# Star Trek Tech Questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 19, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889 "2009-12-19T21:26:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 12

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**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:** [January 19, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889/221 "2010-01-19T21:49:48Z")

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> [@Raguleader](#):
>
> Maybe it was particulate space matter reflecting the glow from the warp nacelles?
> 
> That, or sub-atomic tachiardic cosmic rays being red-shifted into the visible spectrum by the high relative increase in newtonian velocity? 😃

I believe the particulate space matter is the official explanation.

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**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889/222 "2010-01-19T22:04:20Z")

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I think it’s frozen urine crystals from Riker flushing the head.

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**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889/223 "2010-01-19T22:51:12Z")

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Since its slipping up over the front of the ship, its most likely from the loos in ten forward 😛

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**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-tech-questions/521889/224 "2010-01-20T02:44:38Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> I believe the particulate space matter is the official explanation.

Really? That’s boring. 😃

It occurs to me that it could just be some of the [millions of tiny needles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_West_Ford) that were launched into space in the 20th century.🆒

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