Bolding Going...Nowhere

I don’t know about you, but I had all my faith put into a Star Trek future. I have grown up watching reruns, Next Generations, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and most recently, Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine Chris Pine - I mean, could Pine’s eyes be more dreamy?  Anyway,  l have invested a lot of time in a future I thought was a guarantee. We have some of the technological advances first seen in Star Trek episodes back in the 60’s, so were our way, right?Then I read an article about plate tectonics - well, technically I read an article about someone named Dr. Scherf who may have wrecked my future plans. I’m no scientist, so I’m going to paraphrase. A lot. Basically, Dr. Scherf says that the way continents move around our planet is like a cosmic waltz and the fact they dance is the reason we are not living in an oven right now. As these gigantic slabs of Earth’s crust crash and sink, they drag carbon dioxide down into the mantle, helping regulate the planet’s temperature. It’s geology’s version of life support and as life supports tend to go, it’s essential. And the good doctor says without this reality, planets basically cook themselves. Translation: no tectonic plates, no breathable air, no water, no intelligent life and he figures Earth is one of the only places in the galaxy with this particular setup. In short, plate tectonics might be the reason we exist and it might also be why nobody else does.

Cue the sound of millions of Trekkies crying into their communicator badges.

I’ve spent most of my life watching Star Trek and genuinely believing that someday we’d have warp drives, universal translators (wait - we kind of have this one now), and diplomatic brunches with the Vulcans. I’ve pinned all my hopes and dreams on a Star Trek future and it’s a future where humanity gets its act together, stops fighting over religion, land, oil and online posts, and one where we start exploring the stars in matching jumpsuits.

But if Scherf’s right, and extraterrestrial civilizations are rare because their planets don’t have Earth’s fancy carbon-recycling system, then… what the heck? This is it? We’re the galaxy’s only sentient species, and our greatest technological achievement is arguing with strangers online about pineapple on pizza? I’m pro-pineapple, by the way.

Honestly, if there are no friendly aliens, no Borg to outsmart, no Klingons to toast blood wine with, then what’s the point of all this chaos? The planet’s a mess, the people are worse, and I’m starting to think maybe we don’t deserve a Federation membership.

Earth has spent billions of years keeping us alive with its geological ballet, and how do we repay it? By lighting the atmosphere on fire, one carbon molecule at a time. Plate tectonics quietly balances our climate over eons, while we can’t even balance a national budget. Somewhere deep in the mantle, the planet is probably facepalming.

If the Star Trek future isn’t real, then maybe the lesson is that the secrets of our universe were never supposed to be out there and maybe it’s about what is right here. Maybe “boldly going” starts with learning to coexist without blowing ourselves up. Maybe we’re supposed to be the Vulcans  and we should be the logical and peaceful explorers of knowledge rather than Ferengi with credit cards.

Still, I can’t let go of the dream. I want the warp engines and transporter beams and I want to  dream that we’re part of something bigger. Or I at least want another movie about it. Can someone check Chris Pine’s schedule? I’m pretty sure Zachary Quinto is in. As usual, if I can’t have the reality I dream of, I want to see it on the silver screen. And if this really is all there is, we need to take care of this rock. Live long and … recycle.