Non-corporeal lifeform

Kes becomes non-corporeal

A non-corporeal lifeform, also called an incorporeal, non-physical lifeform, or formless, was a classification of species that did not maintain a corporeal form, but may or may not be capable of assuming physical form.

Quick Answers

How do non-corporeal beings interact with physical worlds?

Non-corporeal beings engage with physical worlds by absorbing energy from their surroundings. They generally avoid using technology, depending on their inherent abilities. Some have evolved to control space and time, no longer needing physical sustenance.

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What defines a non-corporeal lifeform in science fiction?

Non-corporeal lifeforms in science fiction are species without a physical form, sometimes able to assume one. They absorb energy from their surroundings and typically do not use technology. Some have evolved beyond needing sustenance and can manipulate space and time. These entities can exist as space-dwelling or electromagnetic forms.

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Can non-corporeal lifeforms assume a physical form?

Non-corporeal lifeforms, also called noncorporeal, do not have a physical form but can sometimes assume one. Certain non-corporeal species are capable of transforming into physical forms, including humanoid shapes. They typically absorb energy from their surroundings and may have advanced control over space and time.

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What are examples of non-corporeal species in popular media?

Examples of non-corporeal species in media include the Calamarain and Allasomorphs. Calamarain are energy beings that interact with the environment without a body. Allasomorphs are light creatures that can take on humanoid and animal forms. An unnamed non-corporeal lifeform also interacted with Kathryn Janeway, causing hallucinations and convincing her she had died, needing to cross into an afterlife called the matrix.

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What is the non corporeal meaning in sci-fi contexts?

In sci-fi, a non-corporeal lifeform is a species without a physical body. Known as incorporeal or formless, these beings might exist as space-dwelling entities or electromagnetic forms. They can interact with the physical world, like when an alien presence affected Kathryn Janeway's mind. Such lifeforms spark curiosity and wonder, symbolizing the unexplained in science fiction.

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Physiology

The properties of what made a lifeform non-corporeal were loosely defined, as they existed under many forms, such as space-dwelling lifeforms, multispectrum particle lifeforms, electromagnetic lifeforms, and included interphasic species. (VOY: "The Haunting of Deck Twelve")

In describing Trelane, Spock suggested describing him under several classifications, including "pure mentality", "force of intellect", "embodied energy", or "superbeing". (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")

The planet Meridian and its inhabitants existed in a non-corporeal state for sixty year intervals. (DS9: "Meridian")

Often they were composed of various forms of coherent gas or energy. (TOS: "Wolf in the Fold", "Errand of Mercy") Of the latter, these were sometimes known by the term energy being, energy force, or energy form, and included trianic-based energy beings. (TNG: "The Bonding"; VOY: "Cathexis")

The Zetarians existed as the life force of their former corporeal existence, and were a collective composed of "the desires, the hopes, the mind and the will of the last hundred of Zetar." Together they sought out another corporeal host "through whom [they could] see and speak and hear and live out our lives." (TOS: "The Lights of Zetar")

Many had the ability to pass through solid matter or had no mass. These non-corporeals also possessed the minds of corporeal beings. (ENT: "The Crossing", "Observer Effect"; VOY: "Cathexis") During the Enterprise NX-01's mission, the crew encountered a species referred to as "Wisps". They had the ability to possess the minds of humanoids, one notable exception being Doctor Phlox. (ENT: "The Crossing") All Organians without exception also possessed the same abilities. (ENT: "Observer Effect") The Komar of the Delta Quadrant also possessed the same abilities. (VOY: "Cathexis")

Generally, non-corporeal species did not utilize technology, compensating with intrinsic physiological capabilities. One exception was in the case of the young Q Trelane who possessed a mirror machine capable of performing matter-energy conversion. (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos") Some possessed the intrinsic capacity to travel at warp speed, including the Companion, the dikironium cloud creature, and the Zetarians. (TOS: "Metamorphosis", "Obsession", "The Lights of Zetar") When coalesced, Q's force field grid was able to travel at warp 9.9. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

More advanced non-corporeal races, such as the Q, had evolved beyond the need for sustenance, and wielded incredible control over matter, energy, space and even time, being nigh-omnipotent. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "Hide And Q", "Deja Q")

Others required sustenance to survive. Some non-corporeal entities absorbed and utilized energy directly from their environment. (TNG: "Lonely Among Us"; ENT: "Zero Hour") Others, such as Redjac or the Beta XII-A entity, derived sustenance from the emotions of humanoid lifeforms. (TOS: "Wolf in the Fold", "Day of the Dove") The FGC 47 lifeforms naturally absorbed plasma energy from FGC-47, but could suck energy out of Federation technology, or out of humanoids. (TNG: "Imaginary Friend") The dikironium cloud creature of Tycho IV forcibly extracted the corpuscles of iron-based blood and fed on that. (TOS: "Obsession")

In early 2374, Kes became a non-corporeal lifeform after the USS Voyager's encounter with Species 8472 in the Delta Quadrant, and the growth of her telekinetic abilities. (VOY: "The Gift")

See also

• List of non-corporeal species
  • List of unnamed non-corporeal species
• List of powerful and godlike beings