How do shields work in Star Trek?

[Cattlegod]

it's an invisible barrier that operates in sub space. the frequency determines what direction matter can pass through the shield (1 way in, 1 way out, 2 way)

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: sdifox
I liked how in Space Above and Beyond they were using both energy and kinetic weapons.

That was such a great show. Arguably too dark to attract a mainstream audience (same issue the superior Battlestar Galactica faces), but excellent in so many ways. Too bad about how it ended.

I watched every episode of TNG when it aired, but did they ever overuse the concept of deus ex machina, usually as a result of Data inventing and implementing a solution to a problem in 2 minutes that they've already spent 58 minutes agonizing over. But hey, it was good entertainment for the time.

Loved Space Above and Beyond. TNG got really bad towards the end.

 

[AMCRambler]

I'm gonna go polarize the "hull" on my Ford and ram stuff to see if it works.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
I'm gonna go polarize the "hull" on my Ford and ram stuff to see if it works.

Are you sure you're not going to pole-arize your "hull?" :laugh:

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Vic
In general, the "fiction" in science fiction refers to the stories (charcater and circumstances), not the usage of science itself. OTOH if the laws of the physical universe have to be almost completely re-written in order for the "science" used in the stories to work, then that is generally considered to be science fantasy.
According to Rod Serling, "science fiction makes the implausible possible, while science fantasy makes the impossible plausible." That's a good a definition as any IMO.

Now like I said, this is totally arguable in regards to Star Trek (and we're really going off the edge of geekdom here). But if you wanted to make it a spectrum, with (say) science fantasy space opera with Buck Rogers and Star Wars on one side and purist science fiction like Robert Heinlein on the other side, then you would have to say that Star Trek falls pretty squarely in the middle.

Stranger in a Strange Land wasn't exactly what I'd call plausible. There was very little science in that book.