12 Star Trek-Inspired Technologies That Are Now Real

For tech enthusiasts who grew up in the 1960s, '80s, and '90s, the future was vividly imagined by the iconic TV series Star Trek. Surprisingly, many of these futuristic concepts are becoming reality faster than even the show's creators anticipated. Here are 12 devices from Star Trek that have transitioned from science fiction to real-world innovation.

1. The Food Replicator

Remember Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordering "Tea, Earl Grey, hot!" and having it materialize instantly? While modern 3D printers haven't mastered beverages yet, there are machines capable of printing edible items. Devices like the MakerBot Replicator 2 excel at crafting small objects, mirroring the functionality seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

2. Universal Translator

In numerous episodes, the universal translator amazed viewers by instantly deciphering alien languages. In later series, it was embedded into communication badges, explaining why nearly everyone, regardless of their origin, spoke English. Today, apps like Voice Translator by TalirApps can translate 71 languages (though Klingon isn’t supported yet). Simply speak in your language, and the app converts it into another.

3. Tablet Computers

Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge—famously known from Reading Rainbow—relied on tablet computers, referred to as Personal Access Data Devices (PADDs), to input coordinates for interstellar travel. Other Starfleet members used them for entertainment, such as watching videos or listening to music, much like how we use tablets today.

4. Tricorder

In the series, the tricorder is a portable tool designed to detect geological, biological, and atmospheric irregularities. Quite useful! In 2012, Peter Jansen of McMaster University in Ontario developed a functional prototype capable of scanning magnetic fields and other disturbances. Additionally, numerous real-world versions of the tricorder have emerged.

5. Holodeck

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, characters could step into a chamber aboard the Enterprise and virtually visit their home planet for a barbecue or even engage with holographic companions. Inspired by this, students at the University of Southern California brought virtual reality closer to reality with Project Holodeck, using VR headsets to craft immersive fictional environments. (No reports of interactions with Minuet, though.)

6. Communicator Badge

In the original series, Kirk and his team used portable communicators. However, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Starfleet members wore communication badges on their uniforms' left side. A California-based company named Vocera has developed a comparable device that clips onto clothing. These are primarily used in hospitals to reduce constant overhead announcements.

7. Tractor Beam

Using an invisible tractor beam to pull a ship might sound like science fiction, but two professors from New York University are turning it into reality. Their experiment, which manipulates microscopic particles using light beams, isn't ready for NASA missions yet, but it demonstrates significant advancements in the field.

8. Natural Language Queries

In the Star Trek world, characters can engage in casual conversations with a computer (voiced by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, wife of Trek creator Gene). Today, we have Siri and Alexa, which, while not as advanced, represent early steps toward achieving a system like Star Trek's computer, which excels at understanding complex contexts. Google even named its voice service "Majel" as a tribute to Barrett-Roddenberry.

9. Warp Drive

While Star Trek never provides a detailed explanation of how warp drives function, it’s understood they involve bending space to travel faster than light. Though it seems impossible, NASA is actively researching this concept.

10. Phaser

Captain Kirk was quite skilled with a phaser, often opting for more than just the stun setting. Interestingly, a similar technology has been in use since the first Iraq War. Called a dazzler, this directed-energy weapon emits electromagnetic pulses to immobilize targets instantly.

11. Teleportation

Captain Kirk and his crew didn’t rely on airplanes or space elevators to travel—they used the U.S.S. Enterprise's transporter (a dream scenario for anyone stuck in airport security lines). While we’ve achieved teleportation with photons and atoms, these particles don’t vanish and reappear. Instead, as Forbes explains, "the quantum state information of a photon is transferred to another via quantum entanglement, bypassing the physical distance." The original photon is destroyed, and an exact copy emerges elsewhere. Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku notes that with 15 trillion cells in the human body, it will take centuries before we can teleport like Kirk—and even then, the original would still be destroyed.

12. Hypospray

In the realm of Star Trek, needles are obsolete, eliminating the fear of injections, known as trypanophobia. Dr. McCoy famously used a painless hypospray to deliver medication through the skin. Inspired by this, MIT has developed a groundbreaking device, as reported by Geek.com, capable of administering drugs at astonishing speeds of up to 340 meters per second in less than a millisecond. This innovative tool allows precise control over dosage and injection depth, ensuring patients feel nothing more than a gentle touch on their skin, akin to a mosquito's bite. While not the first of its kind, its advanced precision sets it apart, potentially revolutionizing medical practices by replacing traditional needles and making pediatric visits far less daunting.