The way I figure it, hydrogen alone doesn't create a lightshow. Did they do anything special to light it up, or is it simple the reflection of the light from the bussard collectors? -- Redge 18:45, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- Energized hydrogen glows red, I believe. It's similar to the effect used in neon lights (argon, xenon, etc). Or possibly, the hydrogen was emitted in a plasma state. I'm not a chemistry-oriented person, so I can't be certain. -- Michael Warren 18:52, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- Energized hydrogen does not glow red, but instead emits a variety of colors, one of which is red. I do not know the color of hydrogen plasma, but the sun is made up of mostly hydrogen (plasma) and is not red. I believe the red color does not have a basis in reality and is something made up by Paramount for the story. --K 19:10, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- Should we try to give it a reasonable explanation, or just leave it at this? -- Redge 19:12, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- Well many stars, which are also made up of primarily hydrogen, glow red. They're called Red Dwarfs? Heard of 'em? --The Rev 21:19, 30 June 2006 (UTC)
- Actually, far more commonly known to the public are red giants :-P. The color comes from the temperature, the hotter a star is, the further up the spectrum the color is. --OuroborosCobra 21:23, 30 June 2006 (UTC)
- Well many stars, which are also made up of primarily hydrogen, glow red. They're called Red Dwarfs? Heard of 'em? --The Rev 21:19, 30 June 2006 (UTC)
- It could be that the hydrogen is ignited, after being released what you cannot see, by the bussard collectors and that the reason is why you see the red glow in the first place. Gomez had to make quite some moves to make it happen. Otherwise just leave it as it is. -- Q 19:46, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- I believe the explaination we give should be consistent within the Star Trek canon, even if not consistent with reality. It is not our responsibility to distinguish reality from canon and vice-versa. Leave that to the Wikipedia. In short, leave the article as it is. --K 19:56, 5 Aug 2004 (CEST)
- If it really does not make sense in reality, perhaps a foot note would be appropriate? Tyrant 22:26, 30 Jan 2005 (CET)Tyrant
- Wait, I don't remember this episode since it was YEARS AGO, but doesn't this article contradict the episode one? In the episode article, Riker told Geordi to sabotage the weapons, but the ep article states that Geordi was the one who told Pakled 'why' the weapons weren't working. Hence, the fictional weapon, the gib, was invented by /Geordi/!