Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Railgun

2008-12-21T16:19:09Z

NeilTyson:

Railgun

2008-12-21T16:17:57Z

NeilTyson: New page: A railgun is a type of artillery that fire projectiles at supersonic speeds by launching them out of using electromagnetism instead of gun powder. Current expectations for railguns are a 4...

A railgun is a type of artillery that fire projectiles at supersonic speeds by launching them out of using electromagnetism instead of gun powder. Current expectations for railguns are a 400 mile (643.6 kilometer) range and an impact velocity of Mach 8. Current problems with railguns are power generation and barrel life. Railguns require large amounts of power to work in the first place. They also go through barrels quickly because of the extreme temperatures inside the barrel. Railguns currently only exist as prototypes and in science fiction.

==External links==
===Theory===
*[http://www.matthewmassey.com/RailgunTheory.pdf Railgun Theory by Matthew E. Massey]
*[http://science.howstuffworks.com/rail-gun1.htm howstuffworks.com - explanation with animations]
*[http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0022-3727/29/12/018 iop.org - Theoretical limits on exit velocity]
*[http://home.insightbb.com/~jmengel4/rail/rail-intro.html Jengel and Fatro's Rail Gun Page]

===Amateur===
*[http://www.powerlabs.org/railgun.htm PowerLabs Rail Gun research]
*[http://www.matthewmassey.com/ Railgun theory, design, construction, and testing]
*[http://www.rollette.com/railgun Railgun Blog by Jason Rollette]
*[http://members.shaw.ca/forcelabs/minirailgun.htm Miniature Experimental Railgun]
*[http://www.intalek.com/AV/Railguns-Tim-Ventura-1994-2.pdf Tim Ventura's 90's-era Railgun Designs]
*[http://www.americanantigravity.com/massdriver.shtml American Antigravity's Mass-Driver Demo + Video]
*[http://kisaragi.iinaa.net/ +EML Laboratory－ Japanese Experiment＋Video]

===University===
*[http://www.utexas.edu/research/cem/Railgun%20Pulsed%20Power%20Program.html The University of Texas at Austin Rail Gun]
*[http://www.eng.auburn.edu/department/ece/railgun/index.htm Auburn University Rail Gun]

===Military===
*[http://www.onr.navy.mil/emrg/electromagnetic-railgun.asp Electromagnetic Railgun: An Innovative Naval Program]

===Press and media===
*[http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw060720_1_n.shtml USN sets five-year target to develop electromagnetic gun] Jane's Defence Weekly, [[20 July]] [[2006]]
*[http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/01/us_navy_invents.html US Navy Invents Railgun] Wired News blog article, Thurs [[January 18]] [[2007]]
*[http://www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/generaltechnology/64669aa138b84010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html Electromagnetic Railgun] Popular Science Article
*[http://fredericksburg.com/News/Web/2007/012007/0130railgun Video of Navy railgun test firing], Navy Electromagnetic Launch Facility, Test Shot #1, [[2 October]] [[2006]]. Source: Fredericksburg.com, accessed [[30 January]] [[2007]]
*[http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4231461.html World’s Most Powerful Rail Gun Delivered to Navy], [[14 November]] [[2007]]

[[Category: Military]]
[[Category: Technology]]

Extraterrestrial life in Star Trek

2008-12-21T15:48:03Z

NeilTyson: added information from Star Trek: Destiny

There is a range of '''extraterrestrial life in''' the fictional universe of '''[[Star Trek]]'''.
Much of this life was humanoid, although there are exceptions.

== Vulcan ==

Vulcans are the inhabitants of the planet Vulcan.
They pride themselves on their rigorous logic and repression of emotion.

The best-known Vulcan is [[Spock]] (played by [[Leonard Nimoy]]), the son of Vulcan ambassador Sarek and human mother Amanda.
He is the first officer on the U.S.S. Enterprise under [[Captain Kirk]], and later becomes an ambassador like his father.
Being part human, Spock struggles with keeping his emotions suppressed.

Vulcans were the first aliens to make contact with humans (this event was depicted in the movie ''Star Trek: First Contact''), and most human-manned starships include one or more Vulcans in the crew.
They appear in all Star Trek series.
Vulcans live a long time compared to humans, and have the ability to "mind meld", or temporarily join minds with another being. Their greeting "live long and prosper", along with their manner of holding their hand up in greeting with the second and third fingers together and fourth and fifth fingers together forming a "V" shape has entered popular culture.

== Klingon ==

Klingons are a war-like race from the planet Kronos.
In the [[Star Trek (original series)|original series]] Klingons were often enemies of humans, but in later series a truce has been reached.

The best-known Klingon is [[Worf]], the security officer on the ''U.S.S. Enterprise'' of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''.
He also makes appearances in ''Deep Space Nine''.

A complete Klingon language has been developed, and a number of works, including the [[Bible]], have been translated into Klingon.

== Romulan ==

Romulans are a secretive race from the planet Romulus. Before the events of the original series, humans and Romulans fought in a destructive war, after which a neutral zone was established between their areas of space.

In the [[Star Trek (original series)|original series]] Romulans were frequently in battles with the ''U.S.S. Enterprise''. In the original series, it was revealed that they were distantly related to the Vulcans.

== Ferengi ==
The Ferengi are an impish race of sexist people primarily concerned with making a profit.
Being businessmen is virtually a religion to them.
Their ''Rules of Acquisition'' is a list of 285 rules ranging from ''Once you have their money, you never give it back'' (No. 1) to ''No good deed ever goes unpunished'' (No. 285) and include ''War is good for business'' and ''Peace is good for business'' (Nos. 34 and 35).

The Ferengi first appeared in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and the best known is Quark, a resident of ''Deep Space Nine''.
They have also appeared in ''Voyager'' and ''Enterprise''.

== Cardassian ==

== Bajoran ==

== Founder ==

== Borg ==

The Borg are not actually a separate race, but a "collective" of beings forcibly "assimilated" from other races and turned into drones with [[cyborg|cybernetic implants]].

They were introduced in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' and were also prominent in ''Voyager'', where one rescued drone, Seven of Nine, becomes a member of the ship's crew.

The main Borg type of ship is a massive cube from which they attack other ships and take the crew captive, turning them into Borg drones.
They announce themselves with the phrase "resistance is futile", which has entered popular culture.

The Borg Collective first came into existence in 4527 BCE. That year, the temporally displaced Caeliar known as Sedin forcibly bonded with three Humans from the 22nd century: United Earth Starfleet Lieutenants Karl Graylock and Kiona Thayer and United Earth MACO First Sergeant Gage Pembleton in a bid to survive the destruction of the Caeliar city-ship Mantillis in the frozen antarctic wastelands of Arehaz in the Delta Quadrant. Reduced to a state of pure hunger after having murdered her Caeliar compatriots, Sedin used her catoms to possess the minds and bodies of the Humans, transforming them into the first drones. Upon the arrival of a Kindir icebreaker later that year, the newly formed Collective targeted Arehaz for assimilation.

In consequence of the final free thought of Lieutenant Graylock (vowing that he will never be a "cyborg") imprinting upon the Collective consciousness, the new collective entity referred to itself as the Borg.

[[Category:Star Trek]]

Star Trek franchise

2008-12-21T15:41:53Z

NeilTyson: added novel reference.

''This article is an overview of all the Star Trek productions. For the original television series, see [[Star Trek (original series)]]''
[[Image:startrektoscast.jpg|thumb|right|The crew of the Enterprise from the original 1960s show.]]
'''Star Trek''' is a number of [[television]] series and [[movie]]s set in the future when mankind is exploring the [[galaxy]] in [[spaceship]]s and joining with other [[sentience|sentient]] inhabitants of the galaxy.

''Star Trek'' began with a television series produced by [[Gene Roddenberry]] in 1966, and was followed by several other series and movies until the present time.
''Star Trek'' has a large following among [[science fiction]] fans, with [[book]]s, [[magazine]]s, [[website]]s, and [[convention]]s devoted to the imaginary universe.

== The series ==

=== The original series ===
{{main|Star Trek (original series)}}

The [[Star Trek (original series)|original series]] has the mostly-[[human]] crew of the ''U.S.S. Enterprise'' exploring the galaxy and performing various missions for ''Starfleet'', the authority which controls the ship.
These missions may be diplomatic or defensive, particularly in connection with the hostile races, the [[Extraterrestrial life in Star Trek#Klingon|Klingon]]s and the [[Extraterrestrial life in Star Trek#Romulan|Romulan]]s.

=== The Next Generation ===
''The Next Generation'' followed the theme of the original series, but set some years later with a new crew and a new ship, also named the ''U.S.S. Enterprise''.
By this time, the Klingons were at peace with the Federation, and the crew included a Klingon security officer, as well as various other non-human races.
Also on the crew was ''Data'', an android.

A major foe introduced with this series was the [[Borg]], a "collective" of [[drone]]s, beings from various races who were "assimilated" into the collective.
When encountering another spaceship, the Borg would often introduce themselves with a statement like "''We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.''". The "resistance is futile" phrase has since entered popular culture. The Borg were destroyed in the Star Trek: Destiny novel: "Lost Souls", but only after wiping out fourty percent of Starfleet and eighty-seven billion people. (ST Destiny: Lost Souls)

=== Deep Space Nine ===
Unlike each of the other series, ''Deep Space Nine'' was set on a space station near the planet Bajor, around the time that the ''Next Generation'' series finished.
The station, originally built by the Cardassians, was administered by Starfleet and with a mixed Starfleet and Bajoran workforce.

The space station protected the only known stable [[wormhole]] through which ships could pass to another part of the galaxy.
One of the characters on the space station was a "shape-shifter", a being that could assume any form.

=== Voyager ===
''Voyager'' was the name of a Starfleet ship that became trapped in another part of the galaxy, and the series revolved around the crew's attempts to return home, encountering many new races along the way.
The series was set around the same time as ''Deep Space 9''.

The part of the galaxy ''Voyager'' was trapped in was also the part of the galaxy from which the Borg originated, and the Borg is an enemy they encounter numerous times.
Additionally, one of the characters who joins the series part way through is "Seven of Nine", a former Borg drone, originally human, who is successfully largely transformed back into a human, although retaining some of the Borg implants and struggling to adapt to human society, having been assimilated into the Borg at a young age.

=== Enterprise ===
''Enterprise'' is set prior to any other series, at the time when humans are first starting to travel well beyond Earth, and develop much of the technology that would be common-place in series set later.
The mostly-human crew travel in a ship also named ''Enterprise''

== Extraterrestrial life ==
{{main|Extraterrestrial life in Star Trek}}

The drama of the shows typically arises from the crew's contact with various forms of [[extraterrestrial life]], mostly, but not always, [[humanoid]] (e.g. the "Crystalline Entity"). In various ways, the [[premise]] of the [[ancient astronaut theory]] is used to assert the seeding of [[life]] throughout the [[galaxy]] as brought up in ''The Next Generation'', although not to the overt extent of a later, unrelated, TV series, [[Stargate SG-1]].

== Religion in Star Trek ==
As a [[humanist]], Gene Roddenberry infused Star Trek with humanism's dream of a world (or galaxy in this case) where humanity (and many other intelligent beings) were constantly improving the life quality of all beings both through improving technology and improving societal conditions.
People worked together for the common good, rather than for money, and without any class or other distinctions.
This is a small part of what is expected in the Christian view of [[heaven]], except that humanism believes that mankind can achieve this through its own efforts, rather than with the help of God.

Roddenberry rarely had the shows overtly reject religion, although some episodes would make reference to it as a part of culture. For instance in an episode with a man who could not die, it was noted that in one of his personas in Earth history he had been [[Lazarus]] (who [[Jesus]] raised from the dead). In another episode a world where the [[Roman Empire]] never fell was now chasing down followers of "the son" (which the crew mistook to be "sun") and their message of peace and love instead of violence and oppression.

Later series, under the control of other producers particularly after Roddenberry died, also brought religious concepts into the show, but seldom with the same direct references to Christianity, but rather to more generic religious thought.

=== The Next Generation ===

An episode of ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' has one major example of anti-religion bias. The third-season episode entitled "Who Watches the Watchers," implies that an alien culture discarding religious beliefs is a positive development.
In the episode "Tapestry", Captain Picard dies and goes to the "afterlife" where he meets his erstwhile adversary "Q" who implies that he is God. Picard refuses to believe this, and makes a comment that "The Universe is not so badly run." This suggests that Picard was aware of the concept of God, but does not indicate that he believed in God. That phrase might be pointed more toward the character of Q controlling the universe than God's existence. However the majority of episodes remain silent on religion. In another episode where the ship is trapped and an alien will perform experiments that will kill up to half the crew, Picard discusses with 'Data' (actually the alien in disguise) what happens after one dies and says some believe in a god who keeps them in their present form forever and others believe that this is all there is. When questioned further, he says that he finds the universe is too orderly to believe that this is all there is and thinks that we will go on existing in a reality that we can not currently comprehend.<ref>Episode [http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Where_Silence_Has_Lease Where Silence has Lease] on Memory-Alpha.</ref><ref>[http://tng.trekcore.com/episodes/scripts/128.txt Episode Script]</ref>

=== Bajoran religion ===

''Star Trek: Deep Space 9'' included religion more than any other series. An overarching theme of the series was the relation of the main character, Captain Benjamin Sisko, to the Bajoran religion in his role as the emissary to the Bajoran prophets. The prophets were beings who lived in a stable wormhole (a unique phenomenon in the Star Trek universe referred to by the Bajorans as the Celestial Temple) that perceived all of time as a single event with no concept of past, present, or future. Despite their immense dissimilarity to other races in the galaxy, the Prophets took unusual interest in Bajor, sending 'orbs' which were used as tools of prophecy by the Bajoran clergy, and in Sisko who it is revealed exists solely to fulfill a predetermined historical path in an Armageddon-like showdown as the avatar of the prophets against the 'Pah Wraiths' (aliens like the Prophets who were expelled from the Celestial Temple).

=== Other religions ===

''Star Trek: Deep Space 9'' also had the Dominion, in which the Founders (shape-shifting aliens sometimes called changelings) are treated as living gods by the races under their control.

The Klingon religion in various series suggests that the first Klingons realized they had no need for their gods, and killed them, although they still hold to an afterlife where the honorable dead join with the deified Kahless and the dishonorable dead are forced to spend eternity on the Barge of the Dead with the demon-like figure Fecklarr.

The Ferengi (mainly in ''Star Trek: Deep Space 9'') had a religion of sorts based on the concept of The Great River (as shown in "Faith, Treachery and The Great River"), which was similar to "[[The invisible hand]]" a phrase coined by [[Adam Smith]]. Ferengi also hold that if they achieve enough profit during their lives, they will meet the Blessed Exchequer who will grant them access to the Divine Treasury, whereas an unsuccessful Ferengi may find himself left in the Vault of Eternal Destitution.

== Relationship Views ==

In addition to his views on religion, Gene Roddenberry had views on relationships which were considered controversial at the time the Original Series was on air, and even today. In fact, a historic event—the first interracial kiss on network television—was between Uhura ([[Nichelle Nichols]]) and Captain Kirk ([[William Shatner]]).<ref>''Plato's Stepchildren'', originally aired Nov. 22, 1968</ref>

Gene Roddenberry was also supportive of same-sex relationships, and wanted to integrate homosexual characters into his second series, ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', reasoning that by the 24th century "no one would care." However, this proposal was met with resistance by [[Paramount Studios]] who reasoned that because the show would eventually be syndicated, it would be accessible to young children for whom such material would be extremely inappropriate.

Despite the absence of major homosexual characters, several storylines have indirectly depicted homosexual and other relationships in a positive, or at the very least ambiguous light. For example, in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'', Commander William Riker (presumed heterosexual from a previous relationship with Deanna Troi) falls in love with an individual from an androgynous race.<ref>''The Outcast'', originally aired Mar. 16, 1992.</ref>
In ''Star Trek: DS9'', Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax (a [[Trill]], a being comprising a humanoid host of a member of another, asexual, species) briefly resumes a relationship with a wife from a previous lifetime (a male host of the same symbiont), and they are shown kissing on screen.<ref>''Rejoined'', originally aired Oct. 30, 1995.</ref>

== Institutions ==

The ''United Federation of Planets'' is the multi-world government based on [[Earth]], and under which auspices Starfleet operates.

''Starfleet'' is the exploratory and defensive organisation which operates the various starships.

The ''Academy'' is where Starfleet officers and crew are trained.

== Technology ==
The universe of Star Trek has an array of advanced technology, some of which has foreshadowed real developments.
This technology includes computer speech recognition, atom-level fabrication, massive energy production, and faster-than-light travel.

All Starfleet members from the time of ''The Next Generation'' on wear broach-size devices on their uniforms which allow instant two-way communication between crew-members or between the crew-member and the ship's computer.

The ''transporters'', being developed at the time of ''Enterprise'', disassemble and reassemble inanimate and animate things, including people, allowing them to be transported over moderate distances. For example, transporters are frequently used to send people from a spaceship in orbit to the surface of a planet and return.

''Replicators'', introduced in ''The Next Generation''{{fact}} use similar technology to fabricate inanimate objects from a molecular or atomic level.
This includes spare parts for the ships.
Specialised ''food replicators'' can fabricate a wide variety of food, which is suitable for everyday use, but can on occasions not be quite as good as the real thing.

''Holodecks'' and ''holosuites'' (the latter on Deep Space Nine) are rooms containing ''holoprojectors'' that project holographic images with solidity, allowing people to interact with the images. A computer controls the images, which includes holographic people who appear just like real people.
The ''Voyager'' series introduced an "emergency medical hologram", a holographic doctor which could be activated in the case of an emergency.
In this case, the ship's real doctor was killed, and the holographic doctor was a regular character, with enhanced abilities including being able to activate and deactivate himself.
He also managed to acquire a portable holographic projector that he could wear, allowing him to leave the confines of the ship's sick bay and its fixed holographic projectors.

''Phasers'' are the classic "ray gun", emitting a beam that, depending on the setting, was capable of stunning or killing the person on the receiving end.

''Tricorders'' were hand-held devices combining the functions of a computer, communicator, and laboratory for sensing and testing objects.
Specialised ''medical tricorders'' were also used by medical officers.

''Warp drives'' allow spaceships to travel cover vast distances by creating a sub-space 'bubble' around the ship, allowing faster-than-light travel, a necessity when travelling around the galaxy as part of a day's work.

== The Prime Directive ==
Starfleet had The Prime Directive which said that they should not interfere with the natural progression of a species. The directive sometimes clashed with morality or common sense and on many occasions was ignored by Starfleet officers. There was also a Temporal Prime Directive which said that when going into the past (by various means) they should not try to alter the course of history. When someone from Starfleet (or elsewhere) violated the directive officers were justified in working to stop them as long as they did not violate the directive themselves.

== Star Trek in culture ==

[[image:284699main image 1204 946-710.jpg|300px|thumb|Gene Roddenberry and original series cast members at the launch of the space shuttle ''Enterprise''.]]
Various concepts from Star Trek have entered popular culture, including the following:
* The [[Vulcan]] greeting, ''Live long and prosper''.
* The [[Borg]] warning that ''resistance is futile''.
* The [[Klingon]] language has been developed as a complete artificial language.
* The first [[space shuttle]], ''Enterprise'', was named for the ship in [[Star Trek (original series)|the original series]].

== The series and films ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Series Name || Original Air Dates || Number of episodes
|-
| [[Star Trek (original series)|Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS)]] || 1966-1969 || 80
|-
| Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS) || 1973-1974 || 22
|-
| Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) || 1987-1994 || 178
|-
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) || 1993-1999 || 176
|-
| Star Trek: Voyager (VOY) || 1995-2001 || 172
|-
| Star Trek: Enterprise (ENT) || 2001-2005 || 98
|}

{| class="wikitable"
!Movie Name || Year of Release || MPAA Rating
|-
|Star Trek: The Motion Picture || 1979 || PG
|-
|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan || 1982 || PG
|-
|Star Trek III: The Search for Spock || 1984 || PG
|-
|Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home || 1986 || PG
|-
|Star Trek V: The Final Frontier || 1989 || PG
|-
|Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country || 1991 || PG
|-
|Star Trek: Generations || 1994 || PG
|-
|Star Trek: First Contact || 1996 || PG-13
|-
|Star Trek: Insurrection || 1998 || PG
|-
|Star Trek: Nemesis || 2002 || PG-13
|-
|Star Trek || 2008 || N/A
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Television Shows]]
[[Category:Movies]]
[[Category:Science fiction]]
[[Category:Star Trek| ]]

User:NeilTyson

2008-12-21T13:55:53Z

NeilTyson: New page: *Name: Neil deGrasse Tyson *Date of Birth: October 5, 1958 *Location of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Mi...

*Name: Neil deGrasse Tyson
*Date of Birth: October 5, 1958
*Location of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States of America, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Milky Way, Local Group.
*Degrees: B.A. Physics, Harvard College, M.A. Astronomy, University of Texas at Austin, Ph.D Astrophysics, Columbia University