Star Trek and Star Wars: The science behind sci-fi  

If you can complete the above sentence, then this article is definitely for you.

First screened in 1966, Star Trek was a “must-see” programme for anyone interested in space exploration.

Much of the series' success was due to it being aired in the middle of the space race and, in particular, to put a man on the Moon.

Viewers were intrigued to see devices like transporters and hand held communicators being used as everyday tools.

At the time, these were definitely futuristic but, with the passage of time, many of the things shown in the series have become our everyday items.

The mobile phone is the obvious one. Back in the 1960s it would have seemed inconceivable that so many of us carry our own portable communicators that enable us to view and speak to a person anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world – and often without any charge.

“Tea, Earl Grey, hot.”

Jean-Luc Pickard said those memorable words (to some of us) back in an episode of Star Trek back in 1989. He was promptly served his desired drink by a replicator.

Some of us may be used to asking Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant to find the answers to our questions and so are getting used to giving voice commands to various devices.

I asked Microsoft’s Copilot if anyone has yet invented a voice activated coffee machine and learned that they have. 

Lavazza have made their Lavazza Voicy which integrates an Alexa speaker into the design. The Voicy also offers custom settings for temperature and volume all accessed through voice commands.

It doesn’t handle the mug and coffee pods so we haven’t quite got to a complete solution – yet.

3D printers were not an item shown in Star Trek, so that is something that has been developed independently away from the series but they have been used to emulate the food replicator.

Instead of the material that 3D printers are used to handling, some people have been experimenting with making food items with them with various degrees of success.

YouTube has some very interesting videos of some very unappetising results in this area. However, commercially available food printers are available and are improving all the time.

They are currently very expensive – but aren’t all things when they first come on to the market?

Star Trek isn’t the only source for science fiction becoming reality – Star Wars fans have also seen their share.

Spaceships like the Millennium Falcon can jump into “hyperspace” for faster than light travel. Although this has still remained elusive from scientists, it will be an essential to reach other worlds within a human life span. 

Concepts like wormholes and warp drives are explored by scientists.

Of course, we can’t talk of Star Wars without thinking about C-3PO and R2-D2 – those affectionate robots. They were blessed with artificial intelligence (AI) and able to perform many tasks.

Real world robots perform many tasks in factories, assist in surgeries and, naturally, explore distant planets.

The great advantage of using robots for space exploration is that they do not require the same life support systems as humans.

A good source of power and self-supporting maintenance regimes will keep them going and they do not have to return to Earth necessarily. They can also work non-stop without the need for a tea break.

Many exploratory robots are now equipped with some form of artificial intelligence so that they can make their own decisions about actions without the need for Earth-based commands, which can take a long time to reach them.

Star Wars also showed us bionic body parts. Luke Skywalker’s robotic hand and Anakin’s (Darth Vader) prosthetic arm parallel real-world advancements in prosthetics. 

Bionic limbs with neural interfaces are being developed.

The classic film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) showed us artificial intelligence at its worst. Director Stanley Kubrick consulted experts like Dr Marvin Minsky (MIT) for artificial intelligence advice.

The portrayal of HAL 9000’s behaviour and its impact on the crew remains influential in discussions about AI ethics.

The exploration of science fiction gadgets and their real-world counterparts not only serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of these series but also as a beacon, illuminating the path towards future technological revolutions.

As we reflect on these innovations and their implications for our global society, we invite you to delve deeper into the wonders of science and technology inspired by Star Trek, Star Wars and 2001 at our upcoming meeting at the University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, on Wednesday, May 8, where Professor Chris Crowe will be giving a talk about 'Star Trek and Star Wars: The Science behind Sci-Fi'.  

The meeting is open to everyone – visitors are especially welcome.

You can continue the journey on the Hertford Astronomy Group website at https://hertsastro.org.uk where you can obtain tickets for this fascinating talk. 

This ongoing dialogue between science fiction and scientific reality enhances our understanding of what is possible, encouraging us to dream bigger and push the boundaries of what we consider to be the final frontier. Make it so.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

The Orion Nebula – Photo: Kevan Noble

The Orion Nebula – Photo: Kevan Noble (Image: Kevan Noble)

The Orion Nebula, M42, is the nearest star-forming region to Earth, located approximately 1,350 light years away and is about 2 million years old.

The billowing clouds of gas and dust are located in the Orion Constellation, just below Orion’s Belt. This bustling stellar nursery is brimming with towering pillars of gas and dust that are home to fledgling stars.

The entire scene is sculpted by stellar winds ejected by young stars that also emit powerful ultraviolet light. 

In the central region of the Orion Nebula are four bright stars in an open star cluster known as the Trapezium due to their trapezoidal arrangement.

These hot young stars emit ultraviolet light that carves through the core of the nebula, leaving large cavities void of the thick clouds of gas and dust.

The large chasm carved by the Trapezium conveniently faces Earth, allowing observers to peer deep into the nebula’s “heart” to view the rich tapestry of star formation within.

Not all of the stars in the Orion Nebula are successful. Brown dwarfs are sometimes referred to as ‘failed’ stars as they’re too small to sustain nuclear fusion in their cores.

Brown dwarfs are not quite massive enough to be stars but are more massive than planets (between 13 and 80 times the mass of Jupiter.) 

Picture taken from Kevan Noble's light polluted back garden in Waltham Abbey, 2024.