Substances and Particles A-E

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Substance/Particle Submission Form

 

In order to explain away otherwise inexplicable phenomena (or just due to a lack of better scientific education) Star Trek writers frequently introduce substances or particles, which do not exist in the real world - or are not yet discovered or invented. Only few of these substances or particles are used repeatedly and consistently. Many of them were mentioned only once, and the next time a different exotic particle was responsible for a very similar effect. Nevertheless, it is worth the effort to list all these substances or particles, to attempt a classification and summarize their properties. This list is strictly based on canon facts and therefore the description of most items leaves more questions than it can answer.

The classification used in the following is not always clear-cut. But usually we can notice the difference between particles (which have some physical effect) and compounds (which have chemical or medical effects or are used to build something). Also, something ending on -ium is customarily supposed to be an element, whereas -(i)on mostly stands for elementary particles. De Broglie's particle-wave equivalence may save us from deciding between particles and energy. Finally, the list includes some real-world items too which are noted as such - although some particles in Star Trek behave very differently from their real-world cousins.

 

A

Acetylcholine

Naturally occurring. Neurotransmitter. In real life, also a neurotransmitter produced by the brain.

• TNG: "All Good Things" - Levels of acetylcholine in the hippocampus can quantify the amount of memory an individual has accumulated.
• DS9: "Melora" - Bashir uses a medication designed to increase acetylcholine absorption to increase Melora's tensile muscular strength, thus enabling her to walk.
• VOY: "The Chute" - Increased amounts of acetylcholine in Kim's nervous system cause him, like others in the prison camp, to exhibit erratic violent behavior.

Acidichloride

Artificially generated by crew. Gaseous chemical. Toxic to humans, essential to "evolved" humans. "Acidichloride" is the official spelling in the Star Trek Encyclopedia. The substance has previously been identified as "acid dichloride", which might stand for H₂Cl₂, but such a molecule would break down into HCl (hydrochloric acid). Hydrogen and chlorine combine 1:1, and chemicals tend to separate into the lowest possible number of atoms. Acidichloride, in contrast, may be actually a short name of something different, although it may be subject to confusion.

• VOY: "Threshold" - The Doctor determines that the evolved Tom Paris requires acid dichloride gas to breathe. This is quite obviously scientific crap, because no species could undergo an evolution, in whose course it breathes a gas that is poisonous to any living being.

Actinides

Naturally occurring. Actinides are known to interfere with Federation sensors. Actinides or actinoids: group of radioactive elements in the 6th period of the periodic table of elements.

• TNG: "The Mind's Eye" - The crew of the Enterprise encounters these in the Ikalian asteroid belt. The actinides made it difficult to locate the Kriosian rebels.

Adrenaline

Naturally occurring or artificially generated by crew. A hormone used as a treatment for radiation damage. The real-life hormone.

• TOS: "The Deadly Years" - Before the invention of hyronaline, adrenaline was the treatment of choice for radiation damage.

Alizine

Artificially generated by crew. A Klingon medicine used to treat an anaphylactic shock.

• VOY: "Darkling" - The Doctor requires alizine to treat B'Elanna, which Janeway anticipates.

Ambizine

Artificially generated by crew. A narcotic used by Starfleet, leads to unconsciousness.

• VOY: "Live Fast and Prosper" - Tom Paris knocks out Dala with ambizine to hinder her escape.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Amniotic fluid

Naturally occurring. Organic matter. In real life, protects embryos from disease while in the womb.

• TNG: "Genesis" - Cures the outbreak of Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome.
• PIC: "No Win Scenario" - When the Titan-A is caught in a space anomaly, Beverly muses that it has "contractions" and that the ship is "swimming in its amniotic fluid".

Anicium

Naturally occurring. May be used to create a powerful explosive, together with yurium.

• TNG: "Night Terrors" - Bela Tyken used his cargo of anicium and yurium to escape from the phenomenon later named after him, the Tyken Rift.
• DIS: "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" - Harry Mudd carries an explosive made of anicium and yurium to blow up the Discovery.

Anesthezine

Artificially generated by crew. A general anesthetic. Fatal if present in the air.

• TNG: "Rascals" - Ro suggests using anesthezine gas to knock out the Ferengi. Unfortunately, Picard points out that it's not possible since computer control has been locked out.
• DS9: "The Siege" - Terrorists flood the station's conduits with concentrated anesthezine gas to try to kill the crew.

Anionic energy

Naturally occurring. May influence brain functions.

• TNG: "Power Play" - Anionic energy is detected in the synaptic patterns of the crew members who are possessed by non-corporeal aliens, including Data.

Anti-intoxicant

Artificially generated by crew. Increases the organism's tolerance to alcohol.

• DS9: "Apocalypse Rising" - Sisko and his officers take this drug when they are about to infiltrate the Klingon Hall of Warriors.

Antichroniton

Artificially generated by crew. Cancels out chroniton particles.

• VOY: "Before and After" - When Kes is irradiated with chroniton particles from the Krenim and later subjected to a biotemporal field, she begins to shift backwards in time. This is cured by the use of an antichroniton field.

Antigen

Artificially generated by crew. Destroys viruses. In real medicine, a substance that triggers an immune response. May be natural or synthetically produced.

• VOY: "Macrocosm" - Janeway uses an antigen bomb against the macrovirus that has infected the ship. Well, a microscopic antigen would hardly be of any use against scaled up viruses...

Antigraviton

Artificially generated by aliens. Particle that deflects transporter beams. In real life, a graviton, a particle whose existence is only proven indirectly, is its own antiparticle. That is, an antigraviton would actually be a normal graviton.

• TNG: "Attached" - Is used by the Prytt to deflect a transporter beam to a new set of co-ordinates.

Antilepton

Artificially generated by aliens. Antilepton interference may prevent communications. Antileptons actually exist, as a collective name for the antiparticles of leptons.

• DS9: "Emissary" - Gul Jasad's fleet floods subspace with antilepton interference. It doesn't sound very plausible that on one hand the type of leptons can't be determined (or isn't worth mentioning), but on the other hand they would have to be antiparticles. Interference would have to involve certain frequencies and certain particles.
• PIC: "Maps and Legends" - The attackers in Dahj's apartment saturate the room in antileptons to erase their traces.

Antimatter

Artificially generated by crew or by aliens. Generated to power warp engines. May occur naturally in real life. Matter whose electrical charge properties are the opposite of "normal matter." It is not yet well understood why the universe is made overwhelmingly of matter yet most reactions produce matter and antimatter equally. The imbalance could have started as a minor percentage in the early moments of the Big Bang, with resulting annihilation keeping the excess only (the rest is the photon background).

• TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT: countless episodes - Used to power the warp engines on Federation (and other) vessels. Also used as explosive in photon torpedoes. Mentioned in many episodes in all series. Star Trek quite correctly and consistently describes that antimatter, if not contained, annihilates with matter in an uncontrolled fashion.

Antimonium

Naturally occurring. A traded substance. A real chemical element. Usually naturally occurring in compounds only.

• DS9: "Business as Usual": Quark's options on Antimonium becomes worthless in 2373.

Antineutrino

Naturally occurring or artificially generated by aliens. A particle. In real life, a by-product of beta decay.

• VOY: "Prime Factors" - After B'Elanna has installed the Sikarian space-folding mechanism, the device generates antineutrino particles as a part of the process of its normal operation. These particles prove harmful to the Federation warp core and almost cause a core breach. Fortunately B'Elanna thinks quickly and phasers the device out of existence before any serious harm is done.

Antineutron

Naturally occurring. A particle. A real particle; the antimatter version of a neutron.

• "Star Trek: The Voyage Home" - Computer prompts Spock to "adjust the sine wave in the gravity envelope so that antineutrons may pass but antigravitons cannot".

Antiproton

Naturally occurring. Also generated by ships; can penetrate Romulan cloaking devices. In real life, the antimatter version of a proton. It doesn't look as if all the mentioned antiprotons of Star Trek could be really antiparticles.

• TOS: "The Doomsday Machine" - Commodore Decker calls the Doomsday Machine's weapon an antiproton beam - "absolutely pure!"
• TNG: "Face of the Enemy" - Enterprise-D uses it to determine who destroyed the smuggler's ship
• TNG: "Silicon Avatar" - The Crystalline Entity is tracked by gamma radiation from antiproton decay. A real-life experiment looking to see whether antiprotons do decay by emitting gammas can be viewed at http://fnapx1.fnal.gov/.
• DS9: "The Search, Part I" - Used by the Jem'Hadar to detect the cloaked Defiant.
• DS9: "Defiant" - Used by the Cardassians to detect the cloaked Defiant.
• VOY: "Threshold" - Used to slow down the mutation of Lt. Paris's DNA.
• "Star Trek: First Contact" - The navigational deflector of the Enterprise-E normally stores a large number of antiprotons.
• DIS: "The Vulcan Hello" - An antiproton chamber is used to cure the injuries of Michael Burnham after investigating the Klingon beacon.

Antithoron

Artificially generated by aliens. Obviously the antiparticles of thorons. Thorons are an actual isotope. In Star Trek, it seems anything can suddenly become "anti". They love that prefix.

• VOY: "Tattoo" - Antithoron radiation is used to decontaminate a planetary crust prior to the excavation of polyferranide.
• VOY: "Hunters" - Voyager has an antithoron system and produces a level-8 antithoron burst to strengthen the gravitational pull of the quantum singularity inside a Hirogen communication relay by weakening the station's containment field. The resulting power release disables all of the relay network. The usage in this episode seems very contrary to the uses in previous episodes involving regular thorons.

Update by Derek Seewald

Antitime

Origin unknown. Analogous to "antimatter" but for time, not matter.

• TNG: "All Good Things" - Produced as a result of the time rupture, which is caused by three tachyon beams from different time frames intersecting.

Anyon

Artificially generated by crew. Caused by the interaction between phased and normal matter. In real life, an anyon isn't a real particle. It's a theoretical construct formed by confining a normal fermion (and possibly boson) to a two-dimensional region. The exchange arguments which lead to the parity operator eigenvalues being +/-1 no longer apply, and these theoretical constructs can have arbitrary quantum phase changes under exchange.

• TNG: "The Next Phase" - Data hypothesizes that the bursts of anyons are caused by phased matter. When Geordi and Ro set off a disruptor on overload, a huge burst of anyons is detected, leading Data to sweep the area with anyons and save Geordi and Ro.

Argine

Artificially generated by aliens. Possibly an explosive. It is very unlikely that this could be an argon compound.

• DS9: "The Nagus" - Used in the construction of Ferengi locator bombs.

Argonite

Origin unknown. Function unknown. It is very unlikely that this could be an argon compound.

• DS9: "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" - Argonite is said to be a hazardous substance.

Astatine

Naturally occurring. Causes duonetic fields, resulting in equipment failures. Actually, a short-lived radioactive element.

• DS9: "Paradise" - Astatine deposits in the swamp beds near Alixus's community prevent equipment from operating.

Axonol

Artificially generated by crew. A narcotic.

• VOY: "Message In A Bottle" - The USS Prometheus NX-59650 carries axonol on board.
• DIS: "Point of Light" - One of the options to treat Spock in the mental hospital.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann and Michael Warren

 

B

Baakonite

Artificially generated by aliens. Used by the Klingons. Obviously a metal alloy.

• DS9: "The Sword of Kahless" - Modern bat'leths are made of baakonite.

Bakrinium

Naturally occurring. Probably some kind of ore.

• DS9: "The Sword Of Kahless" - Vulcan geologists mine bakrinium on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Baryon

Naturally occurring. They accumulate in a starship after prolonged missions. In real life, "heavy" particles like protons, as opposed to "light" particles (leptons) like electrons.

• TNG: "Starship Mine" - The ship needs to undergo a "baryon sweep" to remove the accumulation of these particles. It is obvious that not much of the ship would be left, once the baryons were removed. So the baryon sweep must be something very different or just an inaccurate nickname for a procedure that removes certain types of baryons.

Benamite

Artificially generated by crew. A crystal.

• VOY: "Timeless" - A benamite crystal is used in the core of Voyager's quantum slipstream drive.
• DIS: "That Hope Is You, Part 1" - Benamite as well as dilithium are very rare.

Benjisidrine

Artificially generated by aliens. Drug used by the Vulcans against heart diseases.

• TOS: "Journey to Babel" - Benjisidrine is prescribed for Sarek's condition.

Benzocyatizine

Artificially generated by aliens. Pharmaceutical used to stabilize the isoboramine level of unified trill, if necessary.

• DS9: "Equilibrium" - Jadzia undergoes a benzocyatizine cure when her isoboramin level sinks.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Beresium

Naturally occurring. Ore found in asteroids, a thermal shock caused by an impact of such asteroids on a planetary surface may lead to a toxic ore rain similar to nuclear fall-out.

• ENT: "Terra Nova" - The asteroids that hit the Terra Nova colony mainly consist of beresium ore.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Bernicium

Naturally occurring. Mineral, occurring in the Delta Quadrant on the homeworld of a being called Saowin.

• VOY: "Think Tank" - Saowin offers bernicium to the Think Tank in return for stabilizing his planet's geostructure.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Berthold radiation

Naturally occurring or generated by aliens. Nature unknown. Harmful or fatal to humans.

• TOS: "This Side of Paradise" - The emotion-affecting spores grant immunity to Berthold rays, allowing a colony to survive. Yes, this seems to be the first occurrence of "immunity to radiation" in Star Trek! A recurring phenomenon (unfortunately).
• TNG: "Déjà Q" - A method employed by the Calamarain to scan the Enterprise- D when the aliens are looking for Q.

Berylite scan

Artificially generated by crew. A medical procedure.

• TNG: "A Matter of Time" - Mentioned in this episode. A berylite scan obviously involves something called "berylite", but it's not known whether the scan beam is composed of berylite or whether it scans for this substance.

Beta radiation

Naturally occurring. Beta radiation is released during beta decay and consists of electrons, such an electron was prior emitted by a neutron that was converted to a proton, this process is called beta decay.

• DS9: "Little Green Men" - Rom supposes that beta radiation is responsible for the translator failure that hinders them from understanding the humans in 1947. Ferengi translators seem to react quite hypersensitively to electrons, so better keep them away from electric currents (static electricity too, so better don't walk on carpets when you use one).

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Beta-tachyon

Naturally occurring. Variation of the tachyon particle. Only exists at faster-than-light velocities.

• VOY: "The Q and the Grey" - The female Q is able to increase Voyager's shields using beta-tachyons and antiprotons.

Submitted by Fidel Melgoza

Bicaridine

Artificially generated by crew. A painkiller.

• TNG: "The First Duty" - Wesley Crusher is allergic to metorapan treatments, so he is treated with a bicaridine substitute instead.

Bilitrium

Naturally occurring. A rare crystalline element, which can be an incredible source of energy if hooked up to an antimatter converter.

• DS9: "Past Prologue" - Tahna Los has purchased a cylinder of bilitrium from the Duras Sisters in an effort to destroy the wormhole.

Biogenic field / weapon

Naturally occurring or artificially generated by crew. A form of energy, also used as a weapon. Well, "biogenic" means "life-forming", isn't that an awful euphemism?

• TNG: "Preemptive Strike" - The Maquis believed that the Cardassians were building biogenic weapons, composed of "biomimetic gel, retroviral vaccines, isomiotic hypos and plasma flares". That sounds as if it were possible to store a flare...
• DS9: "For the Uniform" - Cobalt diselenide is a biogenic weapon. This statement is in strong contrast to the one from TNG: "Preemptive Strike", where a biogenic weapon was a very complex combination of different, partially genetically engineered substances, whereas here the same can be achieved with a simple anorganic compound.
• VOY: "Sacred Ground" - A biogenic field is present at one of the religious shrines of the Nechani.

Biomimetic gel

Artificially generated by crew or by aliens. A dangerous and highly illegal substance.

• TNG: "Force of Nature" - Biomimetic gel in large amounts is carried by the disappeared USS Fleming. Well, what is Starfleet doing with large amounts of an illegal substance?
• TNG: "Preemptive Strike" - Biomimetic gel is an ingredient for the production of biogenic weapons.
• DS9: "Distant Voices" - Dr. Bashir becomes suspicious when Quark asks for biomimetic gel for a customer. The substance is outlawed in the Federation under very strict laws.

Bioneural energy

Naturally occurring. Denotes electrical brain activity.

• VOY: "Cathexis" - Commander Chakotay's bioneural energy (or his consciousness) is able to control other lifeforms.

Bioplast

Artificially generated by crew. Androids like Data contain this substance. Maybe it's produced by the same people that invented steelplast. ;)

• TNG: "The Most Toys" - Data contains 1.3 kg of bioplast.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Bioregenerative field

Artificially generated by crew. Treatment for large-scale injuries.

• DS9: "A Man Alone" - Dr. Bashir treats Ibudan's injuries using a bioregenerative field to accelerate cell growth.

Bitanium

Artificially generated by crew. "Exotic metal compound" (Star Trek Encyclopedia).

• TNG: "Time's Arrow, Part I" - Bitanium was used for Data's neural pathways.

Bitrium

Naturally occurring. Nature unknown.

• TNG: "Silicon Avatar" - Bitrous fibers are found on planet after the Crystalline Entity has left. The crew theorizes that bitrium is a byproduct of the consumption of biological matter. Although its name sounds like an element, I assume that bitrium is an organic compound, since this would make a lot more sense here.

Borathium

Artificially generated by crew. Experimental pharmaceutical, not yet released for common medical use in 2368.

• TNG: "Ethics" - Toby Russell treats a patient with this substance instead of leporazin or morathial. Doctor Crusher regards this incident as a violation of medical ethics.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Boridium

Origin unknown. Metallic element. Used in power generators or converters in compact machines and devices.

• TOS: "Wolf in the Fold" - The blade of the knife used by the entity is composed of this.
• TNG: "The Quality of Life" - The Exocomps are equipped with boridium power generators. Dr. Farallon attempts to destroy some of these Exocomps by overloading these generators.
• TNG: "Birthright, Part II" - The Romulans use subcutaneous boridium implants to locate prisoners.

Submitted by Scott Gray

Boronite

Naturally occurring. Mineral, very rare.

• VOY: "Real Life" - The Vostigye built a research station whose structure contained boronite and sarium.
• VOY: "The Omega Directive" - The Borg used boronite to synthesize Omega molecules.
• DIS: "All In" - Boronite naturally occurs in infinitesimal amounts. The DMA removes all boronite from regions of space it sweeps through, for use in power generation.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

 

C

Calendenium

Naturally occurring. Chemical, apparently an element.

• TNG: "Night Terrors" - Supposedly combined with hydrogen released by the Enterprise by the alien ship in order to produce a massive chemical explosion to free both vessels from the Tyken rift.

Cabrodine

Origin unknown. When mixed with infernite, becomes explosive.

• DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets" - Used by Neela to destroy Keiko's schoolroom.

Cateline

Artificially generated by aliens. A drug.

• VOY: "Darkling" - Cateline simulates an anaphylactic shock.

Celebium

Naturally occurring. May be a radioactive element.

• TOS: "Turnabout Intruder" - Celebium radiation killed all but two of Janice Lester's team.

Cellular peptide

Naturally occurring. An organic compound. Maintains cell cohesion in human body.

• TNG: "Phantasms" - Data has a nightmare of Deanna Troi as a "cellular peptide cake with mint frosting", hinting at the interphasing organisms that are plaguing the ship.
• VOY: "Flashback" - The memory virus in Tuvok's brain thrives on cellular peptides.

Cervaline

Artificially generated by crew. A drug.

• VOY: "Lifesigns" - The EMH uses cervaline to avoid rejection of Klingon tissue that has been implanted to Danara Pel's brain.

Chemicite

Artificially generated by aliens. A highly explosive compound, dangerous to transport, can be sold for a good profit on Orion.

• DS9: "Little Green Men" - A cascade reaction in the chemicite causes Quark's shuttle to be flung through time.

Chloraxine

Artificially generated by aliens. A substance that is observed to be lethal at high doses.

• ENT: "Fight Or Flight" - One of the Axanar who falls victim to the bodysuckers is killed by chloraxine.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chlorinide

Origin unknown. Hazardously corrosive substance. Perhaps it's related to chlorine, which is also highly corrosive.

• TNG: "Ethics" - The Enterprise-D carries some containers of this substance. Worf gets seriously injured when some containers fall from a shelf that become instable because of a chlorinide leak.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chlorobicrobe

Origin unknown. Used as fertilizer on Bajor to increase the bean harvest.

• DS9: "Progress" - If you treat katterpod beans with chlorobicrobe you get better beans (according to Mullibok).

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chloromydride

Artificially generated by crew. This medicine is used when inaprovaline fails.

• TNG: "Ethics" - Used during Worf's surgery.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chrondite

Naturally occurring. Geological aggregate, occurs in asteroids.

• TNG: "The Cost Of Living" - The Enterprise-D destroys an asteroid that contains chrondite.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chronexaline

Artificially generated by crew. Experimental pharmaceutical in 2404, which protects organic tissues against tachyon radiation. This effect points to something which we already know as inoculation against radiation. However, although the term "inoculation against radiation" is a bit strange, it is possible (at least in the far future) to develop substances that make e.g. body cells resistant against particles released as radiation, by either simply cover and therefore shielding cellular membranes or accelerating the repair of cells.

• VOY: "Endgame" - Admiral Janeway wants Doctor "Joe" (the Doctor) to supply her with these substance before she is going to return to her own past. This happens in an alternative future which ceases to exist, but it's still possible that it will be invented.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Chroniton

Artificially generated by crew and by aliens. Involved in time travel and in cloaking; exact nature unknown.

• TNG: "The Next Phase" - Chroniton particles from a malfunctioning cloaking device cause Geordi and Ro to be phased so they can pass through walls (but not the floors).
• DS9: "Visionary" - Chronitons send O'Brien back and forth in time whenever a cloaked Warbird comes near DS9.
• DS9: "Past Tense" - Used to travel back to 21st century Earth.
• DS9: "The Assignment" - A Pah-Wraith, who is going to destroy the wormhole with a chroniton beam, is killed by this beam himself.
• VOY: "Before and After" - When Kes is irradiated with chroniton particles from the Krenim and later subjected to a biotemporal field, she begins to shift backwards in time.
• VOY: "Year of Hell I/II" - The Krenim use chroniton torpedoes as weapons against Voyager.

Chronometric particle

Artificially generated by crew and by aliens. Involved in time travel. There is no clue how this particle is different from a chroniton. Just like the prefix "iso-", the appendix "-metric" (which merely denotes something related to a measurement) is quite popular to make something sound more sophisticated.

• "Star Trek: First Contact" - The Borg used them to travel back in time. The Enterprise-E used them to travel forward in time.
• DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations" - O'Brien reads chronometric particles around the Defiant just before the ship is pulled back in time by the Bajoran Orb.

Cobalt diselenide

Artificially generated by crew. A chemical compound that is considered a biogenic weapon. Cobalt diselenide is harmless to most humanoids but is lethal to Cardassians. If that is supposed to be CoSe₂, it doesn't look feasible to me.

• DS9: "For the Uniform" - The Maquis, under the leadership of Mr. Eddington, contaminate Cardassian colonies in the Demilitarized Zone with cobalt diselenide to force them to abandon the planets.

Submitted by Steven Maguire

Containment field

Artificially generated by crew. Collective term for a forcefield used to contain persons or dangerous substances.

• Various episodes - There are different types of containment fields for antimatter or for biohazardous substances.

Corbomite

Origin unknown. Well, more precisely a substance made up by Captain Kirk, which supposedly reflects weapon fire back at the attacker.

• TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver" - Kirk tells the First Federation captain that the Enterprise is equipped with corbomite, a bluff that prevents the alien from firing his weapons.
• TOS: "The Deadly Years" - Kirk uses the same ploy to escape Romulans.

Cordrazine

Artificially generated by crew. A powerful stimulant.

• TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever" - McCoy accidentally injects himself with an overdose, goes insane, and beams down to a planet where he, Kirk and Spock enter the Guardian of Forever.
• TOS: "Obsession": Dr. McCoy uses cordrazine on Ensign Rizzo, who has been attacked by the cloud.
• TNG: "Ethics": Beverly attempts to save Worf's life with 25 milliliters of cordrazine.
• DS9: "Life Support": Dr. Bashir uses cordrazine on Bareil Antos, after the Vedek has been injured by an explosion.
• VOY: "Emanations": Harry Kim is revived with cordrazine.
• VOY: "Parturition": Neelix suggested to administer cordrazine to an ailing alien lifeform.
• VOY: "Flashback": The Doctor administers 50 milligrams of cordrazine to Tuvok.
• TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT: Various other episodes - Cordrazine is mentioned.

Cormaline

Naturally occurring. Apparently a compound.

• VOY: "Caretaker" - Rich deposits of cormaline are found on the Kazon-Ogla homeworld, which they use for barter with the other Kazon sects.

Corophizine

Artificially generated by crew. An antibiotic.

• DS9: "Babel" - Corophizine is prescribed to Miles O'Brien.

Cortenum

Origin unknown. Component of verterium-cortenide. Most likely an element.

• VOY: "State Of Flux" - The Voyager crew has to purchase monocrystalline cortenum on a planet in the Hemikek system.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Cortical analeptic

Artificially generated by crew. A pharmaceutical.

• VOY: "The Swarm" - Used to reinvigorate the tissues in the cerebral cortex.

Cortropine

Artificially generated by crew. A sedative.

• TAS: "The Lorelei Signal" - Utilized by Dr. McCoy to overcome the symptoms of weakness of the landing party.
• DIS: "Point of Light" - One of the options to treat Spock in the mental hospital.

Corundium

Artificially generated by aliens. Corundium alloys are used in the construction of spacecrafts. This more or less implies that there should be an element called corundium.

• DS9: "The Forsaken" - The probe that carried the software-lifeform "Pup" contains a corundium alloy.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Cosmic string

Naturally occurring. A string of particles with gravitational forces that are the strength of a black hole. It is a matter of perspective whether this is to classify as particle or energy.

• TNG: "The Loss" - A flurry of energy-based entities surrounding the Enterprise-D are headed for it, dragging the ship toward certain destruction. These creatures also disable counselor Troi's empathic powers for a time. The cosmic string is their home.

Cryptobiolin

Artificially generated by aliens. An alien equivalent of steroids.

• TNG: "The Hunted" - During a checkup on Roga Danar, Beverly discovers high levels of cryptobiolin and other drugs in Danar's body.

Cyanoacrylate

Naturally occurring. Emits Eichner radiation. In real life, cyanoacrylate ester is a fast-bonding glue (e.g. Crazy Glue.)

• TNG: "The Child" - According to Data, Eichner radiation, which caused genetically altered spores in stasis cage to expand uncontrollably and threaten Enterprise, is released by "certain cyanoacrylates". This is quite obvious and quite open nonsense, and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Cytoglobin

Artificially generated by aliens. Important medicine on the Dinaal hospital ship. "Globin" is the name of the protein component in haemoglobin (the red substance in the blood). "Cyto" refers to body cells.

• VOY: "Critical Care" - The Holodoc administers a cytoglobin injection to a patient who would have died otherwise.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

 

D

Dark matter

Naturally occurring. Causes phase shifts in normal matter. In real life, dark matter is a concept to explain away the fact that there should be more mass in the universe than is visible.

• TNG: "In Theory" - Opens the wall for Spot to escape, wrecks the conference room, and dematerializes part of the floor, causing the death of a crew member who gets stuck in the hole. Of course, the real dark matter is just a concept. It could consist of any kind of matter (or antimatter), while in the TNG episode it does have some very specific properties, which is why I am classifying it as particles.
• DIS: "Brother" etc. - Dark matter can be found in rocks in an asteroid belt and may be used as a "100% efficient [sic!] power source".
• DIS: "New Eden" etc. - Dark matter somehow provides a connection to the spore network.
• DIS: "Choose to Live" - Because of the involvement of dark matter, Stamets nicknames the anomaly that destroyed Kwejian as the dark matter anomaly (DMA).

Dekyon

Artificially generated by crew. A particle with exotic properties. In real life, dechyons are the class of particles that travel below the speed of light (i.e., the opposite of tachyons).

• VOY: "Parallax" - Used to open a fissure in an event horizon. It clearly isn't possible to open such a fissure, unless one were using enormous amounts of mass or maybe extremely exotic particles. But definitely not just an otherwise undefined collection of "ordinary" dekyons.
• TNG: "Cause and Effect" - The crew detects these particles as remnants of each "causality loop" and Data uses them to send a message into the next loop, which allows them to break this most vicious cycle.

Delta radiation

Generated by crew. Type of radiation produced by older engines. Radiation of that name exists in real life. Delta rays refer to moderate energy electrons which have been kicked off a nucleus by the passage of a nearby high energy charged particle - nothing to be much afraid of.

• TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I" - Was emitted from a broken engine. Christopher Pike, former captain of Starship Enterprise, was overexposed in that accident, leaving him almost completely paralyzed in a wheelchair.
• DS9: "Visionary" - O'Brien absorbs a heavy dose of delta radiation, which allows the tetryon emissions from the Romulan Warbird to shift him through time.
• ENT: "Rajiin" - A burst of delta radiation is supposed to help in the synthesis of Trellium-D.
• ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly" - Mirror Trip's face is disfigured owing to high doses of delta radiation. The make-up is a homage to that of Christopher Pike in the TOS episode.

Dentarium

Artificially generated by aliens. Metal alloy, used by Vulcans in the construction of starships. Sounds rather like something used by dentists.

• TNG: "Unification, Part I" - The T'Pau contains dentarium.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Dermatiraelian plasticine

Artificially generated by aliens. Used in cosmetic surgery.

• DS9: "Duet" - Marritza is using the plasticine to preserve his appearance as Gul Darhe'el.

Deuranium

Artificially generated by crew. Metal alloy, used in starship construction. Considering the cheesy writing of this episode, I have the impression they thought of duranium, but didn't get it right.

• VOY: "Threshold" - Deuranium is indented to strengthen the nacelles of the Warp 10 shuttle, but it is later regarded as too brittle.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Deuridium

Naturally occurring. Found as deposits in asteroid fields.

• DS9: "The Passenger" - The Kobliad need deuridium to stabilize their cell membranes in order to survive. It may be a bit more plausible as a compound, but I'm keeping it as an element until more evidence is found.

Deuterium

Naturally occurring. Used to power warp and impulse drives. Isotope of hydrogen with an additional neutron. Deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen and is also called heavy hydrogen. Deuterium was discovered in 1931 by Harold Clayton Urey, a chemist at Columbia University, for which he earned the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1934. It is useful in nuclear fusion reactions, as is tritium, because of the larger rate of reaction.

Deuterium can replace the normal hydrogen in water molecules to form heavy water (D₂O), which was a source of some concern during World War II, as Germany was known to be conducting experiments using heavy water as a nuclear reactor moderator, which might allow them to produce plutonium for an atomic bomb. Deuterium is frequently used in chemistry and biochemistry as a tracer molecule to study reaction pathways because chemically it behaves identically to ordinary hydrogen, but it can be distinguished from ordinary hydrogen by its mass. Also, because of its greater mass, chemical reactions involving deuterium tend to occur at a slower rate than the corresponding reactions involving ordinary hydrogen. It has been suggested that deuterium water (heavy water) should be considered toxic because if consumed in isolation it would displace light water and disturb the rate of biochemical reactions in the body.

• Countless episodes, including TNG: "Phantasms", VOY: "Demon", VOY: "The Void" - Used to power the warp core as well as impulse (fusion) reactors. Occurring in interstellar space, it may be collected (with rather low efficiency) with the Bussard collectors. Deuterium can be found in larger amounts in nebulae and on planets.
• ENT: "Marauders" - Deuterium is "mined" on a planet and is very valuable. Decide for yourself if you want to believe that...

Submitted by Daniel Welch

Diboridium

Origin unknown. Material used by the Cardassians.

• DS9: "Babel" - The aphasia-inducing device has a diboridium core. This hints at possible Cardassian manufacture, but it was actually created by the Bajoran underground during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Diboridium may stand for a combination of two boridium atoms. But the twofold molecular structure would be meaningless, since the element can be supposed to have a crystalline structure. Most likely diboridium is a different element than boridium, analogous to tricobalt vs. cobalt.

Diburnium

Origin unknown. A metallic element. Considering that there is a diburnium-osmium alloy too, diburnium is obviously an element.

• TOS: "By Any Other Name "- The substance used by the Kelvans to imprison Captain Kirk and company in the cave is described by Spock as "similar to diburnium, but much denser."

Diburnium-osmium alloy

Artificially generated by aliens. A substance highly resistant to energy and radiation.

• TOS: "That Which Survives" - An artificial planet is made of this substance. The Kalandans were the race responsible.

Dicosilium

Origin unknown. Optic material used to build lenses and mirrors.

• TNG: "A Matter of Perspective" - Used to build the Krieger wave generator.

Dikironium

Naturally occurring. An apparent element that makes up part of the molecular structure of a gaseous creature, possibly allowing the creature to exist in a state on the border between matter and energy and avoid weapons fire by moving itself through time.

• TOS: "Obsession" - Kirk encounters the gaseous creature while prospecting for tritanium deposits. It gives of a sickly sweet odor, which Kirk recognizes from another encounter with the creature eleven years before - an encounter that resulted in the death of then Lieutenant Kirk's commanding officer, Captain Garrovick, and a consequent load of guilt. Kirk and Garrovick's son destroy the creature with an anti-matter bomb, since it is immune to phasers and photon torpedoes.

Dilithium

Naturally occurring. Focuses energy into highly concentrated form. Necessary for the operation of warp drives, and a vital part of a starship's power system.

• TOS: various, including "Mudd's Women" and "Elaan of Troyius". Dilithium is used a power source. This has been contradicted ever since the concept of the warp core with its matter-antimatter reaction, where a dilithium crystal is just the place where the power is generated.
• TNG: "Relics" - La Forge tells Mr. Scott that they recomposite the dilithium inside the reaction chamber, after Scott erroneously assumes that the crystals are going to fracture.
• VOY: "Threshold" - An otherwise unspecified new form of dilithium allows the construction of the transwarp drive, which takes Tom Paris to Warp 10 and turns him into a giant salamander.
• Countless episodes - Dilithium or a "dilithium matrix" is mentioned as a part of the warp core.
• DIS season 3 - Dilithium is very rare, as the Burn destroyed almost all known deposits.

Displacement wave

Artificially generated by aliens. Moves objects at very high speed.

• VOY: "The Caretaker" - Used by Caretaker to bring ships to Delta Quadrant.

Disruptor beam

Artificially generated by aliens. Klingon equivalent of a phasers. Accompanied by a shrill, echoing sound.

• TOS: "Errand of Mercy" - Used by the Klingons to retaliate against the Organians for acts of sabotage by Kirk and Spock.
• TOS: "Elaan of Troyius" - The Klingons fire on the Enterprise during attacking runs.
• TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT various episodes - Shown and mentioned as weapons of Klingons, Romulans and other aliens.

Dolamide

Origin unknown. Used in power generators, reactors and short-range transporters. If pure enough, it can be made into weapons.

• DS9: "Dramatis Personae" - Kira refuses a Valerian transport carrying dolamide to dock with the station under the suspicion that they are trading with the Cardassians.

Duonetic field

Naturally occurring or artificially created by crew. Caused by astatin, resulting in equipment failures.

• DS9: "Paradise" - Astatin deposits naturally prevent equipment from operating. Alixus additionally creates an artifical duonetic field for this purpose.

Drechtal beam

Artificially generated by crew. Beam used surgically to cut sensoric nerves in the brain. Instead of recruiting yet another exotic particle, we may want to claim that it's a simple specially shaped laser beam named for its inventor, Drechtal.

• TNG: "Ethics" - Used during Worf's surgery.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Duranium

Artificially generated by crew. A hard metal alloy used for the hull of spacecrafts. A hard metal alloy, or rather a pure metal? Most technically used metals are more or less alloys, so the distinction may not be clear-cut.

• TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I" - Duranium is used to build Federation shuttlecraft.
• TNG: "Hollow Pursuits" - O'Brien tests the transporter with a container made of pure duranium. The container rematerializes as molten goo.
• DS9: "The Emissary" - Duranium shadows are used to create an illusion of photon torpedo launchers on DS9.
• DS9: "Captive Pursuit" - Used in construction of access tunnels on DS9; impervious to normal sensors.
• DS9: "Q-Less" - The hull of a Federation runabout is made of duranium.
• DS9: "The Siege" - Used in construction of access tunnels on DS9; impervious to normal sensors.
• VOY: "Initiations" - Used for the construction of Kazon vessels.
• VOY: "Threshold" - The hull of the shuttlecraft is composed of duranium.
• ENT: "Dead Stop" - Duranium pins are used in the nacelles.

Submitted by George Cheng

Duratanium

Artificially generated by crew. Very strong alloy used in construction of starship hulls or structural augmentation.

• VOY: "Dreadnaught" - Voyager encountered debris from a destroyed vessel made of duratanium.
• ENT: "Sleeping Dogs" - Commander Tucker uses braces of duratanium to reinforce the shuttlepod's hull.
• PIC: "Nepenthe" - Picard mentions to Kestra that artificial his heart is pure duratanium.

Submitted by Fidel Melgoza

Dylamadon

Artificially generated by crew. A strong sedative that may simulate the death of a person.

• TNG: "Man of the People" - Administered to Deanna Troi to trick Ves Alkar into breaking his mental link with her.
• DIS: "Point of Light" - One of the options to treat Spock in the mental hospital.

Dynametric field

Naturally occurring. Energy field generated by the Bajoran wormhole.

• DS9: "Equilibrium" - Trill doctors speculated that Dax's severe condition was caused by the wormhole's energy field.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

 

E

E-band radiation

Naturally occurring. Emitted by collapsing stars; can also be used as a means of communication. Seems to be just a part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

• TNG: "The Mind's Eye" - Data detects E-band rays and traces them to Geordi, who has been brainwashed to kill Governor Vagh.

Eichner radiation

Artificially generated by aliens. May cause uncontrollable cell growth.

• TNG: "The Child" - Causes genetically altered spores in stasis cage to expand uncontrollably and threaten the Enterprise. Tracked to Ian Andrew, Deanna Troi's son.

Eisillium

Naturally occurring. Extremely rare mineral found in comets.

• ENT: "Breaking the Ice" - The comet contains eisillium. This may be a German reference: the comet consisted mostly of ice (=Eis). Only that we need to wonder since when Vulcans speak German, as the name of the substance was used by Vulcans and unfamiliar to humans.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Electro ceramics

Artificially generated by aliens. Component on Kazon ships.

• VOY: "Initiations" - Voyager discovers a trace of electro ceramic debris after Chakotay's shuttle had disappeared.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Electrodynamic fluid

Artificially generated by aliens. Liquid power source of Species 8472's bioships

• DS9: "Scorpion, Part I" - Chakotay compares the organic pipes that transport the liquid with EPS pipes.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Electrophoresis

Naturally occurring or artificially generated by crew or by aliens. A bioelectrical effect, used as an analysis method. In real life, electrophoresis is a process by which proteins are identified by putting them on a gel and running an electric current through the gel, then staining the gel and measuring how far the proteins moved in comparison to a group of standard proteins that were also put on the gel (bigger proteins move slower, in general).

• TNG: "Genesis" - The Urodelean flu is connected with heightened cellular electrophoretic activity.
• DS9: "A Man Alone": Dr. Bashir is running an electrophoretic analysis.
• VOY: "Elogium" - Electrophoretic activity is generated by space-dwelling lifeforms, and causes Kes to prematurely enter the elogium.

Element 247

Naturally occurring. Secreted by Vhnori corpses. This transuranic element would be provisionally named "biquadseptium", as the 247th element. It is rather unlikely that such a heavy element is both stable and naturally occurring.

• VOY: "Emanations" - Detected (initially) in the rings of a Class-D planet; possesses over 550 nucleons; forms as a by-product of the decomposition of Vhnori bodies. If refined, it could be used to fit probes with casings that would allow them to travel into the heart of a sun, or to create ultra-thin reactor casings.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann, updated by Leyte Wolf

Energy ribbon

Origin unknown. Temporal phenomenon capable of delivering an individual to a non-corporeal utopian existence.

• "Star Trek: Generations" - The first known contact with the energy ribbon (known as the "Nexus" to El-Aurians) was in 2293 when two ships transporting El-Aurian refugees were caught up by it. The just-christened USS Enterprise-B responded to the ships' distress calls despite being unprepared for service. Captain James T. Kirk, who was a guest aboard the Enterprise and had been implementing modifications to allow its escape, was lost into the Nexus when it struck and severely damaged the ship. At the time this was thought to be Kirk's death.

Submitted by Alex Golden

Epsilon radiation

Naturally occurring. Uncommon toxic energy that is related to tetryon reactors. Could that be another "misused" name of real-world radiation?

• VOY: "The Voyager Conspiracy" - Tash's subspace catapult emits epsilon radiation.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Ermanium

Origin unknown. Metal alloy, used in shuttle spaceframes.

• TNG: "Final Mission" - Traces of ermanium point to debris of the Nenebek that carried Picard and Wesley.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Exanogen gas

Artificially generated by crew. Instable substance that is used cold.

• TNG: "Cost Of Living" - Exanogen gas is used to slow down the development of nitrium parasites.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

Exatanium

Artificially generated by aliens. Used by Benthan engineers in the construction of a prototype starship. Monotanium, tritanium, ..., (h)exatanium?

• VOY: "Vis à Vis" - When Steth flies into Entaban space he recognizes that Entaban weapons are able to penetrate exatanium.

Submitted by Alex Hoffmann

 

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