University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations 4-29-1998 UM lecture will discuss the physics of Star Trek University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "UM lecture will discuss the physics of Star Trek" (1998). University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present. 15351. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/15351 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Relations at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of Montana UNIVERSITY RELATIONS • MISSOULA, MT 59812 • 406-243-2522 • FAX: 406-243-4520 April 29, 1998 Contact: Dave Friend, associate professor of physics and astronomy, (406) 243-5283, dbfriend@sel way. umt. edu. UM LECTURE WILL DISCUSS THE PHYSICS OF STAR TREK MISSOULA— For the crew of the starship Enterprise, destroying a Klingon spacecraft with photon torpedoes, engaging the warp drive to wing across the galaxy and beaming down to the surface of an unexplored planet are all in a day’s work. But could any of this stuff really happen? A University of Montana professor will try to answer that question with a lecture titled “The Physics of Star Trek” on Tuesday, May 5. Dave Friend, associate professor of physics and astronomy, will present his talk at 7:30 p.m. in UM’s Urey Lecture Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public, and it will include Star Trek video clips from the movies and television programs. “I want to show people that physics can be interesting to people other than physicists,” Friend said. “And this time of year — right before finals — people need a little comic relief.” He said the futuristic technologies used in Star Trek can be put into three categories of physics: real, extrapolated and made-up. Real physics includes science known to modern civilization — things like antimatter, which is used in the warp engines and photon torpedoes of Star Trek. Extrapolated physics is suspected by scientists to be theoretically possible — like the warp engines that allow Star Trek crews to bridge interstellar distances. Made-up physics, like transporters that instantly zap people from place to place, probably aren’t feasible. - more - Trek.rl - p. 2 Friend, a devout Trekkie, has given lectures about the physics of Star Trek at small science fiction conventions the past two years, but he is trying to reach a larger audience. "I'm hoping to attract more than just Star Trek fans,” he said. “It’s fun to show that science fiction is often based on fact.” m CBS Local Trek.rl - more -.