# Incredible powers discovered/revealed on Star Trek that are used once and dismissed forever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [April 7, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963 "2024-04-07T01:17:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/21 "2024-04-07T14:07:35Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > In one episode, some members of the TNG crew are turned into children but are restorted at the end of the episode thanks to their pattern being stored in the transporter or some such nonsense. Uh, why can’t you just repair any injury that way? Forget injury, how about virtual immortality? Getting old? Knees hurting a bit too much these days? Pop into the transporter, and you’re 12 years old again, with your personality mostly intact. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/22 "2024-04-07T14:14:59Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Wasn’t it inside an unstable “warp bubble” that was collapsing though? Difficult to say. You can interpret the episode that the warp bubble was inherently unstable, no matter what happened, or that she made it unstable by the initial conditions she set, that “everyone is disappearing”, so eventually the “universe” itself must also disappear. I think the show is assuming the former, but “in-universe” the metaphysicists should try to recreate the experiment with different people and see what they get. (probably lose a lot of volunteers, but alas such is the price of progress. Maybe they aren’t dead, but just living in their new universes. Think Simak’s “Desertion”.) Speaking of losing volunteers, I always thought Starfleet would send a bunch of volunteers with high “esper ratings” through the galactic barrier and see what happens. I think a poster suggested that’s how the Q came about. Speaking of, why didn’t anyone become all god-like powerful when the Enterprise went through the barrier again in By Any Other Name? That would have been a really useful weapon against the Kelvan, even more effective that Scotch and kissing. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/23 "2024-04-07T16:24:31Z")
In the TNG episode “Relics” the Enterprise comes across a Dyson Sphere and I do NOT recall the Federation ever trying to replicate it in any fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/24 "2024-04-07T16:29:24Z")
The Federation, advanced as they are, were nowhere near being able to build their own Dyson Sphere. Even a Dyson Swarm would be difficult. Even if they had the technical wherewithal to build one the scope of such a project is far, far beyond what the Federation could manage. Data notes in the episode that the interior surface would be the equivalent of 250 million earth sized planets. And that’s just the inside surface. There would be some thickness to the shell and the outside surface would be even more than that 250 million. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/25 "2024-04-07T19:47:54Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The Federation, advanced as they are, were nowhere near being able to build their own Dyson Sphere. Even a Dyson Swarm would be difficult. Even if they had the technical wherewithal to build one the scope of such a project is far, far beyond what the Federation could manage. Data notes in the episode that the interior surface would be the equivalent of 250 million earth sized planets. I’m not so sure that’s true. In DS9, Nog invented self-replicating mines that served to prevent the Dominion for accessing the wormhole between the Alpha and Delta Quadrants. Every time a mine detonated, it would replicate a few more mines to take its place. If you can do that, it seems like you wouldn’t have a problem with some sorto of self-replicating construction protocol which would make a Dyson Sphere possible. At the very least, let’s add self-replicating mines to the list of technologies that aren’t exploited later. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/26 "2024-04-07T19:52:43Z")
Time travel. Baddies could be using time travel for nefarious reasons all the, er, time, but they don’t. _or do they??_ ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/27 "2024-04-07T19:55:07Z")
Time travel is the antithesis of this thread. They use it over and over and over again across multiple series, movies, et al. Heck the whole “Temporal Cold War” is a huge (and silly) story element for a chunk of Enterprise’s run, and was (for me) the biggest shark jump of Discovery (which, IMHO, was a massive fleet of Jaws-sized sharks jumping from nearly the first episode!) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/28 "2024-04-07T20:08:48Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > a massive fleet of Jaws-sized sharks jumping “Shark jumping” is not sharks jumping. The term comes from an episode of _Happy Days_ in which Arthur Fonzarelli makes a bet that he can do a water skiing jump over a shark. While, of course, wearing his leather jacket. Sharks themselves jumping has been done to death but has no bearing on the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/29 "2024-04-07T20:24:33Z")
In TOS they run into some pretty cool planets- like the Shore leave one, and one that cures you of everything. No one goes back or mentions them again. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/30 "2024-04-07T20:32:11Z")
Yes, I know, but I’m trying to turn up the imagery. 🙂 I lack the words to express how disappointed I am in Discovery. Which in turn apparently protected me from watching Picard, which I’m told is a great blessing. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/31 "2024-04-07T20:33:44Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > I lack the words to express how disappointed I am in Discovery. Total utter craptastic. 😒 A travesty. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/32 "2024-04-07T21:08:24Z")
At least in one of the novels, the Federation sent Flint to help Miri and friends revive their society. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/33 "2024-04-07T21:54:58Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Granted, it turns you into a giant salamander, but the Doctor was able to figure out how to completely cure that with absolutely no lingering physical or mental side effects. “It’s slimier than you think, Dad! It’s slimier than you think!” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/34 "2024-04-07T22:06:42Z")
The serum that gave Kirk and Spock superpowers in _Plato’s Stepchildren._ The spores that cure any disease in _This Side of Paradise_. > [@Odesio](#): > > Nog invented self-replicating mines nitpick: Rom. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/35 "2024-04-07T22:08:15Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > nitpick: Rom. That’s not a nitpick, it’s an important distinction. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/36 "2024-04-07T22:36:38Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > At the very least, let’s add self-replicating mines to the list of technologies that aren’t exploited later. One thing I have noticed sci-fi leans on (Star Trek as well) is their tech relies on infinite energy. Laser guns have infinite ammo. Sometimes they will talk about re-charging or replacing a battery but they always have crazy amounts of energy on hand which is never explained. Or personal shields produced by a ring. Star Trek ships can transport people…more crazy amounts of energy but trivial. Not to mention starships that can traverse huge amounts of space and seemingly never refuel (refueling is occasionally mentioned but glossed over…need new dilithium crystals or something). So, where does the mass from self-replicating mines come from? They never tell us but we do know you cannot make something from nothing so either they need colossal amounts of energy in each mine or a reservoir of matter they can tap into. Not likely to be had in a relatively small mine. It’s not just Star Trek. Most sci-fi seems to be loose with this. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/37 "2024-04-07T22:42:49Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > The serum that gave Kirk and Spock superpowers in _Plato’s Stepchildren._ Mentioned above > [@Incredible powers discovered/revealed on Star Trek that are used once and dismissed forever](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/17): > > Also in Voyager, it’s referred to, when the Doctor is fantasizing about being a paragon: he treats Tuvok for pon farr, while singing [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlNIxW\_2l4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlNIxW_2l4E) a little number called “ponfaria” by the fans. In “Plato’s Stepchildren” a simple injection can give humanoids telekinesis. Handy, don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/38 "2024-04-07T22:50:53Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > One thing I have noticed sci-fi leans on (Star Trek as well) is their tech relies on infinite energy. > > Laser guns have infinite ammo. Sometimes they will talk about re-charging or replacing a battery but they always have crazy amounts of energy on hand which is never explained. For starters, they are not lasers (except in TOS episode 0), they are “phasers” – whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean.        But it is much worse than that. Set to kill, a phaser will make you glow with a colored halo before you wink out of existence. How that is supposed to happen is not really clear, but you are obviously not vaporized. If it vaporized you, there would be an enormous energy release that would probably kill anyone else within about a mile or two of you.        I mean, at least there are some fireworks when a ship gets fragged by phasers or photon torpedos. But just a person? Poof. Not even any smoke. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/39 "2024-04-07T23:13:57Z")
And I just thought of something with the Threshold salamander thing. Sure, in theory it could take them home, but that’s not where Tom Paris winds up. When he shuts it down while still sapient, he winds up exactly where he left. And when he turns into a salamander, he winds up on a planet to have sex with his fellow salamander Janeway and raise babies–like he forgot about the original goal. So it’s not clear they could make it home with this method, and wouldn’t just all wind up as salamanders who aren’t sapient hanging out on some nearby planet. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2024, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963/40 "2024-04-07T23:17:19Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > In TOS they run into some pretty cool planets- like the Shore leave one They went back in an episode of TAS, planning to spend their shore leave taking full advantage of the tech. Things didn’t work out so well, of course. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It also comes up in _Star Trek III: The Search for Spock_, and with Tuvok during an episode of _Voyager_. There was another Vulcan on board Voyager who decided B’elanna was a logical choice for him to mate with during his own impending pon farr. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/incredible-powers-discovered-revealed-on-star-trek-that-are-used-once-and-dismissed-forever/999963.md?page=3)