Sci-fi meets sci-fact at lecture

It’s sci-fi meets sci-fact when internationally known physicist Lawrence Krauss and actor Armin Shimerman guide audience members on a warp speed journey through the fantasies of science fiction via the "Star Trek" universe and the exciting possibilities of the real universe, including the fascinating world of modern physics. The multimedia presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe.

Hosted by Beyond, the Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University, the presentation is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Seats are still available and may be reserved online at beyond.asu.edu/register.html or by calling (480) 965-3240.

Krauss, a professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and the author of "The Physics of Star Trek," will talk about topics ranging from time travel to warp speed, from the Big Bang to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Shimerman, who played the "Star Trek" Ferengi character Quark and appeared in a dozen different science fiction TV shows, brings a cache of science fiction with him for this event. Shimerman also is an author, writing a series of science fiction novels under the Merchant Prince title.

The talk – Beyond the Star Trek Universe – is the first in what is planned to be an annual "science behind science fiction" event, says Paul Davies, director of ASU’s research center Beyond. More information about the center is online at beyond.asu.edu.