# Quantum singularity > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Quantum_singularity > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Quantum_singularity.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_singularity > Source revision: 1344164357 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) The term **quantum singularity** is used to refer to many different phenomena in fiction. They often only approximate a [gravitational singularity](/source/Gravitational_singularity) in the scientific sense in that they are massive, localized distortions of space and time. The name invokes one of the most fundamental problems remaining in modern physics: the difficulty in uniting Einstein's [theory of relativity](/source/Theory_of_relativity), which includes singularities within its models of [black holes](/source/Black_hole), and [quantum mechanics](/source/Quantum_mechanics). In fact, since according to relativity, singularities, by definition, are infinitely small, and expected to be quantum mechanical by nature, a theory of [quantum gravity](/source/Quantum_gravity) would be required to describe their behavior. No such theory has yet been formulated.[1] ## *Star Trek* A [Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek) quantum singularity is a phenomenon of multiple varieties. One such variety appears in the *[Star Trek: Voyager](/source/Star_Trek:_Voyager)* episode "[Parallax](/source/Parallax_(Voyager_episode))" which creates a mirror image along with a temporal distortion. Voyager flies into the singularity after seeing an image of itself inside, and becomes trapped. To escape, the crew uses a shuttle to fire a [tachyon](/source/Tachyon) beam at the entry point along the [event horizon](/source/Event_horizon). In the *Voyager* episode "[Hunters](/source/Hunters_(Voyager_episode))", the crew discover a [Hirogen](/source/Hirogen) relay station almost 100,000 years old, powered by a quantum singularity, which Tom Paris explicitly refers to in this episode as a [black hole](/source/Black_hole). The word "tiny" is used to describe the quantum singularity in this case, as about "a centimeter" in diameter, making it relatively large, although it is more likely that the stated diameter instead refers to the singularity's event horizon. In the episode "[Scorpion](/source/Scorpion_(Voyager_episode))", [Species 8472](/source/Species_8472) and the [Borg](/source/Borg), make use of quantum singularities to travel to and from fluidic space, an extra-galactic realm (and implied parallel universe) housing the former. Artificial quantum singularities are also used to power [Romulan Warbirds](/source/Romulan_Warbird) as first described in the *[Star Trek: The Next Generation](/source/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation)* episode "[Face of the Enemy](/source/Face_of_the_Enemy_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation))". Additionally, in the *[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine](/source/Star_Trek:_Deep_Space_Nine)* episode "[Visionary](/source/Visionary_(DS9_episode))", the side effects from such quantum singularities interacting with "delta-series radiation" cause Miles O'Brien to shift through time. Previously, the episode *[Past Tense](/source/Past_Tense_(Star_Trek:_Deep_Space_Nine))* had the side effects of a [quantum singularity explosion](/source/Black_hole_evaporation) causing the [ship's transporter](/source/Transporter_(Star_Trek)) to send people back through time. ## *Futurama* In the *[Futurama](/source/Futurama)* episode "[Love and Rocket](/source/Love_and_Rocket)", after [Bender](/source/Bender_(Futurama)) breaks up with the *Planet Express Ship*, whom he only dated during this episode, the ship, which took the break-up pretty hard, threatens to fly into a giant [quasar](/source/Quasar). Thus "the power of [10 billion black holes](/source/Supermassive_black_hole) will smush me and Bender together into a beautiful eternal quantum singularity." Bender gets the crew out of the situation by professing his love for the ship, albeit sarcastically, which distracts her long enough for [Fry](/source/Philip_J._Fry) and [Leela](/source/Leela_(Futurama)) to disable the ship's logical processes and restore [life-support systems](/source/Life-support_system). ## *Megas XLR* In the [Megas XLR](/source/Megas_XLR) episode "Battle Royale", the villain Magnanimous threatens to drop Kiva and Jamie into a quantum singularity, which he says is "like a black hole, only portable, and with a cooler name." ## *Farscape* In the [Farscape](/source/Farscape) episode ["Back and Back and Back to the Future"](/source/List_of_Farscape_episodes#Season_1_(1999–2000)), a scientist belonging to the Ilanic race develops a quantum singularity [ultimate weapon](/source/Weapon_of_mass_destruction), described essentially as a portable black hole, to be used against their enemies. ## *Stargate SG-1* The Supergate, a gigantic [Stargate](/source/Stargate_(device)) designed by the [Ori](/source/Ori_(Stargate)) to allow the intergalactic transport of starships, is made up of 90 smaller pieces assembled using a regular Stargate. Once interconnected, a nearby planet is collapsed into a quantum singularity using a special [force field](/source/Force_field_(fiction)) to provide the massive power needed to open a [wormhole](/source/Wormhole) to the Ori galaxy. [Samantha Carter](/source/Samantha_Carter) theorizes that the singularity allows a connection to be maintained indefinitely. The first Ori attempt to create a Supergate in the Milky Way fails, when [Vala Mal Doran](/source/Vala_Mal_Doran) inserts her Tel'tak into the incomplete ring and prevents the segments from connecting completely. The shockwave from the forming singularity blasts the gate into oblivion. A second Supergate is later successfully built allowing a fleet of Ori motherships passage into the Milky Way. The [SGC](/source/Stargate_Command) eventually blocks Ori access to the Supergate by opening a connection from a Pegasus gate powered by a "natural" black hole. ## *City of Heroes* In the [MMORPG](/source/MMORPG) *[City of Heroes](/source/City_of_Heroes)*, the quantum singularity is the "pet" power a gravity controller attains at level 32. The singularity takes the form of a portable human sized ball of light surrounded by waves of coloured energy that follows its summoner. The singularity has a variety of gravity based attacks. ## References 1. Greene, Brian (2000). *[The Elegant Universe](/source/The_Elegant_Universe)*. [Random House](/source/Random_House). ISBN 0-375-70811-1. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Quantum singularity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_singularity) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_singularity?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.