vulcan star trek powers

Star Trek: Every Vulcan Ability You Need To Know

Star Trek's iconic emotionless aliens have more powers than you'd think.

The Vulcans are perhaps the most beloved aliens in Star Trek. They were the first alien species created by Gene Roddenberry for The Original Series and instantly became a Trek staple.

Vulcan history is incredibly detailed. Following a long history of violence and war that nearly devastated their species, the Vulcans chose to follow the philosopher, Surak, by suppressing all emotion and embracing logic. The followers of Surak engaged in countless rituals and meditations to completely purge themselves of all emotion, as they saw it as the only way to prevent the extinction of the Vulcan race. Some Vulcans rejected Surak's teachings, though most of these detractors eventually left the planet Vulcan and became the Romulan Star Empire.

However, Vulcans are not only renowned for their strict adherence to logic, but also for their many almost supernatural abilities. Vulcans possess a number of unique physical and mental powers, and this list will be counting down and describing all of them.

As always, live long and prosper.

8. Controlling Emotions

As mentioned earlier, when the philosopher, Surak, introduced the Vulcan society to his belief system of logic and emotional suppression, the species saw it as the only way to save the Vulcan people from themselves.

Naturally, Vulcans have much more intense emotions than most humanoid species. Their violent nature combined with their impressive physical and mental abilities led to a great many wars that devastated the planet for generations. So, although Vulcans may seem completely robotic, this is all just a façade that they maintain to avoid allowing their emotions to control them.

Vulcans work their whole lives to eradicate their emotions, though subtle hints of them remain deep in their minds. Without completing the Vulcan ritual known as Kolinahr, which Spock was never able to do, a Vulcan is still capable of emotional outbursts when dealing with extreme stress.

There have, however, been some Vulcans who've embraced their emotions fully, rejecting the Vulcan way of life, such as Spock's half-brother, Sybok.

Marcia Fry is a writer for WhatCulture and an amateur filmmaker.

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There may have been numerous transitions within the Vulcan government which has shifted between the Vulcan High Command to the Confederacy of Vulcan . Part of their territory is known as the Vulcan Colonial Protectorate . ( TOS novel : Spectre )

• 1 Known individuals
• 2.1 Physiology
• 2.2 Lifespan
• 2.3 Medical conditions
• 2.4 Splinter Species
• 4.2 Mythology
• 4.3 Family life
• 4.4 Society
• 4.5 Rituals
• 4.6 Recreational
• 4.7 Holidays
• 4.8 Martial Arts
• 4.9 Artifacts
• 4.11 Beverages
• 4.13 Language
• 5 Technology
• 6.1 Appearances
• 6.2 References
• 6.3 External links

Known individuals [ ]

Biology [ ], physiology [ ].

Originating from a desert world, Vulcans have a number of features evolved for better survival in warm and dry environments. These include inner eyelids to protect their eyes from sand and the ability to go for some time without water . ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) This was a genetic trait that was traced to the early Vulcan ancestors following the scorching of their world and was spread through the use of primitive eugenics allowing the entire species to retain the use of this inner eyelid. ( TOS novel : Spock's World ) The inner eyelid is useful as it allows a Vulcan to withstand blinding flashes of light without any damage to the eye itself. ( TOS novel : Memory Prime , TOS episode : " Operation -- Annihilate! ") Within Vulcans there is a clear inner eyelid (a nictitating membrane) which filters radiation, dust, and other harmful elements that could damage the eye. Although this can be further mutated, under the proper conditions, to closely resemble that of a fish. ( TAS episode : " The Ambergris Element ")

Vulcans tend to be tall with dark hair and all have elongated upper ears that are pointed at the top and slanted eyebrows. Some specimens have pronounced brows. Similar to Humans , Vulcans tend to have a wide range of skin tones, an example being Xialites , and other tropically descended Vulcans, possessing a darker skin complexion. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Dark skinned Vulcans were native of the southern continent of Vulcan . ( ENT short story : " Universal Chord ")

The Vulcan epidermis is unlike any in the known galaxy as it formed a two-way moisture proof shield which protects the body from external liquids and pressure, as well as maintaining the inner temperature and the liquid environment of the organs. A notable difference between Humans and Vulcans is that Vulcans do not possess sweat glands. Instead, they evolved an ability that allows their blood , skin , and body structure to cool itself rather than perspire, which would be inefficient on the race's desert homeworld. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Vulcan blood vessels are more dilated than Humans. The larger blood vessels are the reason Vulcan blood pressure is lower. The dilated blood vessels and fast heart rate also play a key role in regulating Vulcan body temperature. A standard 91°F (32.78° C) body temperature is maintained by the internal cooling mechanism of fast blood circulation. ( ST reference : Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual )

Vulcan blood is copper based, giving Vulcan blood a green color. This makes it extremely effective in separating, as well as utilizing, smaller amounts of oxygen available in the Vulcan homeworld's low pressure and mildly irradiated environment. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Whilst normally green, certain diseases such as Cymbeline blood burn have been known to turn Vulcan blood red, but only in the terminal stages of the disease. ( ENT - The Romulan War novel : Beneath the Raptor's Wing )

Vulcan internal physiology

Though they appear to be similar to Humans (there has been speculation that the Vulcan and Human species perhaps possessed a common ancestor due to similarities), the Vulcan species internal anatomy is far different. Males and females are of similar height as well as stature; averaging 2 meters in height and 70 kilos in weight. Furthermore, their muscle mass is much longer and their skeletal frame is denser compared to Terrans, the direct result of their living on a world with higher gravity and a thinner atmosphere . Due to these traits, the average Vulcan tends to be stronger than a Human. Their bodies are also capable of withstanding greater levels of radiation when compared to Terrans. ( ENT novel : Surak's Soul ) Vulcans possess a perfect bilateral symmetry and do not have an appendix. ( TOS novel : Spock Must Die! )

Vulcan internal organs tend to operate at a much faster rate compared to other comparable species. A Vulcan's pulse is normally considered quite rapid. ( TOS novel : Unspoken Truth ) An average heart rate is as high as 265 beats per minute. The heart itself is another source of distinction between Vulcans and Humans, as its location is the center of the torso, where Humans kept their livers. ( TOS movie : Star Trek Beyond ) It's surrounded by a large lung structure which is capable of holding approximately 20% more air then Human lungs. This has resulted in the Vulcan torso, rib cage, and musculature being significantly longer. This allows it to encompass the organs within, lessening the danger of outside forces causing serious internal injury. ( TOS novel : Dreams of the Raven , TOS episode : " A Private Little War ")

The Vulcan skull is also notably different when compared to other species. The Vulcans possess 28 teeth and lack rear molars. Instead, they possess a longer mandibular movement than other bipedal species. Although the bone structure of the Vulcan skull is thinner, the actual skull casing is formed of extremely dense matter. This allows a thinner depth of bone to be actually harder, as well as stronger, than a human skull. Thus, fatal blows to a Human head are less life threatening to a member of this race. ( TOS episode : " Mirror, Mirror ")

The Vulcan brain

Vulcan neurology is known to be incredibly resilient. ( ENT episode : " Awakening ") One of the least understood areas of the Vulcan body is the brain . The Vulcan midbrain is larger, more complex, and contains more nerve endings and capillaries than those in Human brains. The Vulcan midbrain is comparable with the Betazoid midbrain, which comprises nearly 65% of their entire brain mass, although the Vulcan midbrain only comprises 45% of the brain. It is believed that this portion of their brain gives the Vulcan species their remarkable psionic abilities, though further testing has proved to be inconclusive. Despite this being the case, their race is known to be considerably more adept telepathically when compared to most Humans. ( TOS novel : The Starless World ) The species also has thirty six pairs of nerves attached to their spinal cord which serves as an autonomic and voluntary nervous system. ( TOS novel : First Strike ) Their brains are also noted to not have the same lateralization of function when compared to Humans, where the left side of the brain controls certain functions and right controlls others. Instead, the Vulcan brain has an area controlling speech on each side of the brain, thus providing a level of redundancy (should one part be damaged, than the other could take over). This has also made Vulcans ambidextrous in nature, allowing them to use both hands equally well. ( TOS novel : Mindshadow ) The Vulcan nervous system is noted as being far more resilient when compared to other races, capable of surviving damage that would kill a Human or a Denobulan . ( ENT episode : " Rajiin ") Unlike most humanoid species, traumatic memories were not only psychologically disturbing to Vulcans, but had physical consequences as well. The Vulcan brain, in reordering neural pathways, could literally lobotomize itself. ( VOY episode : " Flashback ") A rare neurological disease that can affect Vulcans over 200 years of age, Bendii Syndrome , strips emotional control by affecting the metathalamus (part of the midbrain), and can also result in telepathic projection of emotion. ( TNG episode : " Sarek ")

They also possess more heightened senses than Humans. Vulcans' sensitive olfactory senses can tolerate human body odors with nasal numbing agents . ( ENT episode : " The Andorian Incident ") Furthermore, their senses are so sharp that a Vulcan can quite easily be capable of determining if another individual is an actual organic Vulcan or a robotic duplicate. ( TOS novel : Memory Prime ) It has been noted that Vulcan eyesight is more acute. They are able to recognize more color frequencies and see more clearly at a distance. There is a downside to this, as Vulcans experience pain and symptoms that are similar to headaches and eyestrain when exposed to highly vibrant colors for long periods of time. Furthermore, the Vulcan optic nerve is much more delicate and sensitive compared to those of Humans, which makes it more vulnerable to disease and degeneration. ( TOS episode : " The Deadly Years ") One of the most obvious distinctive features in Vulcans is the shape and structure of the ear, as the top of their ears' pinna tapers into a point. Though capable of funneling sound and intensifying the reception of harmonics, the internal structure of the eardrum is very different than Humans. It forms no fewer than three separate functioning eardrums. Tests have shown that these eardrums seem to respond to differing volumes and pitch and relay the sound through separate channels to the nerve centers of the brain. Each eardrum is known to work independently and, in the case of Vulcans of old age, it is most often the eardrums that sense low pitch that deteriorate. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans )

The hormonal activity within the Vulcan body can be regulated consciously by trained Vulcans. This allows such individuals to control their adrenaline, thyroid, and other metabolic systems which, in turn, allows them to alter their heart rate, oxygen consumption, and other bodily resources. This training also gives Vulcans amazing recuperative abilities, allowing them to control their bodies to repair internal or structural damage at an accelerated rate while in a self-induced hypnosis. ( TOS episode : " A Private Little War ") Most Vulcans can resist the phermonal emissions of Deltans ( TOS movie : Star Trek: The Motion Picture ), and those of Orions of the opposite sex. ( ENT episode : " Bound ") They are also capable of surviving for long durations without food or sleep. Under stress, Vulcans can do without sleep for weeks. ( TOS episode : " The Paradise Syndrome ", TOS novel : Yesterday's Son ) A possible exception to this control is during the reproductive cycle, Pon farr . Unless the pon farr is satisfied, a Vulcan would die within eight days of the process beginning. ( TOS episode : " Amok Time "; VOY episode : " Blood Fever ")

Different sources provide different information regarding the reproductive cycle of Vulcans and the age at which they reach sexual maturity. Vulcans reach full growth and legal adulthood a number of years before they reach the age of sexual maturity. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) The length of a Vulcan and Earth year is different, meaning that a Vulcan might account for his age either as measured in Earth years or in Vulcan years. It is not always clear which has been used in accounting for a Vulcan's age. The female Vulcan can be impregnated after her menstrual cycle begins, which is typically at the age of 16, and can be as late as 25. The male Vulcan is incapable of creating progeny until after the onset of their first pon farr , during which a hormone known as yamareen is released into the bloodstream. Thereafter, the Vulcan male is capable of reproducing at any time, but they must obey the physical urge to mate every seven years. This, in comparison with the reproductive ability of other species with which they can mate, gives credence to the theory that Humans, Vulcans, and Klingons are from a common ancestor seeded by the Preservers . ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Most Vulcan males experience pon farr for the first time at the age of twenty, and in seven-year cycles following that, but amongst hybrids, their biological differences mean that it can come at more uncertain times. ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Glory ) Vulcans are capable of producing offspring with humans, but some sources say the use of medical intervention is required. A human female needs to receive large doses of hormones and Vulcan vitamins before conception in order to prepare her body for the fetus, which takes 10 months to mature. ( TOS novel : Sarek , ENT episode : " Terra Prime ")

Lifespan [ ]

The Vulcan lifespan is longer than that of humans. Vulcans have been known to live over 200 years, and the Vulcan Zakal lived to the age of 276 - dying just as Surak's teachings began to take hold in Vulcan society. ( TNG episode : " Sarek ", TOS novel : The Lost Years , TOS novel : Epiphany ) At least one Vulcan lived past the age of 277 years. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans )

After reaching adulthood, the aging process of Vulcans slowed a great deal. Vulcans who appeared to be young adults by human standards could actually be as much as two or three times older than their appearance indicated. T'Pol , for example, who appeared by human standards to be in her late twenties or early thirties, was actually in her mid-sixties by the time she was assigned to the Enterprise (NX-01) , quite older than many of her crew members suspected. Lieutenant Commander Tuvok , who appeared by human standards to be in his late thirties or early forties by the mid-24th century, was actually over 100 years old by the time the USS Voyager was pulled into the Delta Quadrant. ( ENT episode : " Fallen Hero " and VOY episode : " Flashback ")

Medical conditions [ ]

Vulcan biology was vulnerable to Trellium as it was a neurotoxin to them which degraded their neural pathways to the point that they were suffering from violent emotions that resulted ultimately in madness. ( ENT episodes : " Impulse ", " Damage ") They had never suffered from a condition such as hyperthyroidism and thus never developed a cure for such a state. ( TOS novel : Legacy ) Vulcans never fainted as such a condition was the result of emotional stimuli though they were capable of being rendered unconscious by virulent disease organisms or intense external exertion. ( TOS novel : Windows on a Lost World )

• Bendii syndrome
• Choriocytosis
• Myrruthesia
• Pa'nar Syndrome
• Skag Maug plague
• Tuvan Syndrome
• Vulcans scourge
• Oroborus virus
• Vulcan bebonea

Splinter Species [ ]

The Vulcans have had the capacity for space travel since at least the 3rd century and have spread throughout local space. At least one Vulcan colony was lost from the Vulcan people: the Last-of-all-Cities colony on Darien 224 , which remained isolated from the galactic community for two millennia. ( EV comic : " Cloak and Dagger ") There were also several other Vulcanite races in the Federation, though it is unclear if these are directly connected to the Vulcans or if they are simply a similar species. ( Balance of Terror novelization) Other Vulcan off-shoots include:

• Vulcanoid Rigelian

There was speculation from Spock that Sargon 's people may have visited his homeworld in the past and perhaps the Vulcan species are an offshoot of theirs. ( TOS episode : " Return to Tomorrow ") It's also possible that the V'gelnians were a another splinter species of Vulcans.

History [ ]

Culture [ ].

Vulcan IDIC seal

Founded by an ancient Vulcan named Surak , the essence of Vulcan society is in arriving at the truth through logical process. Most Vulcans believe that emotions are illogical, thus making them impure, and deterrent to truth. However, Vulcans are born with the same emotions that afflicted their violent ancestors, but the continual mind conditioning, the t'san s'at , gives them the impassivity sought after by all Vulcans. The t'an s'at is an intellectual deconstruction of emotional patterns, a lifelong process that strives for absolute detachment from all emotion. Though not all can arrive at the ultimate pure logical state, the exacting process of mental control gives Vulcans enough to conform to the ideals of Vulcan society. Vulcans of this creed were impervious to greed, deception, anger, and all other vices. ( VOY episode : " Alter Ego ") Ultimately, the Vulcan way was one of enlightenment and expansion of the intellect through the pursuit of logic. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets ) This meant that they tended to control to the point of suppression of all acts of emotions. ( TOS novel : The Galactic Whirlpool ) Vulcans actually felt pleasure from the contemplation of logical processes at work and felt pain from perceiving its subversion though they were ultimately able to control the effects of pleasure or pain on their behavior. ( TOS novel : The Joy Machine )

The majority of Vulcans follow a belief in logic known as Cthia and many aim to achieve a state without emotion known as Kolinahr . ( TOS movie : Star Trek: The Motion Picture ) This philosophy meant that they relied on logic and reason to guide their lives, rather than emotion. All expression of emotions was completely forbidden, negative or otherwise. This did not mean that Vulcans had cast away all emotions they once had; they had merely made a choice not to let those emotions influence the decisions they were making. ( TOS novel : Demons ) This led to the mistaken belief amongst other species that Vulcans had no emotions; they did possess them, but did not permit those emotions to show in public or allow them to control their actions. ( TOS novel : Prime Directive ) Few Vulcans managed to extinguish all their emotions but most had mastered the ability to contain them. This went in line with Vulcan philosophy that their race had adopted which stated that there was no reason why any emotion should have any influence on behavior or cloud the path of logic. ( TNG novel : The Devil's Heart ) Vulcan families were privately proud if any of their number counted a Kolinahr student amongst their ranks. ( TOS novel : Recovery )

Both the Vulcans and the Romulans were known to possess much stronger instincts when compared to Humans. ( TOS novel : The Great Starship Race ) Curiousity was one emotion which Vulcans admitted and even approved. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) In contrast, fear was something that Vulcans believed that they did not experience under their strict beliefs against emotions. ( ENT episode : " Damage ")

Logic was similar to a religion to the Vulcans and as such it was filled with many sects as well as schools of thought each of which had widely differing view points and opinions on nearly every subject matter. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) It must be noted that this stance is not accepted by all Vulcans, however. There are groups of Vulcans referred to as " v'tosh ka'tur ", which means "Vulcans without logic." ( ENT episodes : " Fusion ", " Stigma ") The Romulans were originally a group of Vulcans who chose to split away rather than accept the philosophy of Surak. In addition to this, many Vulcan's can subscribe to the different teachings of other philosophers such as Jarok , Nirak , or T'mor . ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) In the 23rd century , the Vulcans held an interest in using the teachings of Surak to persuade the Romulans to adopt a logical viewpoint as their own so that they would, within the span of a few centuries, manage to throw off their violent, overemotional characteristics. ( TOS novel : Death's Angel )

One Vulcan saying is 'The Vulcan knows there is a time for everything' which is an approximate translation from the Kahr-y-Tan which means the 'Way of the Vulcan'. An aspect of this is the herb gathering ritual which Vulcans engage in which is where they collect necessary herbs in preparation of tea for Vulcan Masters. ( TOS novel : Dwellers in the Crucible ) When they decided to repress their emotions - the Vulcans' drive for ambition and desire to conquer, that were the characteristics of leaders, was expunged as they had seen the result of these traits that nearly brought devastation to their world and people. ( TOS novel : From the Depths ) Vulcan scientists had determined that there were hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions of sentient races in the galaxy that were victims of war, hatred and bigotry. Thus, their teachings made them believe that the greatest good they were capable of accomplishing was serving as instruments of logic and teach such races that there was a way outside violence as was discovered by the Vulcan forebears in their discovery of the control of emotion as well as the use of logic. ( TOS novel : Crisis on Vulcan )

Something of noted importance within Vulcan society was the discovery of the Kir'Shara by Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander T'Pol which brought at end of the rule of the Vulcan High Command . This also sparked a rapid change within Vulcan society which moved from a government that would engage in spying, battles and a more active part in the galaxy to one of more peaceful and almost isolationist tendencies. The discovery of the Kir'Shara presumably led to many years of study which the Vulcans concentrated on rather than follow the behavior they had previously. ( ENT episodes : " The Forge ", " Awakening ", " Kir'Shara ")

Vulcans did not distinguish moral factors from practical ones. In addition, they were notable for not making use of animal life. The reason for doing so was because they felt no great virtue in that necessity. As they began to master their own aggressive tendencies, they began to notice both the pain as well as rage and suffering that they had inflicted on their animals by influencing them through psychic feelings. These in turn reinfected the Vulcans, leading to a neverending cycle of emotions which the Vulcans in later years avoided. ( TOS novel : The Prometheus Design )

Mythology [ ]

In Vulcan's ancient times, there existed a number of gods and goddesses with dual aspects among them that stemmed from their emotions which was known as the Inner Chorus . The first was Tel-alep known as "the Watcher" who was the bearer of knowledge. His alternate counterpart was Alep-tel "the Bitter" who was eager to give knowledge but this was poisoned due to his bitterness. Another deity was Kir-alep who was the god of peace whilst his wrathful counterpart was Alep-kir "the Sullen" who was a source of apathy to Vulcans. Valdena , a Vulcan goddess, was the representation of love, joy and beauty while Dena-vel was her counterpart who sought to hide all the beauty of the world that she loves. Kal-ap-ton was the most dangerous of the gods as he was the representation of grief. A closer counterpart linked to Kal-ap-ton was Tyr-al-tep "the Unforgiver" who made Vulcans feel guilt over what might have happened had the death not occured of a loved one. One of the most dangerous and dark voices amongst the gods was Ket-Cheleb "the Destroyer" who signified anger and was the only one that lacked a counterpart with it being said that he killed his dual aspect ages ago. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans )

Among this pantheon of gods the ancient myths spoke of twin god brothers that were different from one another yet always united and together rose their mother, the sun, into the sky. The names of these god brothers would be adopted by the early Romulans for their homeworlds. ( TOS - Vulcan's Soul novels : Exodus , Exiles ) Other gods believed to exist included the gods of peace, death and war which were depicted on the Stone of Gol . ( TNG episode : " Gambit, Part II ") In addition, there was the warrior goddess T'Vet who was still worshiped amongst some circles on modern Vulcan. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) There were a number of other deities within this pantheon which included the goddess Reah who held sway over death and bereavement. There was also a male war god known as Khosarr who had a consort called Akraana . In addition, there was a red fertility goddess who was known as Lia . ( TOS novel : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Early Vulcans believed in a wide range of myths that spread across the surface of their homeworld before the age of Surak. Such beliefs include the Treasury of Erebus that spoke of an ice demon living within the snow at the peak of Mount Seleya . Another myth spoke of the Eater of Souls which would devour the souls of travelers lost in the deserts of Vulcan. While other myths spoke of a deadly creature known as the Veruul that lived within the heart of the Fire Plains of Raal within Vulcan's Forge . Furthermore, in the heart of the Womb of Fire was stated to lie Vorta Vor . ( TOS - Vulcan's Soul novels : Exodus , Exiles )

Vulcan mythology believed in a place known as Sha Ka Ree which was the Vulcan view of Eden . ( TOS movie : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ) According to some of the oldest myths of the Vulcan race, that at the end of the universe all of existence was going to be consumed by fire. ( TOS - Vulcan's Soul novel : Exiles ) Though the practice of worshipping gods had long ended with the introduction of Surak's logic, there were traditionalist cults that maintained the practice of belief in these deities those these groups had little interaction with later era Vulcans. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans )

Similar to Earth mythologies, Vulcans never intruded on the realm of the gods without reason which was usually due to an important task that mortals were required to accomplish that the deities themselves were unable to conduct themselves. ( TOS novel : The Wounded Sky )

Some Vulcans combined the philosophy of Surak with older religious traditions. T'Pel , wife of Tuvok , asked the priests at the Temple of Amonak to offer prayers for his safe return. ( VOY episode : " Hunters ") Tuvok prayed that Mr. Suder might find peace in death that eluded him in life. ( VOY episode : " Basics, Part II ")

Family life [ ]

Family was noted as an important aspect of Vulcan society with loyalties overruling even planetary law. This was partly due to the fact that Vulcan itself was governed by an oligarchy composed of several prominent families. Vulcan families were extremely disciplined and very close knit. ( TOS novel : Yesterday's Son ) Vulcans were noted for their more complex family relationships compared to Humans. Such family units consisted of the Eldest of House with normally a matriarch in charge of the affairs of the House . ( TOS novel : Sarek ) The social traditions of a family were considered quite rigid in the sense that children had great expectations which were difficult to integrate with personal ambitions or needs. The family ultimately determined most life choices or attempted to influence them such as career and even marriage. The latter was a notable aspect as it was expected the family lines were to be preserved through succession and tradition be upheld. ( TOS novel : Yesterday's Son ) Traditionally, a male Vulcan was not present at the time when their mate was delivering their child during the pregnancy. ( TOS novel : Star Trek (2009) ) Children when they were born were not given a name until their Naming Day . ( TOS novel : Sarek ) Similar to the ceremonies surrounding marriage and burial, the Vulcan rituals that concerned birth had remained intact over the millenia with event he logic of Surak failing to strip the Vulcan race of their dark and ancient rites. ( TOS novel : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Newborn children til the age of four were known to take part in visual mathematics, basical calculation as well as beginning the neurological organization of their brains which was followed by an identity meld. By the time they were four, they began mathematics and species identification as well as began to coordinate the use of their physical bodies. Furthermore, algebra, geometry and physics dominated their study life at this time. ( TOS - Fortunes of War novel : Battlestations! )

Typically, as part of Vulcan custom, children are betrothed at around seven Earth years of age when they undergo a Bonding ceremony which telepathically links the two. As a result the two Vulcans would seek one another during their pon farr cycle. ( TOS novel : Sarek ) This practice had been in place for thousands of generations. ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Glory ) This was a parental arrangement which dated to ancient times as it served as a method of preventing wars and strengthening ties between neighbors whose ancestral lands adjoined. ( TOS novel : Dwellers in the Crucible )

When they were eight, children began preliminary telepathic communication and were taught etiquette as well as their clans history along with Vulcan anthropology, calculus and quantum physics. When the child was ten, they learn to suppress cortical stimuli in the dominant hemisphere as well as learn of their races cultural history and began a study of Vulcan rites of passage. By the time they were eleven, they learn of the pressure points needed for mind melding in addition to learning memory accuracy and internal time counting. Furthermore, they were introduced to logic and definition, the principles of analysis, concreteness of thought and physical deportment. These early years of study were expected to continue til the child was between the age of thirteen to fifteen after which their formal training began. ( TOS - Fortunes of War novel : Battlestations! )

As children, Vulcans did not make use of secret languages though there were codes, gestures and intonation that were constantly changing. ( TOS novel : World Without End ) During their early education, Vulcan children took part in a curriculum where they learnt the most rudimentary telesper skills to better control their innate telepathic abilities. ( TOS novel : Unspoken Truth )

When formal training began, the first rite conducted was Tal T'Lee where they were assisted in their meditation by an adept of their clan council. They learn to control their subdominant cortices which was followed by Dwemish Hi-An where identity isolation was learnt along with brain control with numbers systems and equations. They also learn multiplication left to right whereupon they took part in Enok-Kal Fi Lar which was the processes of definition and the concepts of given. Once this was complete, the child took part in An-Prele between the age of sixteen to nineteen where they learn pain control meditation from a clan council adept. They were also expected to read Essays of Discipline and Analysis of Pseudodoxy as well as was expected to learn to segregate the lobes of their brains. ( TOS - Fortunes of War novel : Battlestations! )

As the child grew older, one of their rights of passage was the Kahs-wan maturity test which was a survival ritual that dated before the time of Surak. Those who survived took their first step into adulthood. ( TOS novel : Exodus )

At the age of twenty to twenty four, the Vulcan was expected to learn of logical paradigms and behavioral modification through the The Runes of T'Vish . They also learn multiplication right to left, diagonal and cross multiplication as well as learn to isolate their katra. This continued til the age of twenty five to twenty nine where the Sele-An-T'Lee was conducted which comprised of lessons in subdominant brain organization, advanced philosophy and logic, muscle coordination and the control of will. Part of this also included learning the five steps which were the belief discipline, reality awareness, sensory acuteness, visual calculation and fact analysis. There were further readings expected which included Logic and Definition , Equations , Systems of Logic , The Interior and Purpose as Prime Motivator . There were also taught advanced mind meld techniques as part of their training.

By the time the Vulcan was thirty to thirty five, they were expected to had conducted the Norn-La-Hal which involved superior control meditation and neurological organization. Furthermore, importance was placed on the dignity and tradition in Vulcan identity as well as the contemplations of infinity. The final stage of this training involved Venlinahr which was the state most adult Vulcans had attained and involved meditation by individual discretion. There was also further study of Vulcan dharma as well as advanced readings on the mystagogues of Surak, Scorus, T'Enne, T'Vish, Prisu and Seltar. ( TOS - Fortunes of War novel : Battlestations! )

Vulcans youths were not allowed to guide the conversations of their elders, this was especially the case if the child in question was not past the age of the Ka nifoor . ( TOS novel : Corona ) From a young age, Vulcans were geared towards the suppression of feelings of emotions and divest themselves from such traits. ( FASA RPG module : The Federation ) By the time a Vulcan was an adult, they had learnt a set of mind rules which governed their telepathic abilities as well as the necessary skills needed to shield their thoughts from outside emotions. ( TOS novel : Mindshadow )

It was generally believed that the Vulcans did not possess any emotions though such a line of thought was false as they in fact hold the capacity to not only understand but deal with emotions. However, they had chosen not to do so and instead worked for the suppression of such feelings. ( FASA RPG module : The Federation ) As such, they were perfectly capable of experiencing emotions but chose not to express them. ( TOS novel : Memory Prime ) Though ultimately logical creatures, it took many years of practice and training for young Vulcans who do demonstrate emotions at first before beginning the long process that was made by Surak centuries ago. To accomplish this, Vulcan parents used learning tools and techniques to train their children in the primary concepts of logic, and to gain control over their emotions. Eventually, through these processes young children began to learn emotional control. ( VOY episode : " Human Error ", TNG novel : Metamorphosis ) As part of their belief in honesty, Vulcan parents were known not to shield the truth from their young as they believed it would hinder their development in coping with such difficulties. Furthermore, a parent's attachment to the child was not considered an emotion but rather as part of the parent's identity and without the child, the parent would not be complete. ( VOY episode : " Innocence ")

Vulcans preferred not to dance with another man's wife which was attributed to their customs which stated that it was not appropriate for a man to have in his arms a woman that was not his. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) During the marital arrangements, it was possible for the male to pay a bride price to his future wife. These dowries were not paid by a bride's family on Vulcan but by the husband when he was seem to be fortunate enough to gain a life partner. At the time of the formal announcement of marriage, the husband paid a monthly sum to the bride's family until the wedding took place. This money was used to provide the future wife's needs until the husband officially took on his marital responsibilities. This was the case even if the woman was wealth or had a career of her own or even both. This meant that the bride price also varied and was determined by the husband's wealth with the more wealthy having to contribute more money to their future wife.( TOS novel : Vulcan's Glory ) In addition, there were strict teachings that spoke against desecrating the dead. ( TOS novel : Mind Meld )

Matters regarding the Vulcan mating practices were typically not discussed with outworlders. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets ) They also believed that close family exchanges should be kept private. ( TOS novel : Crisis on Vulcan )

Vulcans were known to recognize the need to grieve though kept such affairs private. ( TOS novel : Ex Machina ) Thus, they mourned the death of friends and kin though they were aware of the danger of abdicating complete control to loss as it was frequently difficult to regain their former composure. ( TOS novel : From the Depths ) The tenets of their philosophy provided guidance on facing personal loss with equanimity and the use of logic to maintain emotional control as well as a state of quietude. Some believed that the lives of the dead were capable of being mourned only if those lives had been wasted. ( TOS novel : The Fire and the Rose ) It was considered an important matter to Vulcan families to recover the body of a deceased member. ( TOS novel : Bloodthirst ) In addition, whenever the partner in a bonding died, the family linked mentally in order to provide support until the surviving partner managed to adjust from the loss. ( TOS novel : Time for Yesterday ) Vulcan custom held that, whenever possible, the immediate family of the deceased walked from the site of the burial back to their home. ( TOS novel : The Fire and the Rose )

Society [ ]

Surak's teachings were the most important philosophical essays in Vulcan history, detailing the use of logic and reason in order to control warring emotions and destructive tendencies. In the beginning, Vulcans used their emotions as a tool, preferring to apply logic to justify their actions rather than use logic to guide their actions. As the race evolved and the teachings of Surak spread, however, the use of various techniques to banish and suppress emotion became more prevalent and Vulcan psychology blossomed. The understanding of one's mind and mental processes as well as one's emotional reactions became a necessity, and psychology was applied not only to one's own actions but also to understanding the actions of others. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Their beliefs also led them to hold that all life was precious as it could never be returned or replaced. This meant that they never considered an act that would lead to the death of an individual - not even their enemies. ( TOS novel : Yesterday's Son )

The foremost psychologists on Vulcan belonged to the religious orders that guided Vulcan society. Surak's school, the largest and most popular sect of Vulcan beliefs, advocated the study and understanding of emotional desires, so that the student could suppress and control them. Constant study of this process, as well as assisting others in achieving mastery of psionics through control of emotion, had caused the devotees of this doctrine to become experts on the workings and common psychological traumas of Vulcan minds. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Vulcan reasoning meant that they did not have "hunches" but rather used subliminal clues to add up to a high order of probability. ( TOS novel : Ishmael ) They also preferred to train their minds rather than artificially enhance it. ( TOS novel : The Starship Trap )

The school of Surak had many techniques which opened the mind of a student, perceiving where the student's difficulties and strongest emotions lie and adjusted the mind's processes so that the student can more completely face the emotion and learn to control it. Thus, they were experienced in abnormal psychology as well as the common workings of the Vulcan minds. When a Vulcan was unable to control his emotions, his family or colleagues often summoned a devotee of Surak to deal with him. When a Vulcan willingly gives in to his emotions, it was one goal of those who followed the doctrines of Surak to help him resolve his problems and rejoin society. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans )

One of the most contemplated teachings of Surak was his admonition that one should study reason above all else. He taught that a Vulcan should learn to discern reality both as it seemed to be and as it truly was. This dissection of truth from illusion had spurred Vulcans into intense study of science and mathematics, helping them dissect many of the most complex workings in the universe into logical steps. Patience, temperance and logical observation (truthfulness to the world) were three of the greatest virtues of Vulcan culture and all have great application to scientific reasoning. Vulcans believed that their adherence to this doctrine made them the foremost scientists in the Federation. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) An old precept among their kind stated that "the time required to solve a problem is inversely proportional to the amount of knowledge brought to bear on the subject" . This essentially meant that the more scientists capable of reviewing the data, the greater the chance was that someone would find the solution to the problem. ( TOS novel : Windows on a Lost World )

Further, the application of these virtues, combined with intense meditation, had given Vulcans great control over their native psionic abilities. They remained unable, however, to control that most famous biological trigger of Vulcan mental abilities such as the pon farr. ( Last Unicorn RPG module : The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans ) Most Vulcans learn numerous mental techniques that had been first developed by Surak but over the centuries had been improved upon by generations of philosophers and healers. During times of stress or those that led to agitation, a Vulcan was capable of calming themselves through the use of a meditation formula. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) They maintained a great many techniques in the arts of meditation which they regularly employed. This ranged from simple basic defensive meditation capable of blocking the telepathic intrusions of highly trained telepaths such as Betazoids to complete meditation where there was a cessation of all thought. Such techniques were even used in the early period of interstellar travel when Vulcans entered into a deep extended meditation during intergalactic voyages that lasted for decades under sub-light travel where Vulcan explorers travelled between the stars. Furthermore, it was well noted that torture had little effect on Vulcans. ( TOS novel : Captain's Blood )

It was known that incense was a means used by Vulcans to better facilitate meditation. In addition, they often made use of special mandalas engraved with Vulcan glyphs that were used to focus as well as help quiet their minds and emotions thus removing any barriers or distractions that might prevent them from concentrating on the reception along with the application of logic. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets ) Meditation was a particularly useful technique when they were confronted with a problem that defied casual analysis. ( TOS novel : Legacy ) Masochism did not exist within Vulcan society. ( TOS novel : Star Trek (2009) ) Those that took part in the kolinahr ritual also learnt of calming techniques in order to center themselves during times of emotional turmoil. Concentration was an art that the Vulcans had learnt early though doing so without any results was taxing. ( TOS novel : Avenger )

Among the Vulcan disciplines taught included the simple technique of handling pain where the individual accepted the pain till it became a part of them whereupon it simply vanished. ( TOS novel : The Wounded Sky ) Vulcans did not believe in using medicines to cure minor afflictions and instead their science taught them to use their own bodies to create medicines to combat any such issues. This was the reason for the use of neuropressure in treating problems such as difficulty in sleeping. ( ENT episode : " The Xindi ")

Vulcans are noted for their patience and believe it is a necessity among their species while it was a virtue among Humans. ( TOS novel : Sarek ) One of the most famous qualities among the Vulcan people was their high degree of honesty. This was to such an extent that many Vulcan's were highly reluctant to tell a lie which led to the saying that "Vulcans cannot lie" ( TOS episode : " The Enterprise Incident ") Despite this, it was known that, under logical reasons of course, that they were capable of accomplishing such a task or make an omission. No Vulcan admitted such a dishonesty and considered it an act of "lying" . ( TOS movies : The Wrath of Khan , The Undiscovered Country ) A saying on Vulcan included "It is not a lie to keep the truth to oneself." ( TOS novel : Burning Dreams ) They had an old custom ridden culture with a complex social structure involved in its makeup. ( TOS novel : Yesterday's Son ) Greed was a particularly rare concept amongst Vulcans to the point that it was unheard of within their society. ( TOS novel : Legacy )

Their society had no property authority for investigating violent crimes since they rarely occurred. Vulcan belief held that those who had the ability to commit murder had a form of mental illness. Whilst they were capable of killing in cases of defense or racial survival; to actually murder for personal gain was not considered logical. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) These traits meant many believed that Vulcan society was devoid of criminal elements or terrorists though what was not known to many that such activities were known to had happened in the past. A total of at three hundred and twelve Vulcans were known to had committed terrorist acts in the past millennium by the time of the 24th century . Whilst terrorist acts on Vulcans were rare, they were generally limited to expressions of extreme political theory and also sporadic attempts at returning to the violent philosophies that ruled the Vulcan home world before the days of Surak. The number of such organizations included the Adepts of T'Pel , the Kahrilites , the Followers of the Cupric Band , the Binaries , the Traxton Compound , the Central Source and the Symmetrists . ( TOS novel : Avenger )

Individual Vulcan towns held their own regional justice committee who were responsible for detention of criminals, holding trials and giving permission for mind melds. ( TOS novel : Crisis on Vulcan ) In terms of murder, an ancient Vulcan tradition stated "Suffer the death of thine enemy" as the race were touch telepaths and the death of another often meant that the murderer had to accept their pain. As such, even in pre-Reform times, the Vulcans were selective about who they murdered as they had to decide whether it was worth experiencing the pain of their victim. ( TNG novel : Metamorphosis ) The Vulcan legal system was known to had developed to the point that it was considered both precise and elegant. ( TOS novel : Rules of Engagement )

Nutrition was seen as a perfectly logical activity though the Vulcans did not take any lunch. ( TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders ) They were quite capable of going for long periods without food allowing them to fast for an extended time. ( TOS novel : Spock Must Die! ) Furthermore, tradition was an important aspect of their society which was partly attributed to their capacity to perform mind melds that allowed for memories to pass across the generations. ( TOS novel : Captain's Glory ) This meant that century long memories were passed down family lines through mind melds leading to the creation of a "secret heart" within the Vulcan mind where they remembered the horrors and atrocities of their "pre-history" . This also meant that there were a great many secrets were secretly kept from outsiders due to the respect for their traditions. ( TOS novel : Memory Prime ) Furthermore, Vulcan tradition held that its members be personally able attend to the affairs of any land or property that had in their possession. ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Glory ) In addition, Vulcans were taught to not acquire many personal belongings as such an act was not deemed logical. ( ENT - The Romulan War novel : Beneath the Raptor's Wing )

After achieving their belief in logic, the Vulcan people estimated that other races had developed a similar "enlightenment" as well as the belief of peaceful exploration upon achieving warp travel but this was eventually proven wrong. To compensate with more 'emotional' races, they developed a complex behavioral algorithm that would allow them to model as well as predict another beings emotional response that would be calculated mentally. It was created as a form of self survival. The equations were very difficult to master but the Vulcan people had developed a wide variety in order to compensate for any situation. ( DS9 novel : The War of the Prophets ) To Vulcans, it was considered a breach of privacy to have their names called out loud in public. ( TOS novel : The Motion Picture ) Furthermore, Vulcans never carried weapons in public unless it was during the Kal-if-fee. ( TOS novel : The Abode of Life )

Due to their telepathic nature, the Vulcans had a number of mind rules in place over the governance and use of these powers. ( TOS novel : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ) As they were touch telepaths, they preferred not to have physical contact during greetings such as when two people shook hands as Vulcans had an unpleasant mental intrusion from the brief contact. This did not mean that they avoided shaking hands but they did so only when they had to. ( TOS novel : Recovery ) Early training was designed to strengthen personal barriers and erect mental shields designed to prevent constant intrusion. In fact, on Vulcan it was considered a heinous crime for forcing a mind meld which was considered an unforgivable invasion of spirit. ( TOS novel : Yesterday's Son ) Students of the Vulcan mind-touch techniques were intimately familiar with the intricacies of telepathic communication. ( TOS novel : The Starless World ) One such technique allowed its adept to take the pain of another beings and drew strength from it. This ancient discipline was forbidden in modern Vulcan society as it was misused by many who sought to impose their will upon others allowing them to brainwash individuals to become loyal servants. ( TOS novel : Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

An ancient Vulcan custom was the offering of fire and water to guests allowing them to stay in a Vulcan home. ( Vulcan's Soul novel : Exodus ) Another involved casual contact which meant that others were not allowed to touch a Vulcan's body. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets ) This was partly attributed to their species being touch telepaths and any physical touch meant that the Vulcan in question was forced to peer into the mind of the other individual. ( TOS novel : Memory Prime ) Within their society, the Vulcan government was known to reward those individuals with advancement on meritocratic principles. ( ENT episode : " Awakening ") In addition, ninety eight percent of Vulcans had all held some form of public office by the time they were two hundred years of age. ( TOS novel : Spock's World ) There was a general belief that the Vulcan lifespan meant that they tended to fixate on their careers and stick to them during their long lifespans which led some to belief that their society suffered from some form of stagnation. ( ENT - The Romulan War novel : Beneath the Raptor's Wing ) Whilst they typically lived in large settlements, there were several isolationist villages scattered around their homeworld who shunned contact with the rest of their society with the closest human analogy being to that of the Amish communities. ( VAN novel : Open Secrets )

One saying attributed to the Vulcans was "When all rational solutions refuse to fit the available facts, then we seek an irrational solution that does." . ( TOS novel : The Starless World ) They also held a similar saying as the Human phrase "Speak of the devil and he will appear" . Though this was not superstition but simple observation on their part. ( TOS novel : World Without End )

Rituals [ ]

• Fal-tor-pan
• Koon-ut-so'lik
• Koon-ut-kal-if-fee
• Fal-tor-voh
• Rite of Tal'oth
• T'Ved-Surak ritual

Recreational [ ]

Poker was known to be extremely popular amongst Vulcans as it was a game of sublime logic and not of blind chance. Due to their logical nature and ability to calculate odds swiftly in their minds, Vulcans were known to possess the perfect poker face. ( TOS novel : Devil World ) Vulcans generally tended to be self conscious dancers though in relation to other arts, their fixation on logic did not preclude their appreciation of beauty. ( TOS novel : The Starship Trap )

Holidays [ ]

Martial arts [ ].

• Kareel-ifla
• Ke-tarya-yatar
• Taroon-ifla

Artifacts [ ]

• Stone of Gol
• Stone of J'Kah
• Katric ark (also known as a Vre'katra or Urn of Memory )

adronn feltara • anwoa sprout • b'lltarr • bertakk soup • c'torr • farr-kahli • filrak • forati sauce • gespar • iced fruit • ihntya • kahri-torrafeiaca • kalafruit • kleetanta • kreyla • lirs • L-Lersa • mia-zed • m'lu • n'gaan • plomeek • plomeek broth • plomeek soup • saffir • soltar • t'coraca • t'miirq soup • t'mirak rice • tolik fruit • tono'pak soup • ulan soup • vranto salad • wafer fruit

Beverages [ ]

• Vulcan brandy
• Vulcan port
• Vulcan Bill of Rights

Language [ ]

Technology [ ].

Vulcans are known to be an advanced spacefaring people that were exploring the stars long before humanity was capable of doing so, as early as the 3rd century . Early Vulcans were a violent people and much of their advanced technology was seemingly lost in the nuclear wars shortly before the reformation of the Vulcan people led by Surak in the Time of Awakening . ( EV comic : " Cloak and Dagger "; ENT episode : " Awakening ")

Technology from this period included psionic devices such as Katric arks and psionic weapons including the Stone of Gol , Tol par-doj and Vorl-tak . Psionic weapons were banned on Vulcan following the reformation, but survived in the lost colony of the last-of-all-Cities . ( EV comic : " Cloak and Dagger "; ENT episodes : " Awakening ", " Kir'Shara "; TNG episode : " Gambit ")

Even in the era of the Federation, the Vulcans contributed greatly in the fields of science. Sunok of Vulcan was responsible for the further refinement of transporter technology, making it virtually impossible for the machinery to malfunction, whilst many of Starfleet's starship design refinements came from advances in Vulcan science. ( TOS novel : Crisis on Vulcan )

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• DS9 episode : " Emissary "
• DS9 episode : " The Nagus "
• DS9 episode : " Vortex "
• DS9 episode : " The Forsaken "
• DS9 episode : " The Maquis, Part I "
• DS9 episode : " The Maquis, Part II "
• DS9 episode : " Crossover "
• DS9 episode : " Through the Looking Glass "
• DS9 episode : " Shakaar "
• DS9 episode : " The Visitor "
• DS9 episode : " Homefront "
• DS9 episode : " Bar Association "
• DS9 episode : " Rules of Engagement "
• DS9 episode : " Shattered Mirror "
• DS9 episode : " For the Cause "
• DS9 episode : " Broken Link "
• DS9 episode : " Trials and Tribble-ations "
• DS9 episode : " Rapture "
• DS9 episode : " Behind the Lines "
• DS9 episode : " Favor the Bold "
• DS9 episode : " Valiant "
• DS9 episode : " Image in the Sand "
• DS9 episode : " Afterimage "
• DS9 episode : " Take Me Out to the Holosuite "
• DS9 episode : " Prodigal Daughter "
• DS9 episode : " The Emperor's New Cloak "
• DS9 episode : " Field of Fire "
• DS9 novel : The Big Game
• DS9 novel : Devil in the Sky
• DS9 novel : The Soul Key
• PIC episode : " Firewall "

References [ ]

• ↑ FASA RPG module : The Federation

External links [ ]

• Vulcan article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 The Chase
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Preserver (race)

My Mind To Your Mind: Vulcan Katras Explained

When "Star Trek" first debuted in 1966, the standout character was very much Spock (Leonard Nimoy) the half-human, half-Vulcan science officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Spock, for the uninitiated, devoted himself to the expulsion of emotion from his being, relying on only logic and scientific proof to traverse the show's weekly conundra. Over the course of various "Star Trek" shows and movies, the specific abilities and beliefs of Vulcans were revealed: Vulcans are incredibly long-lived. Vulcans have green blood. Vulcans are much stronger than humans. Vulcans are trained to, in a pinch (heh), tightly squeeze a nerve on the humanoid neck to render them unconscious. Vulcans are typically vegetarians. Vulcans go through a seven-year mating cycle called pon farr, wherein they become uncontrollably horny for a few days. 

Most fascinating — to use a Spock word — is the Vulcans' ability to meld minds with others. Vulcans have been described as "touch telepaths," and have the gentle psychic ability to place their hands on a willing recipient's face and merge their consciousnesses, allowing each to briefly live inside one another's minds. 

Psychic abilities have been common in "Star Trek" since the start; the pilot episode " Where No Man Has Gone Before " revealed that Starfleet officers, regardless of species, are given a psychic-powers test upon enrollment, and many come up with positive numbers (the Sally Kellerman character is a human who could intuit minds). In the world of "Star Trek," then, consciousness is something widely accepted as existing outside of the brain. And, we learn, it can be shunted into a waiting recipient.

This is an important plot point in this week's episode of " Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " which hearkens back to " Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ."

The Vulcan katra in 'Star Trek III'

Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984) picks up immediately after the events of " Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ." A damaged U.S.S. Enterprise returns to a Starbase for repair, with Spock having died during the previous film's climax. Curiously, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) begins behaving quite oddly, speaking in Spock's voice, taking on some of his personality traits (this is played for laughs; Spock and McCoy were famously rivals), and trying to book a surreptitious flight back to where Spock's body landed. Spock's father, Sarek (Mark Lenard) suspects something is amiss and performs a mind meld on Kirk (William Shatner) only to find that he is not carrying his son's "katra." Kirk is unfamiliar with the term, and Sarek explains that it — more or less — is the measurable, palpable version of the soul. Kirk, upon watching a scene from "Star Trek II" (he conveniently has the previous film at hand), finds that Spock mind-melded with McCoy shortly before his death. Spock's katra, his consciousness, is now in McCoy's brain.

Spock's consciousness can indeed be reunited with his body and, thanks to the effects of "Star Trek II"'s Genesis wave, a new Spock body may soon be handy (the wave creates life, and grows a living Spock body without a mind). "Star Trek III" is about how Kirk and the Enterprise crew have to steal their ship (!) and perform a ritual on Vulcan that would reunite mind and body. What they lose in order to do so is immeasurable. "Star Trek III" has a great bummer ending.

Surak's katra

In "Star Trek" chronology , the first instance of humanity encountering a katra was in a three-part episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" called "The Forge," "Awakening," and "Kir'Shara" (aired on November 19 through December 3rd, 2004). These episodes took place at a time in Trek history when Vulcan mind melds were illegal, and those with the ability are seen as outcasts. It's a clear metaphor for queerness and the bigotry directed against it. There is an additional metaphor for Reagan's treatment of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s with the introduction of Pa'Nar Syndrome — a mind-meld-caused illness — and the Vulcan High Command's unwillingness to address or treat it. 

In the three-parter, Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) encountered a Vulcan dissident named Syrran (Michael Nouri) who was carrying the katra of Surak, an ancient Vulcan Messiah. Jonathan Archer agreed to carry the katra of Surak in his brain for four days while the Enterprise made their way to another Vulcan priest to whom it could be transferred again. It was the events of these episodes that, it was implied, would lead to more cavalier attitudes about mind melds in "Star Trek" moving forward.

Spock's katra in Burham's brain

" Star Trek: Discovery " has notoriously played fast and loose with "Star Trek" canon, rewriting rules, shifting technologies (person-to-person holograms were on the U.S.S. Discovery, but still not perfected a century later on "Deep Space Nine"?), and introducing new, dramatic backstories to characters previously established. The character of Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), the protagonist of "Discovery" was, in fact, a never-mentioned-before sister of Spock (now played by Ethan Peck) who was raised on Vulcan under Vulcan logical doctrines. Early in "Discovery" — the second episode "The Battle at the Binary Stars" from September 24, 2017 — she reveals that, as a child, she had nearly died and Spock, acting fast, inserted a mere portion of his katra into her brain, saving her life. 

Like most things in "Discovery," the full implications of this are never really explored, other than to say that Burnham and Spock are especially close in an abstract sort of way. It hasn't been brought up since the second episode either, and that version of Spock has since twisted off to become a central character in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Conveniently, a massive, season-end plot twist required any and all mention of the U.S.S. Discovery to be stricken from Starfleet history, and saw the ship thrown nearly a millennium into the future, allowing all of the show's reckless handling of canon to essentially be undone. 

'Return to Tomorrow'

The first mention of a Vulcan katra to have aired on TV is probably in the original series episode "Return to Tomorrow" (February 9, 1968). In that episode, a trio of noncorporeal entities named Thalassa, Sargon, and Henoch, attempt to take over the bodies of Kirk and company. The three of them have a centuries-old beef, leading, naturally, to intrigue. Fascinatingly, the Enterprise crew suggests the invasive alien consciousnesses be shunted into android bodies. By the end of the episode, it looks as if Spock has been murdered — the machine said to contain his consciousness is smashed — but, cleverly, Spock was able to shunt his own mind over into the brain of Nurse Chapel ( Majel Barrett ). 

The word "katra" is not used in "Return to Tomorrow" to the author's recollection, but it certainly set a precedent for Vulcan minds in the future. One can, with a small amount of effort, store your brain in the body of another. There has not been an episode to date about an ancient Vulcan who has malevolently elected to remain alive for millennia by usurping host bodies, although "Star Trek" continues, and such a story could conceivably be written. 

'Spock Amok'

In this week's episode of " Strange New Worlds ," the katra returns, but this time to comedic effect. Spock and his intended T'Pring (Gia Sandhu) have gathered in private for a bout of Vulcan intimacy when a psychic mishap has the two of them accidentally inhabiting one another's bodies. There's a definite comfort about "Star Trek" returning to an episode-by-episode structure — as "Strange New Worlds" has eschewed longer arcs for single episodes — as now there can be "funny ones" again. Spock, the ultimate straight man, has to attend to T'Pring's meetings in her body, while T'Pring must attend diplomatic meetings with little experience in the process. It's a wonderful acting showcase episode, and elicits plenty of titters. 

Given that the shunting of Vulcan katras has now been the set piece of one Trek feature film, has been used as a clever/cheap circumvention of danger more than once, and has now been used as comedic screenwriting fodder, perhaps the conceit will remain a mere background detail. The easy swapping of bodies can too easily fall into the realm of contrivance, and make for a lack of drama (the same way transporters can be used to cure any disease or restore a person to an earlier version of themselves, potentially allowing them to live forever). "Strange New Worlds" not only poked fun at the idea, but also indicated that katra swapping can occur too easily, and that katras should, perhaps, not be monkeyed with. 

Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Vulcans

The Vulcans are iconic figures of the Star Trek franchise, but there are still facts that many people don't know about them.

Star Trek has over two hundred different alien species , and yet none is as iconic and representative of the franchise as the logical and peaceful Vulcans. The race originated with the character of Spock in The Original Series and has remained an intrinsic part of the sci-fi series, nearly sixty years since their debut.

RELATED: Star Trek: 10 Best Vulcan Characters, Ranked

While they've maintained their severe bowl cuts and unswept eyebrows over the years, the Vulcans have continued to evolve with Star Trek , providing fans with more information about one of Humanity's biggest allies.

10 They're Founding Members Of The United Federation Of Planets

As depicted in the 1996 film, First Contact , the Vulcans first revealed themselves in 2063 after detecting scientist Zefram Cochrane's first warp-capable vessel , Phoenix. They'd scouted the Sol System for other warp-capable beings for over a hundred years before finally approaching Humans with peaceful offers of knowledge and alliance.

Later on, Vulcans and Humans would ally with the Andorian Empire and Tellar to found the United Federation of Planets, an interstellar union based on furthering the four nations' development through mutually beneficial cooperation. The Vulcans would continue to be part of the Federation until the late 30th century, officially leaving in 3089.

9 Despite Their Pursue Of Logic, They Have A Very Turbulent Past

Before becoming the highly civilized, stoic society that fans know and love, Vulcans were a volatile species who solved most of their issues through intense battles to the death. They were far more emotional than humans, letting their instincts guide them into violent fits of rage that eventually thinned their planet's population.

This is when Surak and his philosophy based on logic and restraint come in. Seeing the rapid devastation of his people, Surak proposed an alternative path that spread to all corners of Vulcan, quickly gaining approval and leading a change in their ways. A few ancient rituals like the Kal-if-fee still retain the Vulcans' need for warfare and bloodshed.

8 Vulcans Share A Common Ancestry With Romulans

Romulans were first revealed in the Original Series episode "Balance of Terror," which is largely considered one of the show's best . Unlike Vulcans, Romulans are ruthless warriors with little patience for diplomacy and alliances. Their ancestors left Vulcan after Surak's victory, refusing to repress their emotions and establishing the Romulan Star Empire.

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After isolating themselves and even attempting to damage the Federation on occasion, the Romulans ultimately reunite with their cousins and join them in Vulcan after their planet was destroyed. As a sign of good faith, Vulcan was renamed Ni'Var and became independent from the Federation.

7 Their Copper-Based Blood Has A Green Tint When Oxygenated

Despite sharing many similarities, Vulcan and human biologies have several key differences. Vulcan blood is mainly copper-based, giving light-skinned Vulcans a greenish tint to their skin. This also means that when exposed to oxygen, their blood takes on a bright green color as shown in the Voyager   episode, "Cold Fire," when Tuvok starts bleeding.

Furthermore, the Vulcan heart is situated on the right side of the torso, in the same spot where the Human liver is located. In Beyond , Spock narrowly avoids being impaled in the heart by a piece of debris, prompting Dr. McCoy to mention this fact while providing assistance.

6 They're Vegetarians By Choice

Though originally omnivores, Vulcans have adopted a largely vegetarian lifestyle. For breakfast, Vulcans typically eat Plomeek soup, a plant-based broth that is said to taste bland to humans. In the fan-favorite episode "Amok Time," Christine Chapel prepares a bowl for an irrational Spock who is suffering from the effects of Pon Farr .

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Vulcans also enjoy eating Gespar, a red fruit native to their planet that makes a brief appearance in the Enterprise episode, "Home," when T'Pol and Charles Tucker visit the first's mother, T'Les.

5 Their Bodies Can Continue To Function Without Their Brains

The Original Series episode, "Spock's Brain," introduced one of the weirdest, yet fascinating  facts about Vulcan biology—they can apparently continue functioning without their brain. In the episode, a female alien surgically removes Spock's brain in order to power a machine, and to the rest of the Enterprise's surprise, Spock manages to walk around as if nothing were missing.

This absurd incident has never been revisited in any of the following series, but it remains one of the strangest additions to Vulcan lore. Not even Doctor McCoy saw it coming, and he's seen quite a few things while attending the Enterprise's reckless crew.

4 Vulcans Are Still Prone To A Few Diseases

Despite their heightened metabolism, Vulcans can still suffer from various diseases, most of them linked to their telepathy. In The Next Generation , Ambassador Sarek suffers from a degenerative illness called Bendii Syndrome, which leads him to lose control of his emotions and unconsciously project them to others with dangerous consequences.

After a poorly conducted mind-meld, Vulcans can be affected by Pa'nar Syndrome, a neural illness that affects other systems of the body. T'Pol suffered from the disorder for over a year before being cured in "Daedalus," a season four episode of Enterprise .

3 They're Master Martial Artists

Vulcans are famously pacifists, but they've been known to use weapons and violence when the situation demands it, usually as a last resort. Vulcan children grow up learning Suus Mahna, a martial art that uses the opponent's strength and movements to the user's advantage.

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The Vulcan nerve pinch, as it's colloquially known in the show, is one of the most popular and effective Vulcan techniques. By applying pressure to the trapezius nerve, the user can easily immobilize the opponent and render them unconscious. The nerve pinch is known to be difficult for non-Vulcans to learn, with only a few exceptions like Captain Picard , Data, and Michael Burnham being able to do so.

2 Vulcan Children Must Pass A Maturity Test Called Kahs-wan

Vulcans start their journey toward absolute logic quite young. Aside from the initial mating bond that unites a young male and a young female for a future Pon Farr, children must also endure a grueling maturity test named the Kahs-wan. To successfully prove themselves, Vulcan adolescents must survive ten days in The Forge, the planet's largest and deadliest desert, without any sustenance or weapon.

The ritual was first introduced in the Animated Series episode, "Yesteryear," when Spock travels back in time to save his younger self from being killed by a le-matya, a large Vulcan animal. The  Enterprise episode, "The Catwalk," also has T'Pol liken the test to her first camping experience.

1 Their Essence Is Captured In Their Katra

A deeply spiritual race, Vulcans believed every member of their species had a Katra—the physical manifestation of someone's consciousness. According to Vulcan belief, Katras could survive well after the body's demise and could be transferred to another living being through a mind-meld.

After Spock's death in The Wrath of Khan , his Katra was trapped within Doctor McCoy's mind until it could be retransferred to his regenerated body via the Fal-Tor-Pan ritual in The Search for Spock . Years earlier, Ambassador Sarek  shared his consciousness with Michael Burnham in Discovery  and was also able to communicate with her through their link.

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Vulcan (Star Trek)

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Vulcans , or sometimes Vulcanians , are a humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who evolved on the planet Vulcan , and are noted for their attempt to live by reason and logic with no interference from emotion . They were the first extraterrestrial species officially to make first contact with Human species, and later became one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets . Vulcans appear in all six Star Trek series, three of which featured either a Vulcan or a half-Vulcan as a main character.

• 1.1 Physical appearance
• 1.3 Mating drive
• 1.4 Other characteristics
• 2.1 Emotion
• 2.2.1 Mind melds
• 2.2.2 Katra
• 3.1 Language
• 3.3 Marriage
• 3.5 Fighting and self defense
• 3.6 "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations"
• 4 Homeworld
• 5.1 Vulcan High Command
• 5.2 Star Trek (2009) alternate timeline
• 6 Character development
• 7 In other media

Biology [ ]

Physical appearance [ ].

Vulcans are depicted as similar in appearance to humans . The main physical differences are their eyebrows and ears: the former are arched and upswept, while the latter feature pinnae which taper into a point at the top. Vulcans can be classified into various races . Most caucasianoid -like Vulcans typically appear with a subtle greenish hue to their skin , due to Vulcans' copper-based blood (not blue as in Horseshoe Crabs ), which aside from being green in color is also referred to as being as cold as ice water. Other features described include an inner eyelid, or nictitating membrane , which protects their vision from bright lights, an adaptation for their bright and hot home world. In addition, their hearts are located on the right side of the torso, in between the ribs and pelvis, as Dr.McCoy once says about Spock:“he is lucky that his heart is where his liver should be, or he’d be dead!” (ST:TOS, A Private Little War )

Vulcans are vegetarians by choice and were omnivores in ages past. In the Star Trek original series (TOS) episode " All Our Yesterdays ", Spock willingly consumes meat; partly due to the effects of time-travel 5,000 years into the past, and partly because he reasons there is no other suitable food available given the harsh, ice-age climate in which they are trapped. Vulcans are repeatedly stated to be herbivorous in the TAS episode " The Slaver Weapon ", by the carnivorous Kzinti . Vulcans do not like to touch their food with their hands, preferring to use utensils whenever possible (though there are numerous cases where Vulcans have broken this rule). It is a Vulcan custom for guests in the home to prepare meals for their hosts (“Star Trek Enterprise” episode: “Home”).

Vulcans are said not to drink, though they are depicted indulging on special occasions or as a storyline warrants. In the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Repression ", Humans and Vulcans are shown drinking a Vulcan alcoholic drink called "Vulcan Brandy ". In the TOS episode " The Enterprise Incident ", as part of his diversionary role during an espionage mission against the Romulans , Spock shares a drink known as romulan ale (blue colour beverage) with the female Romulan commander. In a later TOS episode " Requiem for Methuselah ", Spock specifically requests a Terran brandy after Dr. McCoy , while serving himself and Captain Kirk , observes that he had no expectation that Spock would be joining them in a drink for fear that the alcohol would affect his logic faculties. In Star Trek: First Contact , when the Vulcans first met Zefram Cochrane , he served them alcoholic beverages, which they took in lieu of dancing. In "non-canon" Trek-related literature, such as the novelization of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , Vulcans are depicted as immune to the effects of alcohol, but become inebriated by ingesting chocolate (this is also quickly alluded to in DS9 when Quark offers a Vulcan client some Vulcan Port or chocolate, in speaking of which he implies something sexual).

Mating drive [ ]

Approximately every seven years, Vulcan males and bonded females experience an overpowering mating drive known as pon farr . Once triggered, Vulcans must have sexual contact with someone, preferably their mate, or else face insanity and death.

If a mate is not available, there are other ways to relieve the effects of the pon farr . The first is meditation , by means of which the Vulcan must overcome the urge to mate through mental discipline. The second is violence. This is seen in the Voyager episode " Blood Fever ", when B'Elanna Torres and Ensign Vorik fight in the traditional Vulcan manner. The violence ends the pon farr. The other option is extreme shock; in the TOS episode " Amok Time ", Spock believed he had killed James T. Kirk , his best friend, thus providing sufficient shock to nullify the effects of pon farr. When he experienced pon farr, Tuvok of the USS Voyager made use of a holodeck simulation of a temporary mate which resembled his wife to relieve his condition. This holodeck simulation was created because The Doctor was unavailable; the dialog of this episode suggests that The Doctor had prepared a medicine to help Tuvok overcome the effects of pon farr. Infection is another mechanism writers have used to induce pon farr in Vulcan characters. Template:Citation needed

In the TOS episode " This Side of Paradise ", Leila Kalomi hints at having had a special relationship with Spock some six years earlier, which may suggest an encounter between them during pon farr. Likewise in the film Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , the regenerated adolescent Spock went through at least two pon farrs at accelerated speed. As his mate was not available on the Genesis planet (where Spock underwent the accelerated pon farrs), it was implied that he mated with Lt. Saavik, a female Vulcan scientist on the crew of the Enterprise who accompanied him during the accelerated pon farr.

Despite popular opinion, TOS writer and story editor, Dorothy C. Fontana , insists that Pon Farr is not the only time that Vulcans feel sexual desire or engage in sexual activity: "Vulcans mate normally any time they want to. However, every seven years you do the ritual, the ceremony, the whole thing. The biological urge. You must, but any other time is any other emotion - humanoid emotion - when you're in love. When you want to, you know, when the urge is there, you do it. This every-seven-years business was taken too literally by too many people who don't stop and understand. We didn't mean it only every seven years. I mean, every seven years would be a little bad, and it would not explain the Vulcans of many different ages which are not seven years apart." [1]

Other characteristics [ ]

Vulcans are typically depicted as stronger, faster, and longer-lived than humans (although discrepancies have occurred). Vulcans are about three times as strong as an average human, though their durability is about the same. There are instances of them living over two hundred and twenty years. Having evolved on a desert world, Vulcans can survive without water for longer periods than humans.

Psychology [ ]

Emotion [ ].

Vulcans, as a matter of custom and policy, suppress or think past all emotional influence by living lives of rigid emotional self-control through meditative techniques and training of mental discipline. Vulcans are not depicted as having no emotions; although they themselves make this claim, Vulcans are an exceptionally emotional people. They developed techniques to suppress their emotions precisely because of the damage they can cause if unchecked. In one episode of Star Trek: Voyager , Tuvok explains that Vulcans' natural emotions are "erratic and volatile"; if Vulcans do not strongly repress emotions, they can get violently angry in an instant. T'Pol once stated that paranoia and homicidal rage were common on Vulcan prior to the adoption of Surak 's code of emotional control. In the original series episode "The Savage Curtain", Spock meets Surak and displays emotion, for which Surak reprimands him, and he asks forgiveness.

The advanced ritual of Kolinahr is intended to purge all remaining vestigial emotion; the word also refers to the discipline by which this state is maintained. Only the most devoted and trained Vulcan students attain Kolinahr ; most Vulcans do retain control over their emotions, but do not completely eliminate them as Kolinahr attempts to do. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture , Spock was unable to complete this ritual after receiving powerful telepathic signals from space and experiencing strong emotions as a result. The Vulcan masters conducting the trials concluded that since Spock's human blood was touched by these messages from space, he could not have achieved Kolinahr, and the ritual was halted.

The term for the purge of emotion is arei'mnu. It is stated that it does not translate properly into any Earth language. In Diane Duane 's novel Spock's World, it was suggested that arei'mnu closely translates into "mastery of emotions", but that linguist Amanda Grayson , Sarek 's wife and Spock's mother, in her work on the universal translator , had mistranslated the Vulcan word to mean "lack of emotions".

Some Vulcans, such as T'Pol, Sarek (in his later years, due to a rare disease which can affect Vulcans over the age of 200 years), and Soval , carry their emotions close to the surface, and are prone to emotional outbursts, even without outside influences or illness; T'Pau certainly displayed restrained but definite emotions in the TOS episode " Amok Time ", including suspicion of the Human visitors followed by admiration and approval of their friendship for Spock, and contempt for Spock's humanity. There is some evidence to support the hypothesis that Vulcans in close contact with Humans for an extended period of time may become more emotional than Vulcans who do not. Established canon has yet to make a definitive case for this.

Not all Vulcan characters follow the path of pure logic; some instead choose to embrace emotions. A group of renegade Vulcans who believed in this was encountered in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode " Fusion ", while Spock's half-brother Sybok , seen in the film Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , was also fully emotional. An episode of Enterprise titled " E² " featured an elderly T'Pol in an alternate timeline who had embraced emotion and allowed her half-Human son, Lorian, to do likewise.

In the pilot episode " The Cage ", Spock showed much more emotion. " Number One ", played by Majel Barrett , was supposed to be the emotionless character. Although the test audience indicated they liked the actress, they hated the character because they could not relate to a female who was so "cold". As a result, the character of Christine Chapel was created for Barrett and the "coldness" was transferred to the Spock character.

Telepathy [ ]

Many Vulcans are contact telepaths , and have been observed taking part in a number of telepathy-related actions and rituals, including an instance where Cmdr. Spock was telepathically aware of the simultaneous deaths of 400 other vulcans on a far-away ship (in 2nd season episode, "The Immunity Syndrome").

Mind melds [ ]

A "mind-meld", is a technique for sharing thoughts, experiences, memories, and knowledge with another individual. It usually requires physical contact with a subject, though instances of mind-melds without contact have been seen (for example, in the episode " The Devil in the Dark "). Vulcans can perform mind melds with members of most other species, most notably Humans , with Jonathan Archer being the first known Human participant in such a ritual in 2154. Even the Earth Humpback Whale can be successfully melded with. The Ferengi are one of the few races known to be impervious to the mind meld; mentally disciplined Cardassians may also be resistant to mind melds if properly trained. It is not established if this potential ability is inherent to Cardassians, or if members of any race could be trained to resist a mind meld. Machines, such as the Nomad probe, have been melded with even if only through complete contact. Though not canon, in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode " One of Our Planets is Missing ", a touch-less melding of a gaseous nebular entity was depicted.

Mind melds have been used to erase memories, as Spock performed on James T. Kirk in the TOS episode " Requiem for Methuselah ". Mind melds can also allow more than one mind to experience memories and sensations, and sometimes even interact with the memories, as seen in the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Flashback ".

The mind meld can be considered a terrible intimacy because of the strength of Vulcan emotions and the strict psycho-suppression disciplines in which they are trained, and thus not one to be taken lightly. In the Star Trek: The Next Generation installment "Sarek", when the diplomat proves to have Bendii's syndrome and thus to be incapable of completing his last great mission without assistance, he executes a mind meld with Captain Jean-Luc Picard , gaining enough emotional stability from this to complete his mission—but Picard himself almost goes insane from the direct onslaught of Sarek's powerful emotions as a result.

Though mind melds are frequently portrayed as a consensual act, that is not always the case. In the TOS episode " Mirror, Mirror ", Spock of the Mirror Universe performed a forced mind meld on Dr. Leonard McCoy in order to learn what McCoy was keeping secret. Mind melds can also be very violating and potentially harmful under certain circumstances. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , Spock forcefully used the technique on Valeris in order to discover information she had that could be used to prevent a war; Valeris began screaming just before Spock broke the connection.

The use of the mind meld was taboo for a period of time. In the Vulcan timeline, this changed when experienced melders were shown to be able to cure Pa'nar Syndrome , a condition passed on by melders who are improperly trained. Within a week of the Kir'Shara incident in 2154, the stigma against mind-melders was evaporating, and sufferers of Pa'nar were being cured in large numbers. By the mid-23rd century, the mind meld is a fully accepted part of Vulcan society, and was even used once to rejoin Spock's katra with his healed physical body ( see below ).

As originally depicted in TOS, mind-melds were considered dangerous and potentially lethal. Over the course of the original series, however, the element of risk was no longer mentioned, although it was revived on Star Trek: Enterprise with the revelation that Pa'nar Syndrome can be transmitted this way.

For a number of years, it was held that not all Vulcans are genetically capable of initiating a mind-meld, such as T'Pol . However, the overthrow of the Vulcan High Command in 2154 revealed that this is not the case, and T'Pol conducted her first mind meld soon after.

Some Vulcans appear with advanced mental abilities. For example, in the TOS episode " A Taste of Armageddon ", Spock was once able to induce uncertainty in the mind of a prison guard on Eminiar VII , and in the episode " The Devil in the Dark ", he was able to perform a limited mind meld with a horta without actually making physical contact with the being. It is made apparent that a touch-less meld is limited in effectiveness compared to physical melds. During more intense melds, the melder is sometimes shown using both hands.

Some Vulcans appear able to "cheat death" by implanting their katra , essentially their living essence or spirit, into an object or another person via a form of mind-meld just prior to death. The history and mechanics of the katra have never been discussed in great detail in canon. It was known at the time of Surak , and Surak successfully transferred his essence into a "katric ark" which remained hidden for 1,800 years until it was recovered by a Vulcan named Syrran in the 22nd century. Syrran melded with the ark and received Surak's katra , which guided him into creating the Syrrannite movement which fought to restore Surak's teachings to Vulcan , but was labeled a terrorist group by the Vulcan High Command .

Syrran was fatally wounded by a lightning strike while escorting Jonathan Archer and T'Pol across a desert region called The Forge in 2154 prior to a short-lived conflict between Vulcan and Andoria . He conducted a forced mind-meld on Archer and implanted Surak's katra into Archer's mind before he died. For a brief time, Archer found himself communicating with the long-dead Surak, and Surak began controlling, or at least strongly influencing, Archer's actions. Surak's katra was so strong that it resisted efforts to be transferred into T'Pau , but once the Syrrannites overthrew the High Command, the katra allowed itself to be transferred into a Vulcan elder. The ultimate fate of Surak's katra remains unknown.

Katras can, on rare occasions, be returned to the body, effectively bringing an individual back from the dead . Such was the case with Spock , who, near the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , implanted his katra into the mind of Dr. McCoy prior to sacrificing his life to save the USS Enterprise . (Such was the strength of Spock's mental abilities that he was in fact able to function normally for several minutes despite depositing his "soul" elsewhere). Following Spock's death, McCoy began exhibiting Vulcan-like behavior and was briefly institutionalized. It was later discovered that Spock's body came to rest on the Genesis Planet after his burial in space, and was regenerated. He was recovered and was taken with McCoy to Mount Seleya on Vulcan where a Vulcan high priestess named T'Lar performed a rare, seldom-attempted ritual called the fal tor pan (literally, "re-fusion"), which removed the katra from McCoy and implanted it into Spock's regenerated body. Subsequently, Spock recovered, although it took some time to retrain his mind to where it was prior to his death. Eventually, Spock's original memories apparently reasserted themselves, and he resumed his duties in Starfleet .

Culture [ ]

Language [ ].

The Vulcan language is depicted as developing so much over time that writings from the era of Surak required translation to be understood upon discovery in 2154. Template:Citation needed

According to the DVD commentary of the film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , actors Leonard Nimoy and Kirstie Alley , portraying Spock and Saavik respectively, spoke their lines in English, and later dubbed in alien dialogue that corresponded with the movements of their mouths in the scene.

The treatment of Vulcan names has been erratic throughout Star Trek 's production history. Early on, female Vulcans were typically given names beginning with "T" followed by an apostrophe then a "p". The earliest reference to Vulcan names following a set pattern dates back to a May 3, 1966 memo from TOS producer Robert H. Justman to Gene Roddenberry (later reprinted in the book The Making of Star Trek ) in which Justman recommended that all Vulcan names begin with "SP" and end with "K", and have exactly five letters. (It is clear from the context of the book, however, that the memo was intended as a joke, as the series of memos ends up discussing the pronunciation of such names as "Spilk" and "Spork".) [2]

Beginning with the Star Trek movies of the 1980s and continuing to today, a greater variety of names have been given to Vulcans beginning with other letters of the alphabet, such as Tuvok , Koss, Mestral, Chu'lak, Valeris , and Xon to name a few (Xon being a Vulcan character created by Gene Roddenberry for the intended Star Trek: Phase II series in the 1970s, and the actress Kim Cattrall , who played Valeris, chose the character's name). Template:Citation needed

Only non-canonical sources have provided any Vulcans with family names, which are usually spoken of as defying attempts at both human pronunciation, especially with English-language phonemes, and human typesetting, especially with the characters of the modern Latin alphabet used for the English language. Hence, no canonical source has given any family names to any Vulcan characters, and indeed, every one of the personal names previously mentioned are all officially described as being only Latin-alphabetical and English-phonetic approximations of the real ones.

Marriage [ ]

Template:Unreferenced section Vulcans practice arranged marriage [3] , in which a male and a female are married or affianced as children, with consummation at a later date. Following adult union, it is customary for the couple to remain on Vulcan for at least one Vulcan year before conducting off-world travel, though it is possible to defer this requirement until a later date, upon negotiation with the male's family. The state of pon farr is not required for marriage to occur. The mating session of a Vulcan (pon farr) includes the private act of sex undifferentiated from the human version of mating.

A Vulcan female can challenge the proposed bonding by calling for koon-ut-kal-if-fee, meaning "marriage or challenge", in which a challenger for marriage engages the bonded male in a fight to the death. Alternately, the bonded male has the option of rejecting his intended bride and choosing another. It is acceptable for a male to "release" his mate from marriage (effectively the same as a divorce ). It is not established whether females have the same option, and T'Pring stated in " Amok Time " that a koon-ut-kal-if-fee challenge was the only way she could legally divorce Spock . [3]

Template:Unreferenced section It is customary for Vulcan children to undertake an initiation ordeal known as the Kahs-wan (sometimes spelled Kaswahn ), in which they are left to fend for themselves in the desert for a specific period of time. Not all children survive this rite of passage. T'Pol underwent the ritual, while Tuvok experienced a variation known as the tal'oth . The Kahs-wan was first introduced in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode " Yesteryear ", in which Spock's experience as a child was detailed.

Contrary to the Vulcan image of expressing no emotion, family bonds can be strong and affectionate just as they are for Humans . Tuvok expressed his love for his wife on a few occasions (without actually using the term), Sarek openly expressed affection for both his Human wives, and a clear bond of love existed between T'Pol and her mother, T'Les.

Fighting and self defense [ ]

Template:Unreferenced section Although generally adhering to a philosophy of non-violence, Vulcans have developed martial arts and techniques of hand to hand combat . Vulcan martial arts are highly ritualistic and based on philosophy, similar to Human counterparts such as karate and Silat . The most extreme example is the koon-ut-kal-if-fee , or fight to the death, described earlier, though one particular discipline is known as Suss Mahn (named for Star Trek: Enterprise producer Mike Sussman ).

Many Vulcans are skilled in a self-defense technique known as the " Vulcan nerve pinch " or "neck pinch", which targets a precise location on the neck, rendering the victim unconscious (sometimes instantly, sometimes after a short delay depending on the subject). The mechanics of the pinch have never been explained in on-screen canon. While practiced mainly by Vulcans, it is not exclusive to their race; for example, Jonathan Archer and Jean-Luc Picard are depicted as having mastered the technique after each became involved in a Vulcan telepathic ritual (Archer holding the katra of Surak ; Picard having undergone a mind-meld with Sarek ). The android Data also displayed this ability, though none of the three characters were depicted using the skill regularly. Leonard McCoy attempted to use the "neck pinch" while carrying Spock 's katra in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , but was unsuccessful for reasons unknown. In " Whom Gods Destroy ", Garth of Izar performs the neck pinch on a Tellarite guard while masquerading as Spock, using his shape-shifting ability. However, the Tellarite was one of Garth's minions, and the neck pinch may have been a ruse to convince Kirk that Garth really was Spock. Tongo Rad, a Catuallan, employed a similar technique to render a Starfleet officer unconscious by driving his thumbs suddenly and firmly into the sides of the officer's neck in the original-series episode " The Way to Eden ".

"Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" [ ]

Template:Unreferenced section

Vulcan IDIC Symbol

The phrase "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations" (IDIC) refers to the infinite variables (or forms of intelligence) in the universe and the infinite ways in which they may beneficially combine. IDIC is often seen as an underlying philosophy of the Vulcans. Template:Citation needed The theme is symbolized by the Vulcans in a Kol-Ut-Shan, [4] represented as a pendant of yellow and white gold with a circle and triangle resting upon each other, and adorned with a white jewel in the center.

Spock wore the symbol during important gatherings and ceremonies as part of his dress uniform . It appeared for the first time in the Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) episode " Is There in Truth No Beauty? " It also appeared in Spock's quarters in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . In the series Star Trek: Enterprise , T'Pol is given, through her in-name-only husband Koss , an IDIC pendant from her mother T'Les which projects a holographic relief, enabling T'Pol and Captain Archer to find the location where T'Les and the Syrrannites are hiding. Also in Star Trek: Enterprise, T'Pol, the science officer, holds an IDIC pendant in Terra Prime while she is in mourning for her dying cloned child Elizabeth, named in honor of Charles "Trip" Tucker 's deceased sister. In the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ", Captain Solok, an Academy classmate and longtime rival of Benjamin Sisko , challenges Sisko and other DS9 personnel to a baseball game against his Vulcan team, the Logicians. The IDIC symbol appears on the Vulcans's ballcaps.

The Vulcan IDIC pendant was designed by Gene Roddenberry as a marketing premium long before the third season. As early as the end of the first season, fans of the show had begun writing in asking for copies of the scripts, film clip frames, etc., and these were soon sold through Roddenberry's "Lincoln Enterprises", run by Majel Barrett . As evidenced in some of his letters and memos, Roddenberry was fond of circle-and-triangle designs and had wanted to use them for purposes of theatrical unity as early as the first season's " The Return of the Archons ". As reported by editor Ruth Berman (issue #1, Inside Star Trek , July 1968, pp. 15–16), "ardent rock hound and amateur lapidary" Roddenberry came up with the Vulcan philosophy after he presented Leonard Nimoy with a unique "hand-crafted piece of jewelry," a "pendent" (sic) of polished yellow gold (circle) and florentined white gold (triangle), with a stone of brilliant white fabulite—an artificial gem "developed by the laser industry and used in space mechanisms for its optical qualities," and thus well-suited as a gift for an actor in a science fiction show. Readers were encouraged to submit their interest in such a product to the then-Star Trek Enterprises mail order firm. It was noted that "less expensive materials" would keep costs down.

According to William Shatner in Star Trek Memories, the book about TOS he dictated to Chris Kreski , IDIC was only worked into the episode " Is There in Truth No Beauty? " as an afterthought. The actors all knew it was a mere advertising toy. Reportedly, Leonard Nimoy was asked to wear it and refused, so it was passed on to Shatner; when he also refused, Nimoy reluctantly agreed to wear it. At the last minute, Roddenberry sent down several pages of new script for the dinner scene, in which Spock was to give a long-winded explanation of the philosophy. The actors refused to film it until Roddenberry cut it down.

Homeworld [ ]

Comparison of the habitable zone of 40 Eridani with the habitable zone in our solar system.

The Vulcan homeworld is also named Vulcan , a reddish Minshara-Class planet orbiting the star 40 Eridani A , 16 light years from Earth . Its inhabitants were originally called Vulcanians; the latter name was used by Spock in the Original Series episode " A Taste of Armageddon ", and by Federation colonists in " This Side of Paradise ".

Much of its surface consists of deserts and mountain ranges, and large areas are set aside as wilderness preserves. It is much hotter, it has a stronger surface gravity , and its atmosphere is thinner than that of Earth. As a result of these factors, humans tend to tire out more quickly than native Vulcans.

In the alternate timeline of the 2009 film the planet was destroyed by Nero who created a black hole in the center of Vulcan. The planet imploded, leaving an estimated 10,000 survivors out of a population of 6 billion, including Spock and some of the Elders.

Fictional history [ ]

Template:Unreferenced section Template:Very long In the episode " Return to Tomorrow ", Spock theorized that the Vulcans might be the descendants of a colony from Sargon 's planet.

It is speculated on the official website startrek.com that a species that was known on Earth as the gods of ancient Rome or the gods of ancient Greece traveled to ancient Vulcan (named by Star Trek creators to refer to the Roman god of fire ), thus influencing both those that would later become Romulans as well as those who remained on Vulcan. Template:Citation needed Vulcans subsequently practiced a form of paganism ; this can be seen in gods of war , peace, and death depicted on the Stone of Gol , as well as the celebration of Rumarie. The DVD commentary for " Amok Time " says that TOS writer D. C. Fontana named the Vulcan god of death "Shariel", a bust of whom is seen in Spock's quarters.

In about the 4th century AD , Vulcans emerged from their violent tendencies and civil wars under a philosopher named Surak , who advocated the suppressing of emotion in favor of logic . This period was known as the Great Awakening, and much of present-day Vulcan philosophy emerged from this period. According to the Star Trek: New Frontier book series (like all novels, many of which are not considered canon), the Great Awakening caused many wars and conflicts to occur amongst various Vulcan tribes; those who supported Surak's cause would become separated from friends and even close family members who did not. For cases in which parents were separated by this, a ritual was created called the ku'nit ka'fa'ar , a battle to determine which parent would maintain their child. Despite the acceptance of Surak's teachings, generations of imperfect copies of his writings, combined with changes in the Vulcan language over time, resulted in a diluted form of the culture he instituted.

Surak 's views and lifestyle were not universally accepted by Vulcan society. One particular group of Vulcans who called themselves "those who march beneath the Raptor's wings" were so adamant in their opposition against Surak that it resulted in a nuclear war , of which Surak himself became a victim. After time the portion of Vulcan society who rejected Surak's teachings left the planet for the stars. This migration of Vulcan separatists would eventually become known as the Romulans . Knowledge of the common ancestry of Romulans and Vulcans would obscure into myth over the millenniums, and while some Vulcans had direct dealings with Romulans in the 22nd century, the common ancestry would not become widely known until the mid-23rd century.

A great deal of Star Trek spin-off fiction , in particular the novel The Romulan Way by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood , has stated that the leader of the Vulcan-Romulan migration was a close follower of Surak's named S'Task. S'Task would see the founding of the Romulan Empire , but was killed by political factions shortly thereafter.

Vulcans did recover from the effects of barbarism and turn much of their attention to space travel for 1,500 years. What would later become known as the Vulcan High Command was initially formed to orchestrate space exploration, but it ended up seizing control of Vulcan government.

The Vulcans fought a hundred-year war with the Romulans starting circa 1944.

Spock was one of three Starfleet officers from the 23rd century who travel in time to 1930s New York City , in the original series episode " The City on the Edge of Forever ". He would also briefly travel to Earth in 1968 on a mission, in the episode " Assignment: Earth ;" accidentally in 1969, in " Tomorrow Is Yesterday ;" and again in 1986, in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . (Technically speaking, these three events occurred after the founding of the Federation , but are included here as they constitute pre- First Contact encounters with contemporary Humans .)

First contact between Vulcans and the Andorians was promising, but relations soured in time. The threat of mutual annihilation existed as early as the 1950s. Template:Citation needed

In 1957, the launch of Sputnik I , Earth's first artificial satellite , was observed by a Vulcan vessel that subsequently crashed on the planet, marooning several crew members for a number of months in Carbon Creek , Pennsylvania ; this constituted the first true contact between Humans and Vulcans, but it was never recorded as such as the Humans were unaware of the alien nature of their guests. One Vulcan, Mestral, was so fascinated by humanity that he chose to stay on Earth: his fate has yet to be revealed. Template:Citation needed

In 2044, the Romulans and the Vulcans suspended hostilities in their hundred-year war. It is unclear whether the two groups knew they were fighting their kinsmen. Template:Citation needed

On April 5, 2063, Vulcans and Humans made official first contact following the successful test of Earth's first warp-powered starship, as depicted in Star Trek: First Contact .

In 2097, the Vulcans annexed the Andorian planetoid Weytahn and renamed it Pan Mokar.

In 2105, the Vulcans and the Andorians agreed to a compromise over Weytahn/Pan Mokar. Still, tensions continued due to the threat of mutual annihilation.

In 2151, Sub-Commander T'Pol joined the crew of the Earth Starfleet vessel Enterprise (NX-01) , within a couple of weeks setting a Vulcan endurance record for serving aboard a human vessel. In 2154, T'Pol became a commissioned officer with Starfleet.

In May of 2154, the Vulcan High Command considered a proposal for Vulcans and Humans to conduct joint space exploration missions. V'Las, the head of the High Command and undercover agent for the Romulans , bombed the United Earth embassy on Vulcan and attempted an invasion of Andoria . He was foiled by the crew of the Enterprise . During these events, the Kir'Shara , a device containing the original writings of Surak , was discovered by Jonathan Archer . This led to the prompt dissolution of the High Command and a reevaluation of traditional values . It also resulted in Vulcan agreeing to stop "looking over Earth 's shoulder" in space exploration matters.

On August 12, 2161, Vulcan became one of the founding members of the United Federation of Planets .

In the time of Star Trek: Enterprise , Vulcans are often seen to be rather arrogant and cold in their behavior towards Humans . It is explained that after first contact, Vulcan shared technology with Earth , but many Humans, such as Jonathan Archer , greatly resented the fact that Vulcans seemed to be holding back humanity's efforts at space travel. Soval , Vulcan's ambassador to Earth, appeared particularly distrustful of humans, and was often at odds with Archer and his crew. Soval later justified this behavior in the fourth season episode " The Forge ":

Soval also explained that, since Earth recovered from World War III far quicker than Vulcan did from its equivalent (in " The Forge " and its sequel episodes, it is said that Vulcans took almost a thousand years to rebuild their society after their last catastrophic war), it alarmed many Vulcans, who were confused as to how to deal with a rapidly growing and emotional society such as Earth's.

After the overthrow of the corrupt Vulcan High Command and the death of Admiral Maxwell Forrest , who sacrificed his life to save Soval from a terrorist attack, the attitudes of Soval, and Vulcan society in general, became more cordial and accepting towards humanity.

Vulcan High Command [ ]

In the 22nd century of the fictional Star Trek universe, the Vulcan High Command is apparently a form of military government which controls both the Vulcan space fleet and most of the planet itself. Most of the Vulcans, including T'Pol , from Star Trek: Enterprise served the High Command. It is dissolved in the early fourth season of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Throughout much of the show's run, Captain Jonathan Archer frequently had run-ins with the High Command - even after Archer proved conclusively, several times, that he was able to travel through time, the High Command stubbornly refused to acknowledge the possibility that time travel could ever be possible (although T'Pol tried to keep an open mind). The High Command, on at least one occasion, sent Vulcan starships to actively spy on the Enterprise and report on the ship's activities (see episode Breaking the Ice ), an act which infuriated Archer to no end.

However, this was not the end of the High Command's questionable activities. They appeared to participate in open acts of persecution towards other Vulcans, such as isolating and quarantining victims of Pa'nar Syndrome rather than treating them; prejudicial acts against any Vulcan proven to have committed a mind meld ; and hunting down and capturing, even often killing, members of the underground group, the Syrranites. With the help of Archer, it was discovered that the High Command's illogical and often emotionally based actions were, in reality, the result of covert Romulan influence. After the High Command's administrator, V'Las, was revealed to be a Romulan agent, the High Command was disbanded, and a more traditional and human-friendly Vulcan government was formed.

After the dissolution of the High Command, the Vulcan space fleet experienced a serious shortage of personnel, many of whom were still sympathetic to the old guard. Administrator T'Pau , who now oversaw Vulcan's fleet operations, attempted to rebuild the fleet.

Star Trek (2009) alternate timeline [ ]

In the alternate reality presented by the 2009 film Star Trek , the planet Vulcan is destroyed in the year 2258 by an artificial black hole created by the Narada, a Romulan mining vessel from the future, killing most of its six billion inhabitants. Its captain, Nero, holds Spock personally responsible for a disaster involving Romulus more than a century later. Spock estimates that no more than 10,000 Vulcans escaped the planet and survived the genocide (which may possibly include Vulcans that were on the original series). However, the film's writers have stated that this does not include Vulcans who were living off planet at the time. [5]

Character development [ ]

Blessing gesture that was the inspiration for the Vulcan salute

Leonard Nimoy discussed the origin of the Vulcan salute in his autobiography " I Am Spock ". [6] As a bit of stage "business" in the episode " Amok Time ", he invented the famous "Live long and prosper" Vulcan salute based on the hand symbol used by Jewish priests ( kohanim ) during the Priestly Blessing in the synagogue. The gesture actually emulates the initial Shin of the Shema (Nimoy has also commented that the "sh" could also indicate Shaddai , or the Almighty; more recently, on William Shatner 's Raw Nerve , he associated it with Shekhinah .) On numerous occasions, for example in the 1983 TV special Star Trek Memories (which is often syndicated along with The Original Series ), Nimoy recounts how as a child, he peeked during the blessing and witnessed the gesture, although the congregation are supposed to put hands over eyes or turn away at this moment in acknowledgement of the presence of the Almighty.

The Vulcan nerve pinch was created for the episode " The Enemy Within ". The original script called for Spock to knock the "evil" Kirk unconscious with the butt of a phaser . Leonard Nimoy felt that the act was too reminiscent of a TV western , and thus introduced the famous non-lethal maneuver.

In other media [ ]

An issue of DC Comics ' Green Lantern series, features a Green Lantern Corps member with pointed ears. He behaves 'logically' and has a brief conversation with Hal Jordan (the titular superhero) which ended with a "live long and prosper" and the famous hand gesture. Template:Citation needed

In the Disney Channel Original Movie The Luck of the Irish (2001 film) Kyle makes a reference to the Vulcan's when he learns he has pointed ears.

Dr Addy is referred to as a Vulcan by Dr Hodgins in the TV series "Bones" when he admits to find anger to be a useless emotions that he does not feel.

• ↑ Edward Gross, Mark E. Altman, Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, Little Brown & Co, 1995. p. 53
• ↑ Whitfield, Stephen E. and Gene Roddenberry. The Making of Star Trek . New York: Ballantine, 1968. p.274. SBN 345-23401-4-150
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 Vulcan Mating Rituals documentary,Star Trek paradocumentary published by www.startrek.com
• ↑ Template:Cite video
• ↑ http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/22/orci-and-kurtzman-reveal-star-trek-details-in-trekmovie-fan-qa/
• ↑ "I am Spock" by Leonard Nimoy (Hyperion)
• 1 Star Trek (2009)
• 2 Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Screen Rant

Star trek's 4 quadrants & galaxy explained.

Along with the Milky Way Galaxy's quadrants, the Star Trek universe encompasses galactic barriers, further galaxies, and even a mythological core.

Most of the action in Star Trek takes place in the real-world Milky Way Galaxy which is roughly divided into four quadrants, named after the first four letters of the Greek alphabet: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. These are the galactic regions that include significant planets like Vulcan, Qo'noS, and of course, Earth. While Gamma and Delta still bear planets with ominous origins, the Alpha and Beta Quadrants are perhaps touched upon the most within the Star Trek mythos. Despite this common division, The Next Generation also referred to a new quadrant known as Morgana. But not much is known about this certain quadrant as it is not mentioned any further.

Even beyond the Quadrants, ardent Star Trek fans can spot the Galactic Barrier and several other celestial objects that are present in other galaxies like the Andromeda Galaxy (yet another real-world phenomenon) that are still yet to be explored more by the franchise's protagonists. While most of these galactic quadrants can be seen as astronomical phenomena rooted in scientific explanation, the mythos can also incorporate near-godly beings like the Sha Ka Ree in regions such as the so-called "Great Barrier." The two Barriers carry within them such heavenly mysteries that deserve explanations of their own.

TOS Invented Star Trek's Best Time Travel

Alpha Quadrant

The Star Trek galaxy explained that the Alpha Quadrant contains more than 60 home worlds, and this includes Captain Kirk's home planet Earth itself (which Trekkers would call Terra or Sol III). Other major planets include the Tellarite native planet Tellar Prime, Trill, which houses both the eponymous humanoid species and the non-humanoid Trill symbionts, and Betazed, which is inhabited by the Betazoids, a humanoid species that boasts warp-capable space vessels. Even though the majority of territories under the Klingon Empire and Romulan Star Empire fall in the Beta Quadrant, the two forces join the United Federation of Planets and the Cardassian Union to constitute the four great powers in the Alpha Quadrant in the late 24th century.

Beta Quadrant

The Star Trek galaxy explained that apart from the Romulans and the different versions of the Klingons , the Beta Quadrant's highlight is Vulcan, the native planet of Spock and other members of the Vulcan species. Multiple Star Trek encyclopedias suggest that Vulcan is located in a Sector of the same name within the Beta Quadrant. The 2002 publication Star Trek Charts also estimates Vulcan's exact position to be somewhere in the 40 Eridani star system that really exists 16.3 light years from Earth's Sun. Much like Spock, the inhabitants of Vulcan can be identified with their raised eyebrows and pointy ears. Mostly devoid of emotions, the Vulcans are known for leading a life on the basis of logic and reasoning.

The Klingon homeworld Qo'noS and the Romulan Empire's native planet Romulus also fall under this galactic quadrant. The former has a chaotic weather system with frequent thunderstorms and a rocky landscape characterized by numerous dormant volcanoes and caves. The native warrior species of Klingon are bound by their martial traditions and value honor in combat. As for Romulus, the planet served as the second home for Romulans ever since they migrated from Vulcan. The biological cousins of the Vulcans, they had to move back to their original homeworld after Romulus' sun exploded in 2387. According to The Next Generation , Risa is also a part of this quadrant. Known as the pleasure planet, Risa is known for its sexually liberated culture.

Gamma Quadrant

The Star Trek galaxy explained that the Gamma quadrant includes several Star Trek planets such as Brax, Yadera, Meridian, and others. As seen in Deep Space Nine , the Quadrant also houses the Dominion, an aggressive ensemble of several alien species commanded by the shape-shifting Changelings (AKA the Founders). Several territories of the quadrant are under the Founders' control even though they have had only two home worlds. The first home world of the Founders was a rogue planet that housed the Founders who were, at that time, escaping prosecution from the "solids" (how they referred to non-shape shifters). By 2372, the Founders shifted to a second home world.

Related: Star Trek - Spock's Entire Prime Universe Timeline, Explained

Delta Quadrant

The Star Trek galaxy explained that Star Trek: First Contact confirms the origin of the Borgs from Delta but doesn't name their home planet. This is the case for many other species of Delta, a quadrant that is relatively unexplored by the United Federation. Only Voyager offers the most details about the planets within the quadrant. Delta is also known as the domain of antagonistic species like the Borgs, the Kazon, and the Vidiians. The cybernetic Borgs are mostly linked through a hive mind known as the Collective. As for the Kazon, they are nomadic in nature which makes it difficult to trace their planet. Vidiians are similarly migratory and sport-scarred faces as a result of the terrible Phage pandemic.

The Galactic Barrier

The Star Trek galaxy explained in the original series what is known as Star Trek 's Galactic Barrier . In the subsequent years, Trekkers have called it by many names ranging from Great Barrier to the Energy Barrier, but there is still much debate and discussion regarding the origin of this energy field that surrounds the Milky Way Galaxy. The origins behind its creation are still hotly debated so it is uncertain whether the Galactic Barrier was created by a natural process or by artificial means. Most of the conventional spaceships that have tried crossing this barrier in the Star Trek universe have often been destroyed with the crew even gaining psychoactive traits while nearing the barrier.

The Andromeda Galaxy

Progressive exploration of the Star Trek galaxy explained that the Milky Way Galaxy is definitely not the final frontier , as several other galaxies lie beyond it, such as the Andromeda Galaxy. This serves as a home for the planet Kelva, the capital of the Kelvan Empire. The Kelvans are highly intelligent shapeshifters. Because of their intellectual superiority, the Kelvans feel that it is their duty to rule over other species. The same galaxy also includes the humanoid species simply known as the Makers, creators of service robots and outposts in both the Andromeda and Milky Way Galaxy. The outposts were a residential necessity given how a supernova had destroyed their homeworld.

The Extragalactic Species

The Star Trek galaxy explained that the spanning areas of planets and species that border Star Trek 's Galactic Barrier from the galaxies beyond the Milky Way are still vague in Star Trek canon. Still, some information has been obtained on a few humanoid and non-humanoid extragalactic species. Species 10-C is a major case in point. A highly-advanced non-humanoid race with members much larger than humans, the species is responsible for creating the heavily destructive Dark Matter Anomaly. With their bodies adapted to float in gas layers, Species 10-C belong to a homeworld near the Galactic Barrier. Other such examples of extragalactic species include the "space amoeba" Nacene, the physically fragile Ornithoid, and immortal races like the Q and the Douwd.

Related: Star Trek Just Created A Second 25th Century Timeline

The Center Of The Galaxy

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier reveals the presence of the mythological planet Sha Ka Ree right at the center of the galaxy that doesn't fall under any quadrant. An equivalent of the concept of heaven, Sha Ka Ree is regarded in Vulcan mythology as the realm of all creation. But owing to humankind's fear of exploring the unknown and the second Galactic Barrier, the exact physical nature remains unexplored and is regarded as a mythical entity. It goes to prove how the mysteries of Star Trek 's chief galaxy don't just go beyond its exterior but its very core too.

Multiple Alternate Realities And Timelines

Not only is there several quadrants, but the Star Trek galaxy explained that there are also several alternate timelines in the franchise's world. In the Paramount+ series Picard , there is an alternate reality that completely rewrites Star Trek's history . The movies, from the original series to the Next Generation, take place in what is known as the Prime Universe. The J.J. Abrams movies take place in what is known as the Kelvin Timeline.

Abrams showed this in his movies by having the Kelvin Timeline Spock meet a Spock from a different timeline. This allowed Star Trek to move on with any story it wanted to tell by explaining the characters are from different timelines with new and fresh histories. There is also a Mirror Universe, an alternate timeline ruled by the fascist Terran Empire instead of the Federation. With so many quadrants, they all likely ended up very different in each timeline, making the Star Trek stories endless.

More: Why TOS Never Got A Series Finale Until Star Trek VI

Vulcan philosophy

• View history

Surak, founder of modern Vulcan philosophy

Beginning in the 4th century , Vulcan philosophy revolved around the concept of logic . The highest objective of a traditional Vulcan life was to either control or suppress all emotion , thus rendering a purely logical being. This difficult task was attained through meditation and discipline. As Vulcans approached or reached maturity, it was customary to train under the tutelage of a Vulcan master in the Kolinahr ritual, to purge themselves of any remaining lack of emotional control. The father of Vulcan philosophy was Surak , ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain ") who helped lead the Vulcan people out of a time of savagery and violence into their new era of peace. His introduction of logic and emotional discipline ushered in the Time of Awakening . ( TNG : " Gambit, Part II ")

Though committed to the concept of total logic, Vulcan philosophy after the Time of Awakening did not totally abandon its past. Vulcans continued to maintain ceremonies dedicated to ancient religious beliefs and physical training. The Vulcans reasoned that complete dedication to logic could allow for weakness and frailty to arise and endanger them, thus ancient practices such as the kahs-wan were preserved and many Vulcans continued some form of dedication to their ancient gods, including ritual pilgrimages. ( TAS : " Yesteryear ")

These ideals were forgotten by many Vulcans around the 22nd century , leading to a corrupt governmental system. Unknown at the time, their government had been infiltrated at the highest levels by Romulan operatives, misleading the population with a distorted version of Surak's teachings. A small faction called Syrrannites , founding their philosophy on what was believed to be his true works, discovered Surak's original texts, restoring the society he had built. Other works related to this philosophy are Kiri-kin-tha's First Law of Metaphysics (" Nothing unreal exists ") and T'Plana-Hath 's statement that " Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide. " ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ; ENT : " The Forge ")

Vulcans embraced cultural and racial diversity, as again evidenced through the IDIC . Vulcans also embraced a pacifist philosophy, going so far as to follow strict vegan diets to avoid killing even non-sentient animals . Vulcans believed that the needs of a very large group should go before the needs of a very small group or any individual. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ; VOY : " Endgame "; ENT : " The Council ")

T'Pol gave Captain Archer a book on the subject, The Teachings of Surak , to read during shore leave on Risa . ( ENT : " Two Days and Two Nights ")

Vulcan Philosophy was a topic of study at Starfleet Academy by the 24th century . ( VOY : " In the Flesh ") Because Data was not affected by feelings or emotional considerations, he considered himself closer to being Vulcan than Human; however, he was not attracted to Vulcan philosophy. He felt that although their devotion to logic had a certain appeal in its simple purity, he found overall that this was a somewhat stark philosophy, lacking beauty and joy. ( TNG : " Data's Day ")

Apocrypha [ ]

Vulcan thought has been compared to Asperger syndrome on at least three occasions outside of canon. In the 2005 novel Orion's Hounds , Counselor Troi wonders if Surak had the Vulcan equivalent of Asperger syndrome. In The Hounds of Baskerville , a 2012 episode of Sherlock , Sherlock Holmes (played by Benedict Cumberbatch ) is compared to Spock , and is speculated to have Asperger's syndrome. In the 2017 film Please Stand By , a young woman with Asperger's syndrome attempts to submit her manuscript to a Star Trek writing competition. Her story concerns Spock's quest to understand humor.

See also [ ]

• A Cave Beyond Logic: Vulcan Perspectives on Platonic Thought
• Beyond the Galactic Edge, Humanity's Quest for Infinity
• First Doctrines of Logic
• The Teachings of Surak , Terran edition

External links [ ]

• Logic at Wikipedia
• Stoicism at Wikipedia
• Utilitarianism at Wikipedia
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Apr 30, 2016

Inside A Travel Guide to Vulcan

Back in January, StarTrek.com gave fans a First Look at Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Vulcan , an upcoming interactive guidebook from Insight Editions that explores everything Spock's home planet has to offer. Now, StarTrek.com is pleased to take you inside the guide, which is written by popular Trek author Dayton Ward, as we share an exclusive preview of pages from Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Vulcan .

And, once again, here's the synopsis from Insight Editions: Plan your next trip to the planet Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Vulcan ! Find restaurants that serve the best fried sandworms and Vulcan port. Take a trip to the Fire Plains or experience spring break at the Voroth Sea. Learn all about the native Vulcan people and their unusual customs. Discover how to correctly perform the traditional Vulcan salutation (you really don’t want to get this wrong). Learn key Vulcan phrases such as Nam-tor puyan-tvi-shal wilat: “Where is your restroom?” Find out what to do if you suddenly find yourself host to a katra—a Vulcan’s living spirit—at an inconvenient moment. All this and more can be found within the pages of this essential travel guide to one of the most popular—and logical—destinations in the known universe.

Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Vulcan draws on 50 years of Star Trek TV shows, films, and novels to present a comprehensive guide to Spock’s iconic home world. Modeled after real-world travel guides, the book will explore every significant region on Vulcan with fascinating historical, geographical, and cultural insights that bring the planet to life like never before. Also featuring a dynamic mixture of classic Star Trek imagery and original illustrations created exclusively for the book, Hidden Universe: Star Trek: A Travel Guide to Vulcan is the perfect way to celebrate 50 years of Star Trek and will thrill pop culture fans and hardcore Star Trek fans alike.

Due out on July 19, Hidden Universe Travel Guide: Star Trek: Vulcan will be released as a paperback that measures 6 x 9 inches and runs 160 pages. It will cost $19.99. Go to www.amazon.com to preorder it.

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Star Trek: How Are Vulcans Different From Humans?

Star Trek has always defined Vulcans by their rigid dedication to logic, but what other traits make them stand out from Humans?

Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was the first of many Vulcans introduced in Star Trek , and it wasn’t just his pointy ears and sharp eyebrows that made him stand out among his human peers. After all, though Vulcans are humanoid, they are very distinct from their round-eared brethren. One of the most memorable moments of the series, for example, came from Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) pointing out that Vulcans' hearts are located in a different section of the body than they are in humans. There’s even the rumor that humans don’t smell pleasant to Vulcans , though that could be more fandom speculation than established canon.

The progression of their two societies is also similar, though Vulcans went down a different path. Humans saw the violence of their past as stemming from hatred, bigotry, and callousness. Upon joining the United Federation of Planets, they dedicated themselves to becoming more science-forward with an emphasis on empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness. Vulcans have a much more violent past that they attribute to an excess of emotion. Their version of moving forward meant dedicating themselves to the pursuit of logic and scientific discovery. Vulcans have evolved as a society over the centuries, but there are some things that even time can’t change. This is where the differences in the "Vulcans versus Humans" conversation become most obvious.

RELATED: Star Trek: Why Most Vulcans Are Vegetarian

Are Vulcans Stronger Than Humans?

Vulcans are notably stronger than humans, as seen throughout Star Trek . In The Original Series, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) was more likely to talk it out in disagreements with others, but he was more than capable of winning a fight if it came down to it. Yet, this didn’t stop him from losing almost every fight he got into with First Officer Spock. In Deep Space Nine , Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson) explained to Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) that Vulcans have quicker reflexes than humans and are, on average, three times physically stronger. Their strength could be the result of centuries spent fighting each other with such aggression that it shocked even violence-prone Humans. Maybe that’s just how Vulcans are made, like their distant Romulan relatives .

Either way, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) used that strength to his advantage while trying to take back control of the Enterprise from Officer Spock (Zachary Quinto) in Star Trek (2009). Crew members were shocked at his callous references to Spock’s mother dying and his home planet Vulcan being destroyed. But they were more shocked when Spock responded by beating him half to death on the bridge for everyone to see. It would have been kinder to simply knock the captain out with the infamous Vulcan Nerve Pinch, a move less about strength and more about stealth.

What Weaknesses Do Vulcans Have?

The strength of Vulcans also manifests as higher metabolism, resistance to toxins, and greater immunity to sleep deprivation. However, that last claim should be taken with a grain of salt. In Voyager, Officer Tuvok (Tim Russ) made this observation to Officer Neelix (Ethan Phillips) to explain why he, as a Vulcan, needed less sleep than humans — before Tuvok promptly fell asleep in the command chair.

Still, for all their strengths, Vulcans are not without their weaknesses. In Star Trek: The Animated Series , Spock (Nimoy) is exposed to nitrous gas that causes him pain instead of making him laugh like the human officers of the Enterprise. Vulcans get cold more easily than humans since their bodies have adapted to the dry heat of their home planet, a sensitivity that only grows as they get older. Vulcans can also hear better than Hhmans, which can be a strength or a weakness depending on the situation. It puts them at an advantage while exploring new planets and keeping an eye (or a pointed ear) out for danger even in diplomatic situations .

But in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , that sensitive hearing is really annoying to have. Humans end up making noises so grating they actually manage to annoy the nearest Vulcan, who in this case is the unfortunate Officer T’Pol (Jolene Blalock).

What Is The Lifespan Of A Vulcan?

In the ongoing debate of "Vulcans versus Humans," there’s one area in which Vulcans take the metaphorical cake: their longer lifespan. According to The Next Generation , Vulcans can live for over 200 years. Humans can’t live that long even with the scientific advancements of the Federation and, honestly, most wouldn't want to.

In season 3, episode 23, “Sarek,” Spock’s father Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) pays a visit to the USS Enterprise on a diplomatic mission, when he begins to suffer from Bendii Syndrome. It’s a rare neurological disease that impacts Vulcans over the age of 200 years old. Sarek ends up losing control of his emotions and accidentally projecting them onto the unsuspecting Starfleet officers without even using the classic Vulcan Mind Meld . When humans get older, they lose control of their motor functions and their tempers, as shown in one bizarre episode of The Original Series . Captain Kirk (Shatner) became more hostile and impatient, but at least it didn’t send his crew into an angry frenzy.

Still, Vulcans enjoy a long life of scientific pursuits and perfecting their logical understanding of the galaxy at large. To humans, it may sound rather dull. But to Vulcans, it’s the reason they were granted such long life in the first place.

How Humans & Vulcans Relate

While Star Trek presents Vulcans as different from humans, they aren’t incompatible. Spock’s human mother Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt) married his Vulcan father Sarek, and the two made a logically loving home for themselves on Vulcan. Sure, Amanda was often driven up the wall by her husband and son's stubborn dedication to logic, even when she thought emotion was more appropriate. But she loved them both and they, in their own way, loved her just as much.

Star Trek: Discovery later introduced Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as the adopted human sister of Spock. His relationship with Michael gave fans a new insight into his character , while also providing a new perspective on Vulcans as a whole. While Amanda was more driven by emotion than her husband and son, Michael was shaped by the logic of them both into her career as a Starfleet officer. She eventually found her own way to honor Vulcan philosophy, and it led her to the captain’s chair.

Star Trek and its fans will always debate "Vulcans vs Humans." Yet, they both understand that Vulcans and Humans exist in infinite diversity in infinite combinations throughout the galaxy – even in the heat of battle.

MORE: Star Trek: The History Of The Vulcans, Explained

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Star Trek ’s Stoics: The Vulcans

Steven umbrello explores parallel philosophical universes..

“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca “However, I have noted, that the ‘healthy’ release of emotion is frequently very unhealthy for those closest to you.” – Spock

In 1966 Gene Roddenberry, then a relatively unknown TV writer, created what was to become a cultural sensation. From cell phones and tablets, to MRI machines and medical jet injectors, Star Trek has undoubtedly anticipated much of the technology that we take for granted today. Moreover, the disagreements, fights and jokes between Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and Mr Spock (Leonard Nimoy) were expertly crafted for dramatic impact. But I’m not writing this to confess to you my obsessive infatuation with the Star Trek universe. Instead I want to discuss how the beliefs and practices of Vulcans like Spock are similar to those of the Stoic school of philosophy.

In Star Trek , the natives of the planet Vulcan are an extremely advanced humanoid species known throughout the galaxy for their logical minds, as a result of which their civilization has enjoyed millennia of peace and prosperity. This was not always the case. Historically, the Vulcans were an extremely violent race, prone to all sorts of debauchery and war (eerily similar to our own state of civilization). However, when their species was brought to the brink of annihilation, a single individual, Surak, produced a new philosophical practice based on pure logic. Surak believed that the cause of all the conflict on his planet was the people’s inability to control their emotions; thus, Surak and his growing group of followers taught themselves to control and suppress their emotions. Eventually, all the citizens of Vulcan adopted this way of thinking, and it became an integral and necessary part of their culture.

Surak’s philosophy I believe closely resembles Stoicism, a philosophy with its roots in antiquity. Founded by Zeno of Citium, who taught in Athens from about 300 BC, it was made famous by the philosophers Epictetus and Seneca, and by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161-180 AD. The goal of this philosophy is to live as good and happy a life as is naturally feasible. To this end, Stoics advocated the harmonization of one’s being with nature and accepting one’s place in it. They believed that going against the naturally established order of life would result in a great deal of pain for the individual. Stoics also believe in not worrying about external events, which are largely beyond your control. Rather, to maximise your serenity, change your perception of what happens to you to one of placid acceptance. As Epictetus wrote, “Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.” Essentially, Stoicism does not want you to try and overcome all negative situations, nor to avoid bad, uncomfortable or disturbing scenarios; instead, Stoic principles require individuals to change the way they perceive such situations, which will change the way they react to them. Marcus Aurelius was a strong believer in this aspect of Stoicism. In his work Meditations (167 AD), he remarks, “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength” and “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” This was a revolutionary way of thinking for an individual who ruled one of the most imperialistic and warlike empires in history.

Surak’s teachings bear a resemblance to Stoicism in its belief that the individual should not deny or despair of his or her current predicament, but rather accept it as it is. As Epictetus taught, “There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” A Vulcan proverb expresses a similar thought: “In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace.” Both emphasize the necessity of eliminating emotional struggle with anything that cannot be controlled or changed.

Marcus Aurelius also wrote, “Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.” In Star Trek , Vulcan philosophy similarly asks the individual to analyze all situations and choose only the most logical path. (“Logic is the cement of our civilization, with which we ascend from chaos, using reason as our guide” – T’Plana-Hath, Vulcan High Priestess.) Like Stoicism, Vulcan logic requires practice and dedication to learn to look at life in a different light.

Before I conclude let me clarify a misconception suffered by both Vulcans and Stoics. Both are often regarded as cold-hearted or emotionless. In fact, both Vulcans and Stoics are deeply emotional, and although their stern faces and disciplined postures don’t give that impression, they nonetheless feel strongly; however, they control how they react and express themselves.

I think we can agree that there are some striking similarities between Stoicism and Star Trek ’s Vulcan philosophy. Whether or not Gene Roddenberry created the Vulcans with the Stoics in mind will forever remain unknown; but what I do know is that both the Stoic’s and Vulcans will agree with this farewell: “Live long and prosper!”

© Steven Umbrello 2015

Steven Umbrello is an undergraduate student of philosophy of science at the University of Toronto, and has been a practicing Stoic for most of his young adult life.

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10 Vulcan Proverbs From Star Trek

• Vulcans prioritize a commitment to logic, valuing reason over emotion.
• Vulcan proverbs and customs highlight diversity, logic, and peaceful coexistence.
• Vulcan philosophy emphasizes unity, the acceptance of change, and the wisdom found in balancing logic and emotion.

Introduced as Earth's closest, first, and greatest interstellar allies, Star Trek ' s Vulcans are known for their advanced technology, logical mindset, and seemingly emotionless demeanor. Vulcan culture values intelligence and rationality, leading them to prioritize exploration and political success. Despite a stoic exterior, Vulcans form deep connections with others, placing great value on privacy and private contemplation. Vulcan's strong and co-founding presence in the United Federation of Planets highlights a respected standing in the galaxy. The Vulcan relationship with Earth is challenging, beneficial, and instructive, revealing a collection of wise insights and philosophical ideals .

The Vulcan proverbs from Star Trek's series and movies offer a glimpse into the values and beliefs that shape this enigmatic alien race. With their extraordinary abilities like touch-telepathy, exceptional hearing, and impeccable logic, Vulcans navigate the universe with a perspective far removed from humans. The contrast between Vulcan's emphasis on reason and Earth's curious impulsiveness creates an enjoyable and intriguing dynamic. Delving into the essence of Vulcan culture reveals a complex society that seeks to balance tradition with progress, making them a fascinating and essential part of the Star Trek universe.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

"live long and prosper", star trek: the original series season 2, episode 5 - "amok time".

The iconic Vulcan saying " Live long and prosper " was first uttered in Star Trek: The Original Series but frequently repeated in the franchise's later series and movies. This traditional farewell greeting is often accompanied by a one-handed gesture dubbed the Vulcan salute. The farewell was first spoken by Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the TOS season 2 episode, "Amok Time," following the kal-if-fee (challenge) fight with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Believing that he has killed Kirk, Spock addresses the Vulcan Priestess T'Pau (Celia Lovsky) and tells her that he " shall do neither " when she responds with the phrase in kind.

Leonard Nimoy based the famous Vulcan hand salute on a Jewish priestly blessing.

"Amok Time" is an important Star Trek episode offering a rare insight into Vulcan customs, culture, and tradition. It also reflects on the power of strong emotions as Spock experiences a charged combination of fear, anger, lust, and grief as events unfold. The phrase " Live long and prosper " has evolved into a timeless symbol of hope and goodwill , resonating throughout the Star Trek franchise and capturing the essence of Vulcan philosophy.

"Infinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations"

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 7 - "is there no truth in beauty".

The Vulcan IDIC, which stands for " Infinite diversity in infinite combinations ," is a fundamental concept in Vulcan philosophy. Introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode " Is There In Truth No Beauty? ", this emblem symbolizes the importance of diversity. The episode delves into themes such as the perception of beauty, tolerance, prejudice, self-worth, and telepathic ability, making the exploration of this core Vulcan value significant and impactful. The IDIC symbol, represented by a triangle over a circle, has become a recurring symbol throughout the Star Trek franchise , appearing in various episodes and even influencing the design of the Prime Timeline Spock 's Jellyfish ship in Star Trek (2009).

The IDIC serves as a reminder of the value of diversity and acceptance, reflecting the ideals upheld by the Vulcan civilization. Its presence in multiple Star Trek iterations demonstrates its enduring relevance and influence on the series' overarching themes. From its introduction as a key component of Vulcan philosophy to its portrayal in various forms throughout the franchise, the IDIC continues to serve as a symbol of unity and appreciation for differences across the galaxy.

“I am pleased to see that we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us.” - Surak"

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 22 - "the savage curtain".

In the iconic Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Savage Curtain," Captain Kirk and Spock become engaged in a study of good and evil. Upon their first encounter with the historical icon Surak (Barry Atwater), the Vulcan philosopher and scientist utters the profound phrase, " I am pleased to see that we are different. May we together be more than the sum of our parts ."

Promoting diversity, inclusion, and peace, the phrase celebrates differences and friendship.

This Vulcan quote encapsulates the core value of diversity and unity within the Star Trek universe , echoing the qualities of IDIC . Promoting diversity, inclusion, and peace, the phrase celebrates differences and friendship and rejects prejudice as petty, illogical, and small-minded. The sentiment is a fitting lesson from the 'father of modern Vulcan civilization,' operating to inspire and remind us of the endless possibilities that can arise when working harmoniously with others.

"In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace." - Tuvok

Star trek: voyager season 5, episode 5 - "once upon a time".

When an ion storm causes Star Trek: Voyager 's Delta Flyer shuttle to crash on a class M planet, leaving the away team stranded, the situation quickly escalates as the craft becomes submerged 3km below ground with the rocky chamber around them filled with toxic gas. With life support failing, Tuvok (Tim Russ) tries to comfort the critically injured away team member as the survivors' air supply dwindles. Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) expresses disbelief at their predicament, musing that he never expected to be buried alive on an unknown planet. Meaning well, Tuvok suggests that "In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace," but the sentiment does little to ease the team's anxiety.

It reflects the logical and tranquil characteristics of Vulcan philosophy.

While Paris jests about preferring the familiar Vulcan saying " Live Long and Prosper ," Tuvok's attempt at solace underscores his stoic nature. Although the comment may fall short of providing immediate comfort, it reflects the logical and tranquil characteristics of Vulcan philosophy in challenging situations. Outside the dire circumstances they face, Tuvok's words hold a deeper wisdom that resonates with the composed demeanor of his species.

"Nothing Unreal Exists"

Star trek iv: the voyage home.

Shortly after Spock's resurrection on Vulcan , he undertakes an educational memory test and is presented with questions on various topics, including science, maths, and philosophy. When asked, " What is Kiri-kin-tha's first law ?" Spock correctly answers, " Nothing unreal exists. " This law, stemming from Surak's teachings, showcases the Vulcans' logical and analytical thinking, offering a simplified insight into the complex topic of metaphysics. It provides a foundation for understanding philosophical meaning and existence and showcases the impressive depth of Vulcan knowledge, wisdom, and reasoning.

The significance of Kiri-kin-tha's first law is revisited in Star Trek: Enterprise , season four episode "The Forge," where Arev (Michael Nouri) questions Archer about these guiding principles in the Vulcan desert. This retconned narrative twist in the franchise's timeline allows the prequel series to delve deeper into Vulcan cultural themes and build on the concepts introduced in previous iterations of the Star Trek universe.

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one)." - Spock & Kirk k

Star trek ii: the wrath of khan and star trek iii: the search for spock.

One of the most iconic quotes from Star Trek , this phrase is closely tied to the heartbreaking scenes of Mr. Spock's death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . While it is synonymous with this moment, the phrase also appears in several of the franchise's other films. In this second movie, Spock sacrifices himself to repair the ship and save the crew from ongoing attack , ultimately succumbing to radiation poisoning. His final words to Kirk, emphasizing the logic behind his actions, set the stage for a recurring theme that extends into the next film, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock .

After Spock's resurrection, Kirk offers a different perspective on the phrase. When Spock asks Kirk why he sacrificed so much to help him, Kirk inverts the sentiment by stating that "the needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many." This quote reversal speaks to the ongoing struggle between logic and emotion seen throughout the franchise's various shows, particularly in Star Trek: The Original Series .

"One man can summon the future." - T'Pol / "One man cannot summon the future." - Spock

Star trek: enterprise season 4, episode 13 - "united" & star trek: the original series season 2, episode 10 - "mirror, mirror".

In a crucial moment to protect an operational alliance, Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) arranges to take the place of a Tellerite dignitary in a fight to the death with the Andorian Commander, Thy'lek Shran (Jeffrey Combs). First Officer T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) expresses concern for Archer's safety , but he argues that - of the three parties negotiating - his death is the only one that would not endanger the alliance. This fourth season episode of Star Trek: Enterprise hints at the early steps towards forming the United Federation of Planets .

Both instances exemplify the power of individuals in pivotal moments.

The sentiment is inverted in an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series , where Captain James T. Kirk attempts to convince the ruthless Mirror universe Spock of the futility of an illogical universe. Spock is dismissive, stating that " one man cannot summon the future, " but Kirk underscores the significance of individual actions in shaping the present. Both instances exemplify the power of individuals in pivotal moments within the Star Trek universe, reinforcing the idea that personal choices can greatly impact the course of events.

"Change is the essential process of all existence." - Spock

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 15 - "let that be your last battlefield".

Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew are inadvertently involved in a long-standing conflict between Lokai (Lou Antonio) and Commissioner Bele (Frank Gorshin) , a fugitive and his pursuer from the planet Cheron. This allegorical episode explores themes of racism and prejudice, revenge, hatred, and obsession - the two guest alien characters are too stubbornly caught up in their vendetta to notice the obliteration of their planet. Highlighting this idea and observing their driven visitors' intractable views and behavior, Spock remarks to Bele that " change is the essential process of all existence ." Bele is too focused on his task to capture Lokai, and the lesson goes unheeded.

With change comes progress.

It's an important observation of life , however, subtly acknowledging that with change comes progress. Though the sentiment seems at odds with the slow, stuffy perception of Vulcan tradition, it provides a clear perspective when considering the development and evolution of Vulcan culture and history in shows such as Star Trek: The Original Series and Enterprise .

"Without followers, evil cannot spread." - Spock

Star trek: the original series season 3, episode 5 - "and the children shall lead".

Captain James T. Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew face a formidable enemy that preys on their deepest fears to take over the ship and control their minds. With the help of a group of impressionable young children who follow the "Friendly Angel" known simply as Gorgon (Melvin Belli), a non-corporeal being from the Triacus, Kirk and Spock find themselves isolated and outnumbered on their own ship.

Realizing the children's pivotal role in the enemy's plans, Spock reminds Kirk that evil thrives only with the support of followers . It's a dark moment that highlights the predation of evil on innocents. This insight prompts them to strategize how to reclaim the Enterprise and defeat the Gorgon. The allegorical message of how evil spreads through cooperation, manipulation, and ignorance is a timeless and historically significant lesson that gains new perspective in light of the evolving Vulcan history depicted in later series.

"Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end." - Spock

Star trek vi: the undiscovered country.

In the 1991 movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , Spock is confronted with the reality that his protégé, Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrell) , is conspiring against the Federation to sabotage diplomatic negotiations and assassinate the Klingon Chancellor. Spock's statement that " Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end " is a profound message that reflects the idea that knowledge and understanding go beyond mere logic. Spock's own diverse experiences and interactions with a mostly Human crew and multiple other alien species undoubtedly shape his perspective, offering an informed insight that wisdom involves more than analysis and reasoning.

Spock's unique background as a Vulcan-human hybrid has given him a deeper understanding of the complexities of wisdom. Despite the long-standing internal struggle between his logical and emotional sides, Spock recognizes the importance of embracing both aspects to achieve true knowledge. Themes of unity and diversity resonate throughout the Star Trek universe , emphasizing the value of different perspectives in finding solutions and ultimately achieving peace.

All Star Trek series (except Star Trek: Prodigy) are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek I-X (movies) are available to stream on Max.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star trek: voyager, star trek: enterprise, star trek: discovery.