Red Matter - What was it?

[backstept]

of course it's generally accepted that Red Matter was just a macguffin . . . and a way for JJ to get his big red ball into the movie, but is there a plausible() treknobabble explanation for its observed properties?

could it have simply been strange matter?
as in up down and strange quark liquid?
or maybe it could have been some other collection of subatomic particles which when 'ignited' tears a hole in spacetime and replicating the effects of a black hole . . .

I dunno . . . I like to think that it has some explanation rather than just being "oh hey we have this red stuff that makes black holes"

 

[Jeri]

Red Matter, Memory Alpha

 

[backstept]

all that says is that it's highly unstable and a drop eats planets

 

[Crazy Eddie]

It's highly concentrated tabasco sauce.

With a hint of lime.

 

[I-Am-Zim]

On a more serious note: Could it be possible that Red Matter is the stuff that the 24th century Romulans have been using to create the artificial singularities that power their starships? We know that Romulans in the 24th century had the technology to create black holes. So maybe that's what the red stuff was. The only problem with that is if they could do it themselves, why did they need Spock?

 

[startrekrcks]

that's the plot device I think or just because JJ wanted a big red ball.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

On a more serious note: Could it be possible that Red Matter is the stuff that the 24th century Romulans have been using to create the artificial singularities that power their starships? We know that Romulans in the 24th century had the technology to create black holes. So maybe that's what the red stuff was. The only problem with that is if they could do it themselves, why did they need Spock?

Because Spock knows how to do the breakaway slingshot thing and drop the red matter into the nova BEFORE it explodes. The only problem is he didn't start the maneuver until after Romulus had been destroyed, and pissed-off Nero (who didn't know anything about the plan) followed him through the turn.

Or so goes my theory, anyway.

Also, I've occasionally speculated that red matter and protomatter are probably fundamentally similar types of strange matter, judging by the way both tend to trigger unpredictable chain reactions that appear to violate energy conservation requirements.

 

[Jeyl]

It was something the writers threw in because JJ Abrams has a thing for red stuff. I kid you not. It's like they wrote that stuff in there to attract him to the script.

 

[Dukhat]

It was something the writers threw in because JJ Abrams has a thing for red stuff. I kid you not. It's like they wrote that stuff in there to attract him to the script.

Your source for this accusation?

 

[Yeoman Randi]

On a more serious note: Could it be possible that Red Matter is the stuff that the 24th century Romulans have been using to create the artificial singularities that power their starships? We know that Romulans in the 24th century had the technology to create black holes. So maybe that's what the red stuff was. The only problem with that is if they could do it themselves, why did they need Spock?

That's a really great idea. I like that!

Perhaps (and this is fanwank) they didn't harness it until later in this universe.

 

[Dukhat]

Well, those micro-mini-skirted Megan Fox look-alikes who were watching the movie in the theater with me didn't give a crap what red matter was, so I didn't either.

 

[Woulfe]

Red Matter ( pick one from this list )

1. Du Ex Macadamia

2. Plot device pulled from a writer's butt

3. Nothing like Grey Matter

4. Like Dork Matter only far more nurdyer

5. Really Really Really Really Really Really Hot, Hot Sauce

6. Nothing like Auntie Matter

7. How much wood that woodchuck chucked after chucking all that wood that he could chuck

8. My left foot

9. Your left foot

10. All the missing socks in the Multiverse

 

[Silvercrest]

It is... red.

 

[flemm]

It is... red.

And... it matters.

 

[Geckothan]

It's liquid stupidity.

 

[Dukhat]

Red Matter is the stuff that made Star Trek popular again.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Does it really matter?

 

[number6]

Does it really matter?

Nah. It just gives the select few an opportunity to whine about the film......again.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It's very scientific. Just like dilithium.

 

[EnsignRicky]

It's a rare compound that can only be mined from the red sun of Whatsa.