Star Trek: Time Dilation, Explained

Key Takeaways

Star Trek episodes set on time-dilation planets explore accelerated evolution or lifetimes for characters.
Star Trek: Lower Decks’ episode “Fully Dilated” introduces Lower Deckers to time dilation with classic twists.
Time dilation on planets occurs due to unique structures or space-time disruptions, causing varying impacts.

As a seasoned Star Trek gamer with decades worth of voyages under my belt, I must say that “Fully Dilated” episode from Star Trek: Lower Decks was a delightful twist on the classic time dilation trope. The unique blend of humor and Star Trek lore in this series has always been its forte, and this episode was no exception.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found some of the most captivating stories in Star Trek revolve around instances where Starfleet officers find themselves in areas where time flows at a pace far quicker than Earth or our starships can keep up with. This peculiar phenomenon is known as time dilation. These episodes set on, or orbiting, planets affected by this time distortion typically follow two main narratives. One, we see familiar faces living out entire lifetimes within the accelerated timeframe, while the other presents the inhabitants of these time-warped planets rapidly evolving over a matter of days, all while we, the Starfleet crew, look on.

In “Fully Dilated,” an latest installment of “Star Trek: Lower Decks,”, the crew members from the lower decks encounter time dilation for the first time, adhering to the traditional style of “Star Trek“. Characters like D’Vana Tendi, Beckett Mariner, and T’lyn end up spending almost an entire year on a time-dilation planet, despite being away from the Cerritos for merely a few minutes. The episode is filled with characteristic quirks unique to “Lower Decks“, as well as nods to other time-dilation planets within the Star Trek universe.

What is Time Dilation, and How Does it Work?

In the space drama “Fully Dilated,” the crew on the Lower Deck elucidate the concept of time dilation. This phenomenon occurs when time moves at varying rates on different planets or in their orbits. Essentially, time behaves differently in one location compared to another. These temporal and spacetime discrepancies, such as time dilation, are complex scientific terms that essentially mean time experiences distortion due to factors like gravity or motion through space.

Sometimes, it feels like some cosmic anomaly warps reality, as happened in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Gravity.” A subspace anomaly, or what we might call a wormhole, caused a time distortion that sucked one of our shuttlecraft to a barren planet. On this world, each minute felt like merely a fraction of a second compared to outside the distortion’s grasp.

Frequently, a distinctive characteristic of the planet’s structure results in the variation of spacetime, often referred to as the “Time-Warped Planet” in the Voyager episode “Blink of an Eye.” This peculiar planet, labeled “The Temporally Displaced World” by Naomi Wildman and Seven of Nine, had a rotation speed of 58 times per minute. Consequently, a day on this planet equated to just one second for the Voyager team. The time dilation on the planet was due to its unique core, composed of tachyon particles, which are naturally occurring and travel faster than the speed of light.

As I, the gamer, journeyed through the cosmos in an episode titled “Fully Dilated”, I landed on the fascinating planet of Dilmer III alongside Tendi, Mariner, and T’Lyn. This peculiar planet exhibited time dilation due to its distinctive structure. Although the specific composition of its core wasn’t explicitly revealed, the Lower Deckers hinted at a spacetime differential being generated by it.

Alternate Lives Lived in Moments

On time-dilating planets, the passage of time appears significantly different compared to our own world. In what feels like mere instances for certain lifeforms, they might witness an entire evolutionary process unfold from simple organisms to those with warp capabilities. Alternatively, a lifespan of another species could span the entirety of their planet’s existence on these unique planets.

Episode: “Gravity”

In the movie “Gravity,” Lieutenant Tom Paris, Chief of Security Tuvok, and an artificial lifeform named The Doctor find themselves stranded on a distant planet after their shuttlecraft crash-landed. Their fellow crew members from Voyager believed them to be missing for just a few hours. During their stay on this alien world, they encounter Noss, a native humanoid who has resided there for a considerable period. She takes them under her wing and teaches them the skills needed to survive. Over time, strong bonds form between Paris, Tuvok, and Noss (The Doctor was kept inactive to preserve his holographic emitter). As their days pass, it becomes apparent that Noss has developed feelings for Tuvok, which he, adhering to Vulcan logic and loyalty to his wife on Voyager, chooses not to reciprocate. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that Tuvok also harbors deep affection for Noss.

Upon their successful rescue, Paris and Tuvok found themselves mourning the lives they had cultivated on that distant planet, as well as the unique bonds they had forged with Noss. Moreover, they were the sole ones who could comprehend the span of months they had experienced in the brief instant since their disappearance.

Episode: “Blink of an Eye”

In “Blink of an Eye,” Voyager finds itself trapped in the orbit of a planet for just a few days. However, within those brief days, lifeforms on the planet below undergo several centuries’ worth of evolution. When Voyager initially gets stuck, the inhabitants are still in their prehistoric phase, with signs of worshiping Voyager as a deity. But, in a matter of hours from Voyager’s perspective, an advanced society springs up on the planet below.

By dawn on Voyager, the denizens of their planet have progressed technologically and are venturing into outer space. Their primary goal is to investigate a vessel they’ve now identified – the ship in the sky, Voyager. Regrettably, spatial distortions consistently hinder them from reaching Voyager.

A few days following Voyager’s entry into orbit, a spacecraft from their planet managed to reach Voyager. The representative from the planet shared they possessed advanced tech to navigate spacetime anomalies, and had long nurtured dreams of visiting Voyager across generations. Using this technology, he assisted in helping Voyager break free from their planet’s gravitational pull.

Episode: “Fully Dilated”

When Mariner, Tendi, and T’Lyn discover that an issue on the Cerritos has left them stranded on Dilmer III for potentially long periods, Mariner decides to embrace a life distorted by time dilation. However, as is often the case with Lower Decks, her plan doesn’t quite work out as intended. Yet, she manages to forge some valuable friendships during her two incarcerations. This episode is highly recommended for fans of Lower Decks, offering a wealth of entertainment that remains unspoiled.

2024-12-06 22:08