Lecture: Star Trek physics

Picture: Vadim Sadovski

Professor Metin Tolan, experimental physicist, Technical University of Dortmund:

Star Trek physics – why the Enterprise only weighs 158 kg and other galactic facts

How closely do the creators of Star Trek abide by the laws of physics? The answer is with amazing precision! After all, Spock calculates in no time at all that exactly 1,771,551 cuddly tribbles will fit into the Enterprise’s hold. And when the Enterprise sets off on a journey it isn’t simply a matter of ‘putting your foot down’; instead, we learn that the ship is powered by a ‘warp drive’. Metin Tolan travels with the Enterprise into the Star Trek universe and, on the way to distant galaxies, unveils physics-related secrets from the cult series.

This series of talks accompanies the special exhibition ‘Departure to Universe! The Experience of Space Travel’, which will be showcased at Heinz Nixdorf Museums Forum from 5 July 2019 to 5 January 2020. In a space covering 800 square metres, visitors will be taken on an exciting voyage of discovery through space and time, during which they will hear an account of the conquest of space by humans and experience it themselves via interactive stations.

‘Departure to Universe!’ was conceived by HNF in cooperation with the DLR Space Administration.

Admission to the talks is free.