Armin Shimerman ("Quark") will moderate a panel of renowned physicists and space mission experts on the impact of Albert Einstein on theoretical physics, and how 100 years later new discoveries are once again transforming our view of the universe. Titled "Einstein on Warp Speed," the panel will take place Saturday, November 19, at the Goethe-Insitut, a German cultural center, in Los Angeles.

Among the participants in the four-hour panel will be Dan Curry, Emmy-Award winning Visual Effects Producer for Star Trek: Enterprise (and other Star Trek shows), and Lawrence Krauss, physicist from Case Western University who authored the book "The Physics of Star Trek." Andre Bormanis, writer/producer and science consultant on Enterprise and earlier shows — and currently a writer on Threshold on CBS — is also slated to participate.

Curry will talk about the creation and visualization of yet-impossible methods of transport and other technical developments in science fiction. Krauss will discuss warp speed, time travel and extra dimensions, and the question: Will recent successes with photon teleportation someday lead to the "beaming" of humans?

The conference will take place from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 5750 Wilshire Blvd. Admission is $5. Call (323) 525-3388 or click here for more information.

Voyager Stars Assist Planetary Society Auction

A chance to have lunch and discuss science with Robert Picardo ("The Doctor"), and a chance to go stargazing with Tim Russ ("Tuvok") and Andre Bormanis, are among the items up for bid at an online auction taking place right now to benefit The Planetary Society, the world's largest space advocacy group based in Pasadena, California.

A complete seven-season DVD set of Star Trek: Voyager autographed by Kate Mulgrew ("Janeway") and Picardo is also on the block. Other items include memorabilia signed by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, an original Carl Sagan paper, plus museum tours and field trips with prominent scientists. Click here for complete details.

Bidding concludes Saturday night, November 12, during the Society's 25th Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner (related story).

PHASR Prototypes Being Tested

They're calling it the "Personnel Halting and Stimulation Response" rifle — the PHASR. It may be a forced acronym, but it's obvious evidence of the influence of Star Trek on contemporary technological development.

The Air Force Research Laboratory in New Mexico has developed the PHASR rifle as a "non-lethal" laser weapon designed to temporarily blind enemy personnel without causing permanent harm, according to NewScientist.com. The U.S. Department of Defense is testing two prototypes in Texas and Virginia. Click here for the complete article.

"Cellborg" Merges Microbe and Machine

Fully merging microbe and machine for the first time, scientists have created gold-plated bacteria that can sense humidity, and they are calling it a "Cellborg." According to this MSNBC.com science article, the creators of the Cellborg say their hybrid sensor is the first to "assimilate" microorganisms into an electronic device.