The Physics of Star Trek

The one that started a whole series of these types of books. In the Physics of Star Trek, Lawrence M. Krauss looks to dismiss or validate the "techno-babble" used in the popular science fiction series.

Krauss beings measuring up the technologies and scenarios Star Trek characters have become accustomed to, such as warp drive, against our understanding of physics and the universe. Tackling warp drive, teleportation, cloaking, phaser fire and the probability of alien life existing as well our chances of encountering it in any case. Krauss discovers that time and again the Star Trek writer's have a knack of finding the write words to describe what a piece of technology does without having to explain how.

What becomes interesting, it is that the seeming more probable devices are actually either more improbable or even redundant. Impulse engines for instance, effectively impossible, useless or redundant if warp drive were actually available.

The book is well structured in a logical order which makes it easy enough to follow despite the difficult subject matter and Krauss is even able to through in the odd humorous passage. The book is a fun read for fans of the show, but also very enlightening. Although Krauss shatters a few misconceptions and fantasies with his vast knowledge of physics and the universe, the book is ultimately hopeful.