to stimulate STEM applicants in two ways. First, the research for building such a ship would alone inspire thousands. Second, such a ship could fly deep-space missions of which NASA, ESA, JAXA, and RKK Energia can scarcely dream. It would also extend aeronautical and astronautical work life to new crafts and professions. Imagine space-borne divisions of construction craft unions, like the Ironworkers, for instance.</ref>
But the teams also created a setting only a liberal idealist could believe. Even then it ignores certain facts of physics and even biology and medicine, and distorts others. By all accounts, they will make those problems worse, not better.
= References =
{{reflist|2}}
= Internal Links =
*Essay 1: [[Essay:Star Trek: A Tarnished Jubilee|''Star Trek'': A Tarnished Jubilee]]
*Essay 2: [[Essay:Communism: the Star Trek economy|Communism: the ''Star Trek'' economy]]
*Essay 3: [[Essay:Articles of Federation|Articles of Federation]]
*Essay 4: [[Essay:Philosophy and Theology in Star Trek|Philosophy and theology in ''Star Trek'']]
*Essay 6: The future in, and of, ''Star Trek''