Talk:Omega molecule

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'An Omega molecule would be so energetic that even a few molecules would, in theory, be able to power a whole civilization.'

For how long? This statement lacks prescision. --<unsigned>

Unfortunetly, we can't fix this statement, as that is all we know. Here is the episode quote:

JANEWAY: "Not just any molecule. The most powerful substance known to exist. A single Omega molecule contains the same energy as a warp core. In theory, a small chain of them could sustain a civilisation. The molecule was first synthesised over a hundred years ago, by a Starfleet physicist named Ketteract. I think he was hoping to develop an inexhaustible power source."

Janeway did not specify how long, so we cannot either. --OuroborosCobra ^talk 02:49, 31 August 2006 (UTC)

I interpreted "sustain" to mean "power indefinitely assuming the civilization doesn't expand too much." Of course, that still leaves open the question of what KIND of civilization. Gonk ^(Gonk!) 15:28, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

"...even a few Omega molecules could effectively end spacefaring travel in an entire quadrant or even the entire galaxy."

I don't recall the episode taking the destruction to the galactic scale (although I could be mistaken). I seem to remember Janeway commenting on the 200 million particles the alien civilization created and stated it could take out half the quadrant. Cygnis 05:46, 1 August 2007 (UTC)

I just watched it, and she did say that a big enough number of omega particles could end interstellar travel across most or all of the galaxy. Gonk ^(Gonk!) 15:28, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

So did I. Her words were such:

• "Omega destroys subspace, a chain reaction involving a handful of molecules could devastate subspace throughout an entire quadrant. If that were to happen, warp travel would become impossible. Spacefaring civilization as we know it would cease to exist."
• "If a large scale omega explosion occurs, we will lose the ability to go to warp forever."
• "There's enough here to wipe out subspace across half the quadrant"

You must also read them in context of a ship stranded in the Delta quadrant, utilizing warp to get home (especially the second one). I may also note that #3 is referencing 200,000,000 molecules. Speculation on how much ore was required is staggering considering the Borg didn't have enough to synthesize Omega a second time after creating a single molecule. Further, the only time she mentioned galaxy was in the beginning of her briefing when she said that Starfleet saw it not only as a threat to the Federation, but to the galaxy. Logical for anything that could be used as a weapon of mass destruction. -- Cygnis 19:49, 7 July 2009 (UTC)