Substances and Particles A-E
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Substances and Particles - A - E
Substances and Particles - A - E
Legend
Chemical element or isotope | Elementary particle |
Chemical compound or alloy | Energy field or radiation |
Real-world reference | Other concept |
Index
A | - | B | - | C | - | D | - | E | - | F | - | G | - | H | - | I | - | J | - | K | - | L | - | M | - | N | - | O | - | P | - | Q | - | R | - | S | - | T | - | U | - | V | - | W | - | X | - | Y | - | Z |
Credits
This document was compiled by Bernd Schneider for Ex Astris Scientia. It is reproduced here with his kind permission.
A
Acetylcholine
Naturally occuring. 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 used 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 caused him, like others in the prison camp, to exhibit erratic violent behaviour.
Acidichloride
Artificially generated by crew. Gaseous chemical. Toxic to humans, essential to "evolved" humans.
"Acidichloride" is the official spelling of the Star Trek Encyclopedia. The substance has previously been identified as "acid *di*chloride", 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, albeit 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 occuring. Actinides are known to interfere with Federation sensors.
Actin(o)ids: group of radioactive elements in the 6th period of the periodic table of elements.
- TNG: "The Mind's Eye" - The crew of the Enterprise encountered these in the Ikalian asteroid belt. The actinides made it difficult to locate the Kriosian rebels.
Adrenaline
Naturally occuring 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.
Ambizine
Artificially generated by crew. A narcotic used by Starfleet, leads to unconsciousness.
- VOY: "Live Fast and Prosper" - Tom Paris knocked out Dala with ambizine to hinder her escape.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Amniotic fluid
Naturally occuring. Organic matter.
In real life, protects embryos from disease while in the womb.
- TNG: "Genesis" - Cured the outbreak of Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome.
Anesthezine
Artificially generated by crew. A general anesthetic. Fatal if present in the air.
- TNG: "Rascals" - Ro suggests using anestascene 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 flooded the station's conduits with concentrated anestascene gas to try to kill the crew.
Anionic energy
Naturally occuring. May influence brain functions.
- TNG: "Power Play" - Anionic energy was detected in the synaptic patterns of the crew members who were 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 took this drug when they were about to infiltrate the Klingon Hall of Warriors.
Antichroniton
Artificially generated by crew. Cancels out Chroniton particles.
- VOY: "Before and After" - When Kes was irradiated with chroniton particles from the Krenim and later subjected to a biotemporal field, she began to shift backwards in time. This was 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 used an antigen bomb against the macrovirus that had 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" - Was 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 flooded 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 be antiparticles. Interference would have to involve certain frequencies and certain particles.
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 which produce particles 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 countless episodes in all the series.
Star Trek quite correctly and consistently describes that antimatter, if not contained, annihilates with matter in an uncontrolled fashion.
Antimonium
Naturally occuring. A traded substance.
A real chemical element. Usually naturally occuring in compounds only.
- DS9: "Business as Usual": Quark's options on Antimonium became worthless in 2373.
Antineutrino
Naturally occuring or artificially generated by aliens. A particle.
In real life, a by-product of beta decay.
- VOY: "Prime Factors" - After B'Elanna installed the Sikarian space-folding mechanism, the device generated antineutrino particles as a part of the process of its normal operation. These particles proved harmful to the Federation warp core and almost caused a core breach. Fortunately B'Elanna thought quickly and phasered the device out of existence before any serious harm was done.
Antineutron
Naturally occuring. 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 occuring. 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.
- DS9: "The Search, part 1" - Used by the Jem'Hadar to detect the cloaked Defiant.
- DS9: "Defiant" - Used by the Cardassians to detect the cloaked Defiant.
- TOS: "The Doomsday Machine" - Commodore Decker called the Doomsday Machine's weapon an antiproton beam - "absolutely pure!"
- TNG: "Face of the Enemy" - Enterprise-D used it to determine who destroyed the smuggler's ship
- TNG: "Silicon Avatar" - 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 [[1]].
f* VOY: "Threshold" - Used to slow down the mutation of Lt. Paris' DNA.
- "Star Trek: First Contact" - The navigational deflector of the Enterprise-E normally stores a large number of antiprotons.
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 must love that prefix.
- VOY: "Tattoo" - Antithoron radiation is used to decontaminate a planetary crust prior to the excavation of Substances_and_Particles_L-R#polyferranide Polyferranide.
- VOY: "Hunters" - Voyager has a 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 involing regular thorons. Submitted 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 was caused by three Substances_and_Particles_L-R#Dechyon beams from different timeframes 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 hypothesised that the bursts of anyons were caused by phased matter. When Geordi and Ro set off a disruptor on overload, a huge burst of anyons were detected, leading Data to sweep the area with amnions 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 occuring. Causes duonetic fields, resulting in equipment failures.
Actually, a short-lived radioactive element.
- DS9: "Paradise" - Astatine deposits in the swamp beds near Alixus' community prevented equipment from operating.
Axonol
Artificially generated by crew. A narcotic.
- VOY: "Message In A Bottle" - The USS Prometheus NX-59650 carried axonol on board.
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 bath'leths are made of baakonite.
Bakrinium
Naturally occuring.
Probably some kind of ore.
- DS9: "The Sword Of Kahless" - Vulcan geologists mined bakrinium on a planet in the gamma-quadrant.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Baryon
Naturally occuring. 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 needed 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.
Benjisidrine
Artificially generated by aliens. Drug used by the Vulcans against heart diseases.
- TOS: "Journey to Babel" - Benjisidrine was 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 underwent a benzocyatizine cure when her isoboramin level sank.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Beresium
Naturally occuring. 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 consisted of beresium ore.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Bernicium
Naturally occuring. Mineral, occuring in the Delta Quadrant on the homeworld of a being called Saowin.
- VOY: "Think Tank" - Saowin offered bernicium to the Think Tank in return for stabilizing his planet's geostructure.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Berthold radiation
Naturally occuring or generated by aliens. Nature unknown. Harmful or fatal to humans.
- TOS: "This Side of Paradise" - The emotion-affecting spores granted 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: "Deja Q" - A method employed by the Calamarain to scan the Enterprise- D when the aliens were 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 occuring.
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 supposed that beta radiation was responsible for the translator failure that hindered 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
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 occuring. A rare crystalline element which can be an incredible source of energy if hooked up to an antimatter converter.
- DS9: "Past Prologue" - Tahna Los had purchased a cylinder of bilitrium from the Duras Sisters in an effort to destroy the wormhole.
Biogenic field/weapon
Naturally occuring 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 was 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 was 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 suspicous when Quark asks for biomimetic gel for a customer. The substance is outlawed in the Federation under very strict laws.
Bioneural energy
Naturally occuring. Denotes electrical brain activity.
- VOY: "Cathexis" - Commander Chakotay's bioneural energy (or his consciousness) was 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 occuring. Nature unknown.
- TNG: "The Silicon Avatar" - Bitrous fibers were found on planet after the Crystalline Entity had left. The crew theorized that bitrium was 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 treated a patient with this substance instead of leporazin or morathial. Doctor Crusher regarded 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 was 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 occuring. 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.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
C
Calendenium (unconfirmed)
Naturally occuring. Chemical, apparently an element.
- TNG: "Night Terrors" - 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 aphylactic shock.
Celebium
Naturally occuring. May be a radioactive element.
- TOS: "Turnabout Intruder" - Celebium radiation killed all but two of Janice Lester's team.
Cellular peptide
Naturally occuring. An organic compound.
Maintains cell cohesion in human body.
- TNG: "Phantasms" - Data had a nightmare of Deanna Troi as a "cellular peptide cake", hinting at the interphasing organisms that were plaguing the ship.
- VOY: "Flashback" - The memory virus in Tuvok's brain thrived on cellular peptides.
Cervaline
Artificially generated by crew. A drug.
- VOY: "Lifesigns" - The EMH uses cervaline to avoid rejection of Klingon tissue that had 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 caused Quark's shuttle to be flung through time.
Chloraxine
Artificially generated by aliens. A substance which is observed to be lethal at high doses.
- ENT: "Fight Or Flight" - One of the Axanar who fell victim to the bodysuckers was 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 carried some containers of this substance. Worf got seriously injured when some containers fell from a shelf that became instable because of a chlorinide leak.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Chlorobikroben
Origin unknown. Used as fertilizer on Bajor to increase the bean harvest.
- DS9: "Progress" - If you treat katterpod beans with chlorobikroben 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 occuring. Geological aggregate, occures in asteroids.
- TNG: "The Cost Of Living" - The Enterprise-D destroyed an asteroid that contained 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 resistent against particles released as radiation, by either simply cover and therefore shielding cellular membranes or accelerating the repair of cells.
- VOY: "Endgame" - Admiral Janeway wanted Doctor "Joe" (the Holodoc) to supply her with these substance before she was going to return to her own past.
This happened in an alternative future which ceased 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 (not floors).
- DS9: "Visionary" - Sent O'Brien back and forth in time whenever a cloaked warbird came near DS9.
- DS9: "Past Tense" - Used to travel back to 21st-century Earth.
- DS9: "The Assignment" - A pah-wraith who was going to destroy the wormhole with a chroniton beam, was killed by this beam himself.
- VOY: "Before and After" - When Kes was irradiated with chroniton particles from the Krenim and later subjected to a biotemporal field, she began to shift backwards in time.
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" 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 it is pulled back in time by the Orb.
Cobalt diselenide
Artificially generated by crew. A chemical compound that is considered a biogenic weapon. Cobalt diselenite 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, contaminated Cardassian colonies in the demilitarized zone with cobalt diselenite 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: "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 used cordrazine on Ensign Rizzo, who had been attacked by the cloud.
- TNG: "Ethics": Beverly attempted to save Worf's life with 25 milliliters of cordrazine.
- DS9: "Life Support": Dr. Bashir used cordrazine on Vedek Bareil, after he had been injured by an explosion.
- VOY: "Emanations": Harry Kim was revived with cordrazine.
- VOY: "Parturition": Nelix suggested to administer cordrazine to an ailing alien lifeform.
- VOY: "Flashback": The Doctor administered 50 milligrams of cordrazine to Tuvok.
- TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT: Various other episodes - Cordrazine was mentioned.
Cormaline
Naturally occuring. 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 was prescribed to Miles O'Brien.
Cortenum
Origin unknown. Component of verterium-cortenid.
Supplement by Bernd: most likely an element.
- VOY: "State Of Flux" - The Voyager crew had to purchase monocrystalline cortenum on a planet in the Hemikek system.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Cortical analeptic
Artificially generated by crew. Pharmaceutical.
- VOY: "The Swarm" - Used to reinvigorate the tissues in the cerebral cortex.
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" contained a corundium alloy.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Cosmic string
Naturally occuring. 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 were headed for it, dragging the ship toward certain destruction. These creatures disabled counselor Troi's empathic powers for a time. The cosmic string was home to them.
Cryptobiolin
Artificially generated by aliens. An alien equivalent of steroids.
- TNG: "The Hunted" - During a checkup on Roga Danar, Beverly discovered high levels of cryptobiolin and other drugs in Danar's body.
Cyanoacrylate
Naturally occuring. 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 administered a cytoglobin injection to a patient who would have died otherwise.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
D
Dark matter
Naturally occuring. 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" - Opened the wall for Spot to escape, wrecked the conference room, and dematerialized part of the floor, causing the death of a crewmember who walked into 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.
Dekyon
Artificially generated by crew. A particle with exotic properties.
In real life, de*ch*yons 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" dechyons. - TNG: "Cause and Effect" - The crew detected these particles as remenants of each "causality loop" and Data used them to send a message into the next loop, which allowed 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 piece of an old starship. Christopher Pike, former captain of Starship Enterprise, was overexposed in that accident, leaving him almost completely paralyzed in a wheelchair.
- DS9: "Visionary" - O'Brien absorbed a heavy dose of delta radiation, which allowed 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.
Dentarium
Artificially generated by aliens. Metal alloy, used by Vulcans in the construction of starships.
Supplement by Bernd: Sounds rather like something used by dentists.
- TNG: "Unification" - The T'Pau contained dentarium.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Dermatiraelian plasticine
Artificially generated by aliens. Used in cosmetic surgery.
- DS9: "Duet" - Marritza was using the plasticine to preserve his appearance as Gul Darhe'el.
Deuranium
Artificially generated by crew. Metal alloy, used in starship construction.
Supplement by Bernd: Considering the cheesy writing of this episode, I have the impression they thought of duranium, but didn't get it right.
- VOY: "Threshold" - Deuranium was intented to strengthen the nacelles of the Warp 10 shuttle, but it was later regarded as too brittle.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Deuridium
Naturally occuring. 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 occuring. 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. Occuring 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 which hints at possible Cardassian manufacture, but was actually created by the Bajoran underground during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor.
Diboridium may stand for a combination of two Boridium atoms. But *Di*boridium 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 and cobalt.
Diburnium (unconfirmed)
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 Kelvin to imprison Captain Kirk and company in the cave was 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 was 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 Krieger wave generator.
Dikironium
Naturally occuring. 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 encouter 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 occuring. 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 states to an out-of-time Mr. Scott that they recomposite the dilithium inside the reaction chamber. Only after Mr. Scott erroneously states that dilithium crystals are going to fracture.
- Countless episodes: Dilithium or a "dilithium matrix" is mentioned as a part of the warp core.
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 fired it the Enterprise during attacking runs in Elaan of Troyius.
- TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT various episodes - 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 occuring. Caused by Astatin, resulting in equipment failures.
- DS9: "Paradise" - Astatin deposits in the swamp beds near Alixus' community prevented equipment from operating.
Drechtal beam
Artificially generated by crew. Beam used surgically to cut sensoric nerves in the brain.
- 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 tested the transporter with a container made of pure duranium. The container rematerialized as molten goo.
- DS9: "The Emissary" - Duranium shadows were 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.
Dynametric field
Naturally occuring. Energy field generated by the Bajoran wormhole.
- DS9: "Equilibrium" - Trill doctors speculated that Dax' severe condition was caused by the wormhole's energy field.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
E
E-band radiation
Naturally occuring. 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 detected E-band rays and traced them to Geordi, who was brainwashed to kill Governer Vagh.
Eichner radiation
Artificially generated by aliens. May cause uncontrollable cell growth.
- TNG: "The Child" - Caused genetically altered spores in stasis cage to expand uncontrollably and threaten Enterprise. Tracked to Ian, Troi's son.
Eisillium
Naturally occuring. Extremely rare mineral found in comets.
- ENT: "Breaking the Ice" - The comet contained 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" - The Voyager discovered 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 occuring 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 was running an electrophoretic analysis.
- VOY: " Elogium" - Electrophoretic activity was generated by space-dwelling lifeforms, and caused Kes to prematurely enter the elogium.
Element 247
Naturally occuring. Substance secreted by Vhnori corpses.
It's rather unlikely that such a heavy element is both stable and naturally occurring.
- VOY: "Emanations" - The Voyager crew discovers the material in the rings of a planet.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Epsilon radiation
Naturally occuring. 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 emitted epsilon radiation.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann
Ermanium
Origin unknown. Metal alloy, used in shuttle spaceframes.
- TNG: "Final Mission" - Traces of ermanium pointed 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 àVis" - When Steth flew into Ethaban space he recognized that Ethaban weapons are able to penetrate exatanium.
Submitted by Alex Hoffmann