Skip to main content

star trek - Why does warp plasma burn green?


Warp plasma appears to burn green. (Obvious observation is obvious.)


For example, in the Star Trek Voyager episode Fair Trade, weapons fire ignites a cloud of warp plasma that had been seeping out of a container with disabled safeties. The subsequent explosion is a rather intense green:


Fair Trade


(Yes, that's a person on fire, but it's OK - he's a drug dealer)


In an earlier Voyager episode, Investigations:




"Neelix manages to gain the upper hand and Jonas is knocked over the railing into the plasma-stream from a ruptured plasma conduit, incinerating him instantly." (Memory Alpha)



I am unsure if the plasma had been ignited or was just leaking.


Investigations


In the real world, copper burns green, as does chromium and krypton gas is used in green neon signs.


Why does warp plasma burn green? Is there a (pseudo-)scientific reason, or is it just part of the story? Does it burn this color in other Star Trek series?



Answer



I asked about plasma being able to ignite and burn at all over on Physics.se. The answer is the same as Kevin's comment. Plasma is composed of free electrons and nuclei, and can't ignite or burn in the traditional chemical sense. There are tests being done with nuclear reactions to ignite plasma, but nothing conclusive yet.


However, because warp plasma is fictional, it has fictional properties and I suspect it burns green because green gas in special effects suggests it is very unhealthy for the victims and because our eyes can see green very well compared to some other colors, the brightness of the 'flame' seems brighter through the TV than if it were another color.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

story identification - Animation: floating island, flying pests

At least 20 years ago I watched a short animated film which stuck in my mind. The whole thing was wordless, possibly European, and I'm pretty sure I didn't imagine it... It featured a flying island which was inhabited by some creatures who (in my memory) reminded me of the Moomins. The island was frequently bothered by large winged animals who swooped around, although I don't think they did any actual damage. At the end one of the moomin creatures suddenly gets a weird feeling, feels forced to climb to the top of the island and then plunges down a shaft right through the centre - only to emerge at the bottom as one of the flyers. Answer Skywhales from 1983. The story begins with a man warning the tribe of approaching skywhales. The drummers then warn everybody of the hunt as everyone get prepared to set "sail". Except one man is found in his home sleeping as the noise wake him up. He then gets ready and is about to take his weapon as he hesitates then decides ...
Post a Comment
Read more

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

tolkiens legendarium - Did Gandalf wear his Ring of Power throughout the trilogy?

After Gandalf discovered that Sauron was back and sent Frodo on his quest to Rivendell, did he continue to wear Narya (one of the Three Rings)? It seems like a huge risk to continue to wear it after the Nazgûl (Ringwraiths) started to try and reclaim the One Ring; if they managed to get the ring to Sauron, couldn't he be corrupted by his power? Whatever powers Narya bestows upon him couldn't possibly be worth the huge risk, could it? Answer When Sauron forged the one ring and put it on his finger, the other ring bearers were immediately aware of him and his intentions and removed their own rings. There is no reason why they couldn't merely do so again. As soon as Sauron set the One Ring upon his finger they were aware of him; and they knew him, and preceived that he would be master of them, and of all they wrought. Then in anger and fear they took off their rings. "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," Silmarillion
Post a Comment
Read more