Template:DidYouKnow
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
Did You Know!This page lists all weekly DYK templates that are included on the main page – to edit one of the templates, use the "edit these entries" link. Please make sure...
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Check the current and upcoming DYKs right now and see if something needs to be added or changed! |
Current DYK (week 37) ...that a photograph of a young Tom Paris seen on his father Admiral Owen Paris's desk at Starfleet Command in VOY: "Pathfinder" was actually was a still shot from TNG: "The First Duty" of Nicholas Locarno, also played by Robert Duncan McNeill? Interestingly, Tom Paris' character was initially modeled after the Locarno character. ...that the Star Trek Generations quote "Time is the fire in which we burn" actually came from Gene Roddenberry? They were given to the movie's villain, Tolian Soran, and the actor who played him (Malcolm McDowell) had it engraved into a pocket watch. ...that Star Trek: Enterprise's "In a Mirror, Darkly" is the 700th hour-long episode of Star Trek? In this count, Paramount Pictures did not include the 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series or the ten feature-length motion pictures. Next DYK (week 38)... that both Zachary Quinto of NBC's Heroes and Leonard Nimoy will be playing Spock in the new Star Trek movie?
... that the first season of Star Trek Remastered was released on the now-defunct HD-DVD? ... "Miri" and "Balance of Terror" were the first remastered episodes of The Original Series? ...that the remastered original pilot for Star Trek: The Original Series, "The Cage", was scheduled to air 26 April 2008, but it currently does not have a release date? ...that according to the behind-the-scenes book Star Trek: Where No One Has Gone Before has the stardate of the scenes in Star Trek Generations with the USS Enterprise-B as stardate 9715.0? |
Week 1
...that chroniton torpedoes exist in a constant state of temporal flux?
...that the Cliffs of Bole were named for veteran director Cliff Bole?
...that Deep Space 9's Promenade was the largest standing set in Hollywood?
...that Jean-Luc Picard is the only Captain known to command two different Enterprises of different classes, the Galaxy-class and the Sovereign-class?
Week 2
...that the Bajoran people reached an advanced level of technology before Humans had learned to walk upright?
...that by 2376, numerous discharged versions of the Emergency Medical Hologram Mark I were used to scrape plasma conduits or to mine dilithium ore?
...that Michael Dorn has the most 'regular cast' appearances of any main actor in the Trek franchise, spanning five movies and eleven television seasons across two series?
Week 3
...that James T. Kirk was the first cadet at Starfleet Academy to pass the no-win test "Kobayashi Maru" by secretly reprogramming the simulation computer to make it possible to win?
...that the non-humanoid Tholians live at temperatures over 200 °C?
...that a second Star Trek franchise after Star Trek: The Original Series called Star Trek: Phase II was already planned in the late seventies, but then commuted to Star Trek: The Motion Picture?
Week 4
...that the TNG episode "Unification II" was filmed before "Unification I"?
...that, in 2026, Buck Bokai broke Joe DiMaggio's record for scoring hits in consecutive baseball games?
...that LeVar Burton has directed episodes in all four modern Trek series?
Week 5
...that by 2040, television had lost its significance as a means of entertainment on Earth?
...that most humanoid lifeforms in the Milky Way Galaxy have a common ancestry: a species, formally called the Progenitors, who lived some four billion years ago?
...that Star Trek: Enterprise stood on the brink of cancellation after its third season, but was granted to proceed after UPN renegotiated the fee it paid Paramount Pictures for the series?
Week 6
...that Star Trek: The Next Generation actors Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn and LeVar Burton are performing in a band called 'The Sunspots'?
...that the original Star Trek episode "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" was reused as an artwork for a new version of William Shakespeare's drama 'Romeo and Juliet' performed by Trekkies?
Week 7
...that on the sets of Star Trek: Enterprise, sixteen Macintosh PowerMac G4 Cubes were used to power the many computer display screens on the bridge, engineering, and sickbay sets, among others?
...that members of the Aaamazzarite species biochemically produce their clothing from their mouths?
...that a computer screen in TNG: "The Big Goodbye" lists episode writer Tracy Tormé as the author of The Big Good-Bye and other Dixon Hill stories?
Week 8
...that the corridors seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation were actually built for Phase II in the late 1970s when that series was budgeted for preproduction? They were refurbished again and again until they made their final appearance in Star Trek Generations in 1994, more than fifteen years after their inception, as the corridors of the USS Enterprise-D.
...that when he was young, Martok had a pet targ that his wife Sirella "accidentally" caused to get lost upon their marriage?
...that according to TAS: "The Time Trap", the USS Bonaventure was the first starship to have warp drive installed?
Week 9
...that two years after Lily Sloane accused Captain Jean-Luc Picard of behaving like the vengeful Captain Ahab in Star Trek: First Contact, actor Patrick Stewart played the role of Ahab in Franc Roddam's 1998 miniseries adaptation of Moby Dick?
...that not only does a Vulcan undergo pon farr every seven years to force him/her to reproduce, but that this condition can be induced through a mind meld or exposure to certain pathogens?
...that Marina Sirtis originally auditioned for the role of security chief Macha Hernandez on Star Trek: The Next Generation? Denise Crosby was to play counselor Deanna Troi until Gene Roddenberry decided to switch the two actresses, renaming Hernandez to Natasha Yar, and was given a Ukrainian background to match to Crosby's blond hair.
Week 10
...that the Whorfin-class ships, SS Lakul and SS Robert Fox, were the first fully computer-generated ships to appear in a Star Trek movie or series?
...that Star Trek: Enterprise's Linda Park once dated Tom Hardy, who portrayed Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis?
...that by the 24th century, there are over 50 million people living on Earth's moon?
Week 11
...that Lieutenant Ayala (played by Tarik Ergin) appeared in almost every episode of Star Trek: Voyager, but only spoke in four episodes?
...that in ENT: "United", T'Pol says there is a Vulcan saying, "One man can summon the future." In ""Mirror, Mirror", mirror Spock recited a Vulcan saying in the mirror universe that "One man cannot summon the future."?
...that in the pre-production stages of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine the writers worked on the idea of a starbase on the surface of Bajor before deciding to set the series aboard a space station?
Week 12
...that in November 2003, the character of Crewman Elizabeth Cutler had to be removed from future storyboards of Star Trek: Enterprise because of actress Kellie Waymire's sudden death?
...that in the DS9 pilot "Emissary" only, the wormhole (which had yet to be discovered) does not appear in the opening credits?
...that Lt. Valeris was originally intended to be Lt. Saavik, but Gene Roddenberry decided later that it was out of character for Saavik to be a traitor?
Week 13
...that out of 282 Star Trek appearances, Michael Dorn's only appearance without prosthetic make-up was in the DS9 episode "Far Beyond the Stars"?
...that the Enterprise visited the galactic barrier once per season throughout the three-year run of Star Trek: The Original Series?
...that Brent Spiner appears in all but one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation? His only non-appearance is the episode "Family".
Week 14
...that Q, the son of Q and Q, was played by Keegan de Lancie, the son of John de Lancie?
...that the brig of the Enterprise NX-01 was first seen in the third season episode "Anomaly"?
...that all Talosians were played by females, then dubbed with male voices, in order to make them seem more alien?
...that the writing staff had difficulty writing for Deanna Troi? According to Marina Sirtis, the character of Troi was almost dropped in November 1987 after the character went unused in "Hide and Q", "Datalore", "11001001" and "Heart of Glory".
Week 15
...that the most referenced, non-featured starships during the eras of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: The Original Series, and Star Trek: Enterprise were respectively the Excelsior-class USS Hood, Constitution-class USS Potemkin and the Intrepid?
...that in the original series episode "Court Martial", when the sounds around the ship are amplified "on the order of one to the fourth power", that one to the fourth power is... one. Not much amplification there.
...that several Girl Scout cookie billboards have had the slogan "Resistance is Futile" next to some smiling, innocent Girl Scouts?
Week 16
...that many fans, and even the Paramount Pictures staff (including Rick Sternbach) discount the events of the Voyager episode "Threshold", due to its severe scientific flaws. Brannon Braga admits it was the single worst episode he ever wrote - yet ironically, he created and produced a show called Threshold premiering in fall of 2005.
...that Commodore Stone was the highest ranking Human character of African descent during the original series? He commanded Starbase 11, and at one point captained a starship.
Week 17
...that Commander Thy'lek Shran's captain's chair aboard the Kumari started out as Captain Janeway's chair on USS Voyager?
...that a model of the DY-100 class, the same as Khan Singh's ship, appears in Rain Robinson's office in 1996?
...that the movie Kill Bill begins with a quote from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? The opening frames read "Revenge is a dish best served cold", which the film attributes to an "old Klingon proverb."
Week 18
...that male actors were also being looked at for the role of Captain Janeway? Although the producers were hoping to find a woman for the series, they were open to a man if they found him to be the best actor for the role. The honor was given initially to Geneviève Bujold and later to Kate Mulgrew.
...that originally, the three brightest stars on the emblem of the United Federation of Planets (as designed for TNG) were going to represent Vulcan, Qo'noS, and Earth because it was thought that the Klingons might have actually joined the Federation?
...that among the Borg debris in the Arctic Circle in ENT: "Regeneration" is the saucer section of the filming model of the USS Enterprise-E?
...that the episode "Deja Q" was originally about a looming Klingon-Federation war that was caused by Q, who had "faked" his loss of powers, only to later come in to become the hero?
Week 19
...that the idea of the katric ark (a device to store a Vulcan's katra after death) did not originate on Enterprise? In non-canon stories, a similar device was depicted by J.M. Dillard's novels, The Lost Years and the novelization of Star Trek V.
Week 20
...that both Patrick Stewart and Avery Brooks directed the penultimate episode ("Preemptive Strike" and "The Dogs of War") of their respective series?
...that both Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan set records for box office earnings at their time of release?
Week 21
...that "In a Mirror, Darkly" is the 700th hour-long live-action Trek production?
...that Armin Shimerman, Robert Duncan McNeill, Colm Meaney, Ethan Phillips, and Tim Russ all appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation before becoming regular cast members?
Week 22
...that in the script for ENT: "Broken Bow", the two Teneebian moons were originally to be two Andorian moons, but were changed because the writers wanted to introduce the Andorians over the course of the series?
...that there have been at least 34 references to the work of William Shakespeare in all Star Trek series and movies including quotes, episode titles, and storylines?
...that three sports teams of the sport played on Kelemane's planet are named in canon, but the sport itself is not?
...that Gene Roddenberry has four characters named after him in the Star Trek universe?
Week 23
...that the mask originally worn by the character Michael Myers in the 1978 film Halloween was actually a Captain Kirk mask that was spray-painted white, given teased out hair, and reshaped eye holes? It was chosen because the low-budget production could not afford to make its own mask and the Kirk mask had an emotionless look to it.
...that the Story of the Promise foretold that Kahless would one day return from Sto-Vo-Kor to the planet Boreth and once again lead his people?
...that the Kobali were capable of reanimating dead lifeforms in order to procreate their species, but the reanimated corpse would have a limited memory of his or her prior life?
Week 24
...that early design drafts of the USS Voyager and the USS Defiant had eliminated the viewscreen on the bridge, but it was thought to be too important to the "Trek feeling" and was added back in?
...that Michael Braveheart had 58 uncredited appearances as Martinez in Star Trek: The Next Generation, had a line on four instances, and said "Yes, Doctor" all four times?
...that the kitchen aboard the USS Enterprise-A had a weapons locker when even the bridge didn't have one?
...that Patrick Stewart directed five TNG episodes, and four of which starred Brent Spiner as the main protagonist?
Week 25
...that Romulan ale was considered illegal throughout the Federation for at least 100 years before the ban was lifted in 2374, but was reinstated by 2379 after the Dominion War? And that despite the embargo, many Starfleet officers had actually tried the beverage some time in their career?
...that Jean-Luc Picard owns a Ressikan flute that could be the only surviving artifact left of the extinct species from the planet Kataan?
...that being caught committing a crime within a randomly and secretly located punishment zone on Rubicun III was punishable by execution?
...that the gymnasium on board the Galaxy-class starship USS Enterprise-D had aerobic studios, martial arts areas, a parrises squares area, an anbo-jytsu court, and featured a fencing room?
Week 26
...that Data had his mind and body taken over on separate occasions by Ira Graves, Noonien Soong, Ux-Mal criminals, and the D'Arsay archive; and his ethical program disabled by Lore; and lost his memory on Barkon IV; and malfunctioned on Ba'ku?
...that the USS Thunderchild is the only named Akira-class starship that has been seen on-screen?
...that the inhabitants of the Vinri system in the Delta Quadrant have been described as being "mostly harmless"?
Week 27
...that 1994's "Genesis" was the first episode of Star Trek to be directed by a female cast member? It was directed by Gates McFadden. The next female cast director would be Roxann Dawson's "Riddles", on Star Trek: Voyager.
...that the Kazon were originally meant to be a social commentary on "gangs" in the United States, aggressive groups that only looked out for each other?
...that according to the personnel file for Captain Jonathan Archer seen in "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II", the planet Enterprise visited in "Strange New World" was later named Archer IV in his honor? The file lists that several hundred million people live on a colony there in the 23rd century after a cure for the hallucinogenic pollen there was found.
Week 28
...that Jeffrey Combs, who had originally auditioned for the role of William T. Riker, was cast as Tiron in DS9: "Meridian" by the director Jonathan Frakes, who actually got the part of Riker?
...that the Ferengi were originally created to be the main antagonist to the Federation replacing the Klingons, but were perceived to be nonthreatening, and eventually the Borg were devised to play the villain role with much greater success?
...that the Ferengi were then re-imaged to become profit-driven, yet amicable, as mostly seen on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
Week 29
...that Felix Locher is the earliest born Star Trek performer and coincidentally, played Robert Johnson, a character who was one of the last to die from premature old age on Gamma Hydra IV?
...that John Billingsley tried to get his wife Bonita Friedericy a role on Star Trek: Enterprise as one of his character's wives, but she did appear as Rooney, a Human scientist in ENT: "Regeneration"?
...that the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" attracted 13.1 million viewers for its premiere, which was the third highest rating of the series?
...that in the mirror universe, an Admiral Black has been seen on-screen, but his counterpart has not been referenced in the "regular" universe?
Week 30
...that the town of Riverside in Iowa has officially laid claim to Captain James T. Kirk, and is even home to a memorial plaque?
...that since the filming of Star Trek Generations, Brannon Braga has admitted that, if he did it over again, Kirk wouldn't have died?
...that Michael Dorn is the only actor to appear as a series regular in two Star Trek spin-offs, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
Week 31
...that Whoopi Goldberg's character Guinan appears in three different time periods: 1893 San Francisco, (TNG: "Time's Arrow") 2293 aboard the USS Enterprise-B, (Star Trek Generations) and from 2365 – 2371 as a recurring character during the entire run of Star Trek: The Next Generation?
...that Denise Crosby left Star Trek: The Next Generation before the first season ended because she felt her character was not being given enough to do?
Week 32
...that the first theatrical trailers for Star Trek: First Contact contain very little footage from the film? To launch the promotion on schedule, it needed to be released long before the film was completed. So the score from the Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country trailers were used, along with footage from "The Best of Both Worlds". Curiously, even USS Voyager appears in the trailer, in what appears to be a scene with the USS Enterprise-D from "Best of Both Worlds."
...that Majel Barrett Roddenberry shares a story-writing credit for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "The Muse", aside from also guest-starring in the episode?
...that the carpets for the bridge on Star Trek: The Next Generation were changed nearly every season? In the first season, they were Earthy tan and orange, and later changed to various shades of blue and dark orange.
...that in Enterprise's "Broken Bow", Commander Williams and Admirals Leonard and Forrest were named for William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley? Admiral Forrest ended up becoming a recurring character.
Week 33
...that the T'Pau was probably named in honor of the Vulcan T'Pau, the only person to reject a seat at the Federation Council?
...that the Breen logo was only shown once in the entire Star Trek series?
...that the DS9 episode "The Storyteller" was the first episode to show the beginning friendship of Julian Bashir and Miles O'Brien?
...that Benjamin Sisko's favorite baseball player Buck Bokai was only shown once in the series?
Week 34
...that a special screening of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was held for Gene Roddenberry just three days before his death on 24 October 1991?
...that Robert Picardo originally auditioned for the role of Neelix before accepting the role of The Doctor? And that the actor who became Neelix, Ethan Phillips, had recently co-starred with Picardo in the film Wagons East!?
...that the first chronological mention of the Tellarites took place in the Enterprise episode "Carbon Creek"?
Week 35
...that in the Next Generation episode "11001001" it is stated that the USS Enterprise-D has twelve phaser banks and in "Conundrum" that it has ten, but a visual count reveals that it actually has eleven? The twelfth phaser bank is only visible when saucer separation has occurred - it is positioned forward of the battle-bridge.
Week 36
...that Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered on 28 September 1987?
...that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine premiered on 3 January 1993?
...that Star Trek: Voyager premiered on 15 January 1995?
...that Star Trek: Enterprise premiered on 26 September 2001?
Week 37
...that a photograph of a young Tom Paris seen on his father Admiral Owen Paris's desk at Starfleet Command in VOY: "Pathfinder" was actually was a still shot from TNG: "The First Duty" of Nicholas Locarno, also played by Robert Duncan McNeill? Interestingly, Tom Paris' character was initially modeled after the Locarno character.
...that the Star Trek Generations quote "Time is the fire in which we burn" actually came from Gene Roddenberry? They were given to the movie's villain, Tolian Soran, and the actor who played him (Malcolm McDowell) had it engraved into a pocket watch.
...that Star Trek: Enterprise's "In a Mirror, Darkly" is the 700th hour-long episode of Star Trek? In this count, Paramount Pictures did not include the 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series or the ten feature-length motion pictures.
Week 38
... that the first season of Star Trek Remastered was released on the now-defunct HD-DVD?
... "Miri" and "Balance of Terror" were the first remastered episodes of The Original Series?
...that the remastered original pilot for Star Trek: The Original Series, "The Cage", was scheduled to air 26 April 2008, but it currently does not have a release date?
...that according to the behind-the-scenes book Star Trek: Where No One Has Gone Before has the stardate of the scenes in Star Trek Generations with the USS Enterprise-B as stardate 9715.0?
Week 39
...that The Next Generation premiered on a Monday with "Encounter at Farpoint"?
...that Deep Space Nine premiered on a Sunday with "Emissary"?
...that Voyager premiered on a Sunday with "Caretaker"?
...that Enterprise premiered on a Wednesday with "Broken Bow"?
Week 40
...that the title of the episode "11001001" translated from binary to decimal is 201?
...that chronologically the earliest time period ever shown in any Star Trek series is the period of the Big Bang in VOY: "Death Wish"?
...that in the novel The Good That Men Do the events of the Enterprise finale, "These Are the Voyages..." are altered drastically?
...that according to the Lost Era novel Serpents Among the Ruins, the Tomed in the Tomed Incident is not a place, but a Romulan ship?
Week 41
...that the Battle of Cardassia in the Deep Space Nine finale "What You Leave Behind" primarily consists of stock footage?
...that in Admiral Ross's original line during the Battle of Cardassia was "The Romulan flagship D'ridthau has been destroyed", but the name of the flagship was dropped from the final cut of the episode?
...that during the Battle of Cardassia several shots of the new Defiant were from previous battles and that in several shots the "NX-74205" registry is clearly visible?
Week 42
...that the Female Changeling was never given an official name such as Odo and Laas were?
...that Rick Berman wanted the Dominion War to be concluded in three to four episodes, but that Ira Steven Behr and Ronald D. Moore knew that they could never conclude the war that quickly?
...Rick Berman and Brannon Braga never created a back story for Future Guy?
Week 43
...that the list of movies featured in the Enterprise episode "Cogenitor" contains in-jokes such as "Dixon Hill and the Black Orchid" and "The Bride of Chaotica", as well as real films, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still?
...that T'Pol's birth year wasn't revealed until "E²", when it was revealed to be 2088?
...that the Enterprise episode "E²" is the shortest title of a Star Trek episode, beating "Q2" by half a character?
Week 44
...that both Andor and Andoria have been used to name the Andorian homeworld?
...that, according to Gene Roddenberry, Vulcan is in the 40 Eridani A system?
Week 45
...that the planet Archer IV, named in honor of Captain Jonathan Archer, was mentioned in the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise" eleven years before Star Trek: Enterprise aired?
...that three of Robert Picardo's castmates from the series China Beach – Megan Gallagher, Jeff Kober, and Concetta Tomei – all went on to guest-star with Picardo on Star Trek: Voyager?
...that Michelle Forbes was approached to reprise her Ro Laren character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but she declined and Nana Visitor's role of Kira Nerys was scripted as a replacement?
...that Gene Roddenberry wrote lyrics for the theme song to Star Trek: The Original Series in order to secure a partial writer's credit for the song? These lyrics were never recorded as part of the original theme song, but have been included in recordings of the Star Trek theme by other artists, including the rock band Tenacious D, lounge band Love Jones, and Star Trek actress