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Were these Star Trek terms taken from science or made up for the show?
Are they science fiction or science fact?
CBS Television Distribution
Star Trek has had a profound affect not just on science fiction but on real science as well. The original series inspired a generation of people to become scientists and inventors. Even certain elements of the series have now become reality.
Part of Gene Roddenberry’s genius was weaving real scientific theories and terms with fictional technologies. This combination makes the world of the show feel real but also fun and interesting.
Can you guess which of the following terms are taken from science and which were completely made up just for the show?
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Event horizon
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Stardate
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Antimatter
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Holodeck
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Pon farr
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Iridium
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Dilithium
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Ion propulsion
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Delta rays
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Xenopolycythemia
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Baryon
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Scalosian water
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Protoplasm
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Tetralubisol
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Gravimetric
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Tachyon
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Quadrotriticale
Were these Star Trek terms taken from science or made up for the show?
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93 Comments
You got 15 out of 17
14/17. Missed #1, 11 and 16. I should have gotten 16 though.
Actually there is such a thing as quadrotriticale it's not fiction
15 of 17. I missed 6 and 8.
You got 14 out of 17 - Great job! Gosh darn it, I missed some on the Periodic Elements!!
17/17 - have to admit I am no expert on "Star Trek" and haven't taken a science class in 40 years, so not really sure how that perfect score happened. Logic dictates that it should never have occurred
You got 15 out of 17
Great job!
Missed #5 and #16.
I claim 16 out of 17.
If I write of something that never occurred, it's called fiction.
This ". . .a hypothetical particle that can travel faster than light. The term is used by scientists but no such particle is known to actually exist." qualifies as fiction.
Great job!
Missed #5 and #16.
I claim 16 out of 17.
If I write of something that never occurred, it's called fiction.
This ". . .a hypothetical particle that can travel faster than light. The term is used by scientists but no such particle is known to actually exist." qualifies as fiction.
Now let's talk about "splitting hairs".
Is that real or fictional?
Can you split a hair or not?
Is that real or fictional?
Can you split a hair or not?
I agree. I missed that question as well.
Yes.
Let ME ask y'all one. Is this a real term or something I'm making up?
IRIDIUM FLARE.
IRIDIUM FLARE.
It's real. I got lucky enough to see one of the few last ones last summer. The others I tried to see were obscured by clouds but I was fortunate that day. I wish they were still a regular part of the sky viewing experience - they were cool. I thought so, anyway.
Did you see some?
Did you see some?
15/17
The bartender says, "Get out of here! We don't serve your kind."
Two tachyons walk into a bar.
Two tachyons walk into a bar.
15/17
If Star Trek: Voyager taught us anything, it's that you can solve any problem by sending a tachyon beam through the main deflector dish.
LOL! Now that's funny!
Agreed - I wrote my thesis about it in college
17/17 used to be able to recite verbatim every TOS episode
Favorite show like growing up with friends
17 out of 17
17/17 I am a Trekker.
If it's hypothetical and not known to actually exist...doesn't that make it fictional?
It's real because it is a term actually used in the scientific community.
So, using your logic, "The Wizard of Oz", "Clockwork Orange", "The Incredibles", "Babe", and Charlotte's Web" are all real. Even "Star Trek".
You cannot have it, both ways. No matter who is using what.
You cannot have it, both ways. No matter who is using what.
It's real in the same sense as Dark Matter and Dark Energy.
15/17
17. There was a "Making of The Trouble with Tribbles" episode book including David Gerrold, the writer. I thought triticale was a real grain. Of course they added Quadro.
2. How can stardate not be a real word.
2. How can stardate not be a real word.
Triticale is a wheat/rye hybrid developed in Scotland and Germany in the 19th century. Spock does make a reference to it being developed in 20th century Canada and the University of Manitoba did had a breeding program for triticale beginning in 1953.
13/17. My wife “Klingon Head” 14/17