How close are we to achieving Star Trek technology?

[Jeff T]

I'm am beaming over to our new site the ongoing discussion regarding articles and examples of Star Trek technology that are being discussed, worked on or created somewhere in the world.

So... please add to this thread by posting links to other interesting articles and/or by adding in your comments or thoughts on posted articles.

For Example:

Top 10 'Star Trek' Technologies that Actually Came True

An interesting countdown of inventions inspired by Star Trek

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/10-star-trek-technologies.htm (Note: there is 1 item listed/described per page)

[Jeff T]

Star Trek style 'tractor beam' created by scientists

A real-life "tractor beam", which uses light to attract objects, has been developed by scientists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-21187598

[Sorripto]

I was at a science expo two years ago that had a demo of what they called the Plasma window.  While it took a large amount of power to generate something the smaller then a postage stamp it was the first step towards a force field

[Hera]

NASA had a great article 

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/f ... _trek.html

It had a great point about not holding your breath when your in space

[Jeff T]

How NASA might build its very first warp drive

A few months ago, physicist Harold White stunned the aeronautics world when he announced that he and his team at NASA had begun work on the development of a faster-than-light warp drive.

Read more here: http://io9.com/5963263/how-nasa-will-build-its-very-first-warp-drive

[BLZBUB]

 Yes, this relates to the on-going studies of Alcubierres' warp drive and it's relationship with the Casimir Effect of negative energy in relation to FTL travel.

[Kheren]

I was at a science expo two years ago that had a demo of what they called the Plasma window.  While it took a large amount of power to generate something the smaller then a postage stamp it was the first step towards a force field

Well, considering that the first computer in the early part of the 20th century was as big as a house and could do less than the calculator you have today on a kid's wristwatch, this is certainly promising.

The scientist in the above warp drive article calls this a "Chicago Pile Event". Quoting:

"In late 1942, humanity activated the first nuclear reactor in Chicago generating a whopping half Watt — not enough to power a light bulb," he said. "However, just under one year later, we activated a ~4MW reactor which is enough to power a small town. Existence proof is important"

[Snowfire]

There's some really, really interesting things with ultrasound going on as well regarding tactile sensation and suchlike. It's small scale right now, but we've got to the point where we can simulate raindrops and - I believe - something quite close to skin and other such things.

Which is very impressive.

[Hera]

US Navy gets Lazers!!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/world/navy-deploying-laser-weapon-prototype-in-persian-gulf.html

But I think Colbert summed it up well

http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/wed-april-10-2013-shane-smith
Right at the beginning.

[Jeff T]

Is building our own starship Enterprise possible?

Will we ever travel between the stars as easily as they do in Star Trek?

JJ Abrams' new feature ;(rolls eyes), Star Trek Into Darkness, hits the screen in a golden age of scientific discoveries. 

HISTORY is there, giving viewers a deep look behind the scenes, on the set, and into the science–amazing new exoplanets, the physics of Warp drive, and the ideas behind how we might one day live in a Star Trek Universe.


http://www.history.com/shows/star-trek-secrets-of-the-universe