The Science of Star Trek: The Scientific Facts Behind the Voyages in Space and Time

Written by Mark Brake

Narrated by Jon Vertullo

Star Trek is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. It has changed our cultural landscape in so many ways since it first aired in 1966. The franchise has generated billions of dollars in revenue, leading to a wide range of spin-off games, novels, toys, and comics. Star Trek is noted for its social science, too, with its progressive civil rights stances and its celebration of future diversity that began with The Original Series, one of television's first multiracial casts.



The Science of Star Trek explores one of the greatest science-fiction universes ever created and showcases the visionary tech that inspired and influenced the real-world science of today. The perfect Star Trek gift for fans of the franchise, this book addresses many unanswered, burning questions, including: What can Star Trek tell us about aliens in our Milky Way?; How has Star Trek influenced space culture?; What can Star Trek tell us about planet hunting?; What Star Trek machines came true?; And when will we boldly go?



Learn more about one of our favorite modern epics with The Science of Star Trek!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: May 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350834888

Mark Brake

Mark Brake developed the world’s first science and science fiction degree in 1999 and launched the world’s first astrobiology degree in 2005. He’s communicated science through film, television, print, and radio on five continents, including for NASA, Seattle’s Science Fiction Museum, the BBC, the Royal Institution, and Sky Cinema. Mark also tours Europe with Science of Doctor Who, Science of Star Wars, and Science of Superheroes road shows.

Reviews for The Science of Star Trek

[lunarsong · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

To be good, The Science of Star Trek would need to get its Star Trek facts right and its science facts right. As a life-long, die-hard Trekkie that’s seen everything Star Trek (except Discovery, that one doesn’t really count) numerous times, I can attest that it got multiple Trek facts wrong. I’m pretty picky about getting all the Trek facts right, so this is a dealbreaker for me. As a scientist, I also noticed some science facts that weren’t really described quite right (mostly in a fairly minor way).

Otherwise, it was very well written. The writing style is good. It has a good voice. It’s interesting, with good flow cover to cover. It wasn’t boring at any point. It has a lot of really good, interesting, thought-provoking discussions of things from Trek and how they relate to real-world science theories, history, and philosophy. It would be very accessible and informative to a layman without a scientific background.

If you’re a really serious Trekkie and a few minor inaccuracies in the Trek facts (which honestly never really interfere with the point being made about each Trek to science comparison) are going to drive you absolutely crazy, then this isn’t the book for you. If not, you’ll probably enjoy this book quite a bit.

I received a free eARC of this book via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely voluntarily and honestly.