Star Trek by the Minute 076: Meld Begins

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Kirk rises from sitting by the campfire to declare "Ah…Sir, I appreciate what you did for me today, but if you were Spock you would know that we are not friends at all, you hate me, you marooned me here for mutiny."

Spock: "Mutiny?"

"Yes."

"You are not the Captain?"

"No, no, you are the Captain, Pike was taken hostage."

"By Nero…"

Kirk turns and asks: "What do you know about him?"

"He is a particularly troubled Romulan." Spock rises, extends his hand and approached Kirk saying: "Please, allow me - It will be easier."

"Whoa, whoa, what're you doin?"

Spock says "Our minds, one and together," and he touches his fingers to Kirks face, continuing: "129 years from now, a star will explode and threaten to destroy the galaxy."

This is one of those points where a critical plot element demonstrates astounding ignorance of scientific reality. Supernovas are our main source of heavy elements. Carbon for our DNA, sodium and potassium for our nervous systems, and of course oxygen, (vital for the H2O used in surfing, skiing, and beer); From the explosion of stars, all these elements reach interstellar space, accrete into stars and earths, eventually some of it evolves into hack writers and stuffing for fat wallets.

Such explosions do not threaten the galaxy. At all; And I'm pretty sure I knew this by the time I finished fourth grade. What blows my mind is that people apparently that ignorant of science are getting rich and famous writing science fiction. Not only ignorance, but apparently complete apathy as well – lacking even the interest to read merely the introduction to the Wikipedia entry on supernovas. Yet, according to Paramount, Star Trek 2009 was a significant reason they had a record-breaking year, and these writers are signed up for a full slate of films, including the next Trek movie. The bogus "threat" of planetary destruction around other stars will be addressed later, but suffice it to say, the lack of science in what is ostensibly a "science fiction" film is, IMO, inexcusable. It's almost like these guys write for the Heritage Foundation or the Project for a New American Century.

Spock continues: "That is where I'm from, Jim: the future."

No women appear or speak in this segment.

Spock describes the upcoming supernova as "unthinkable" when it actually occurs in Star Trek by the Minute episode 077: When the Unthinkable Happened. 

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