Temporal science
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Temporal mechanics is the study of the workings of time and its effects on the space-time continuum, and is particularly relevant when dealing with time travel.
As late as 2154, time travel was deemed impossible by the Vulcan Science Directorate.
The United Federation of Planets has had some form of time travel ability since at least 2268.
- It is possible that at least some of the current and future regulations regarding time travel can trace their origins back to this date.
Temporal mechanics is taught at Starfleet Academy.
History
Overview
- A historical research in 2268 suggests the Federation was capable of controlled time travel and used this ability at the very least for research purposes.
- As of 2378, at least 40 different instances of some form of time travel had been noted in Federation records.
Technologically speaking, the Federation's capabilities concerning time travel have, for the most part, remained unclear.
- In the 25th century, time travel is mostly possible but still risky.
- As of the 26th century, historians and anthropologists used time-travel "pods" to travel through time and observe historical events.
Noted Events
- Crewman Daniels, an alleged time traveler from the 31st century, showed Jonathan Archer his century's technology, and introduced him to the Temporal Cold War.
- In 2267, after an encounter with a black star, the Enterprise-A was hurled 300 years into the past.
- Eventually, the Enterprise's science officer Spock devised a method for returning the Enterprise back to its original period.
- In 2373 the USS Defiant, commanded by Captain Benjamin Sisko traveled back in time to 2268 via the Bajoran Orb of Time.
- They did this for the purpose of preventing someone from their own time assassinating Captain James T. Kirk and changing the timeline.
Known Methods
- Black hole in the right conditions
- Nexus
- Orb of Time
- Q beings (and their powers)
- Temporal causality loop
- Temporal transporter
- Timeships
- Wormholes
Named Paradoxes
- Dali Paradox
Also known as the "melting clock effect," refers to a temporal fissure which slows the passage of time to a gradual halt.
- Grandfather paradox
The idea that if a person travels to a time before their grandfather had children, and kills him, it would make their own birth impossible.
- Pogo Paradox
A causality loop, in which interference to prevent an event through the use of time travel actually triggers the same event.
- Predestination paradox
When an event of time travel could become part of events which had already occurred, and could even lead to the initial event of time travel in the first place.
"it was supposed to happen this way all along"