star trek vulcan meditation

Star Trek: Every Vulcan Ability You Need To Know

Star Trek's iconic emotionless aliens have more powers than you'd think.

The Vulcans are perhaps the most beloved aliens in Star Trek. They were the first alien species created by Gene Roddenberry for The Original Series and instantly became a Trek staple.

Vulcan history is incredibly detailed. Following a long history of violence and war that nearly devastated their species, the Vulcans chose to follow the philosopher, Surak, by suppressing all emotion and embracing logic. The followers of Surak engaged in countless rituals and meditations to completely purge themselves of all emotion, as they saw it as the only way to prevent the extinction of the Vulcan race. Some Vulcans rejected Surak's teachings, though most of these detractors eventually left the planet Vulcan and became the Romulan Star Empire.

However, Vulcans are not only renowned for their strict adherence to logic, but also for their many almost supernatural abilities. Vulcans possess a number of unique physical and mental powers, and this list will be counting down and describing all of them.

As always, live long and prosper.

8. Controlling Emotions

As mentioned earlier, when the philosopher, Surak, introduced the Vulcan society to his belief system of logic and emotional suppression, the species saw it as the only way to save the Vulcan people from themselves.

Naturally, Vulcans have much more intense emotions than most humanoid species. Their violent nature combined with their impressive physical and mental abilities led to a great many wars that devastated the planet for generations. So, although Vulcans may seem completely robotic, this is all just a façade that they maintain to avoid allowing their emotions to control them.

Vulcans work their whole lives to eradicate their emotions, though subtle hints of them remain deep in their minds. Without completing the Vulcan ritual known as Kolinahr, which Spock was never able to do, a Vulcan is still capable of emotional outbursts when dealing with extreme stress.

There have, however, been some Vulcans who've embraced their emotions fully, rejecting the Vulcan way of life, such as Spock's half-brother, Sybok.

Marcia Fry is a writer for WhatCulture and an amateur filmmaker.

My Mind To Your Mind: Vulcan Katras Explained

When "Star Trek" first debuted in 1966, the standout character was very much Spock (Leonard Nimoy) the half-human, half-Vulcan science officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Spock, for the uninitiated, devoted himself to the expulsion of emotion from his being, relying on only logic and scientific proof to traverse the show's weekly conundra. Over the course of various "Star Trek" shows and movies, the specific abilities and beliefs of Vulcans were revealed: Vulcans are incredibly long-lived. Vulcans have green blood. Vulcans are much stronger than humans. Vulcans are trained to, in a pinch (heh), tightly squeeze a nerve on the humanoid neck to render them unconscious. Vulcans are typically vegetarians. Vulcans go through a seven-year mating cycle called pon farr, wherein they become uncontrollably horny for a few days. 

Most fascinating — to use a Spock word — is the Vulcans' ability to meld minds with others. Vulcans have been described as "touch telepaths," and have the gentle psychic ability to place their hands on a willing recipient's face and merge their consciousnesses, allowing each to briefly live inside one another's minds. 

Psychic abilities have been common in "Star Trek" since the start; the pilot episode " Where No Man Has Gone Before " revealed that Starfleet officers, regardless of species, are given a psychic-powers test upon enrollment, and many come up with positive numbers (the Sally Kellerman character is a human who could intuit minds). In the world of "Star Trek," then, consciousness is something widely accepted as existing outside of the brain. And, we learn, it can be shunted into a waiting recipient.

This is an important plot point in this week's episode of " Star Trek: Strange New Worlds " which hearkens back to " Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ."

The Vulcan katra in 'Star Trek III'

Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984) picks up immediately after the events of " Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ." A damaged U.S.S. Enterprise returns to a Starbase for repair, with Spock having died during the previous film's climax. Curiously, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) begins behaving quite oddly, speaking in Spock's voice, taking on some of his personality traits (this is played for laughs; Spock and McCoy were famously rivals), and trying to book a surreptitious flight back to where Spock's body landed. Spock's father, Sarek (Mark Lenard) suspects something is amiss and performs a mind meld on Kirk (William Shatner) only to find that he is not carrying his son's "katra." Kirk is unfamiliar with the term, and Sarek explains that it — more or less — is the measurable, palpable version of the soul. Kirk, upon watching a scene from "Star Trek II" (he conveniently has the previous film at hand), finds that Spock mind-melded with McCoy shortly before his death. Spock's katra, his consciousness, is now in McCoy's brain.

Spock's consciousness can indeed be reunited with his body and, thanks to the effects of "Star Trek II"'s Genesis wave, a new Spock body may soon be handy (the wave creates life, and grows a living Spock body without a mind). "Star Trek III" is about how Kirk and the Enterprise crew have to steal their ship (!) and perform a ritual on Vulcan that would reunite mind and body. What they lose in order to do so is immeasurable. "Star Trek III" has a great bummer ending.

Surak's katra

In "Star Trek" chronology , the first instance of humanity encountering a katra was in a three-part episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" called "The Forge," "Awakening," and "Kir'Shara" (aired on November 19 through December 3rd, 2004). These episodes took place at a time in Trek history when Vulcan mind melds were illegal, and those with the ability are seen as outcasts. It's a clear metaphor for queerness and the bigotry directed against it. There is an additional metaphor for Reagan's treatment of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s with the introduction of Pa'Nar Syndrome — a mind-meld-caused illness — and the Vulcan High Command's unwillingness to address or treat it. 

In the three-parter, Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) encountered a Vulcan dissident named Syrran (Michael Nouri) who was carrying the katra of Surak, an ancient Vulcan Messiah. Jonathan Archer agreed to carry the katra of Surak in his brain for four days while the Enterprise made their way to another Vulcan priest to whom it could be transferred again. It was the events of these episodes that, it was implied, would lead to more cavalier attitudes about mind melds in "Star Trek" moving forward.

Spock's katra in Burham's brain

" Star Trek: Discovery " has notoriously played fast and loose with "Star Trek" canon, rewriting rules, shifting technologies (person-to-person holograms were on the U.S.S. Discovery, but still not perfected a century later on "Deep Space Nine"?), and introducing new, dramatic backstories to characters previously established. The character of Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), the protagonist of "Discovery" was, in fact, a never-mentioned-before sister of Spock (now played by Ethan Peck) who was raised on Vulcan under Vulcan logical doctrines. Early in "Discovery" — the second episode "The Battle at the Binary Stars" from September 24, 2017 — she reveals that, as a child, she had nearly died and Spock, acting fast, inserted a mere portion of his katra into her brain, saving her life. 

Like most things in "Discovery," the full implications of this are never really explored, other than to say that Burnham and Spock are especially close in an abstract sort of way. It hasn't been brought up since the second episode either, and that version of Spock has since twisted off to become a central character in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Conveniently, a massive, season-end plot twist required any and all mention of the U.S.S. Discovery to be stricken from Starfleet history, and saw the ship thrown nearly a millennium into the future, allowing all of the show's reckless handling of canon to essentially be undone. 

'Return to Tomorrow'

The first mention of a Vulcan katra to have aired on TV is probably in the original series episode "Return to Tomorrow" (February 9, 1968). In that episode, a trio of noncorporeal entities named Thalassa, Sargon, and Henoch, attempt to take over the bodies of Kirk and company. The three of them have a centuries-old beef, leading, naturally, to intrigue. Fascinatingly, the Enterprise crew suggests the invasive alien consciousnesses be shunted into android bodies. By the end of the episode, it looks as if Spock has been murdered — the machine said to contain his consciousness is smashed — but, cleverly, Spock was able to shunt his own mind over into the brain of Nurse Chapel ( Majel Barrett ). 

The word "katra" is not used in "Return to Tomorrow" to the author's recollection, but it certainly set a precedent for Vulcan minds in the future. One can, with a small amount of effort, store your brain in the body of another. There has not been an episode to date about an ancient Vulcan who has malevolently elected to remain alive for millennia by usurping host bodies, although "Star Trek" continues, and such a story could conceivably be written. 

'Spock Amok'

In this week's episode of " Strange New Worlds ," the katra returns, but this time to comedic effect. Spock and his intended T'Pring (Gia Sandhu) have gathered in private for a bout of Vulcan intimacy when a psychic mishap has the two of them accidentally inhabiting one another's bodies. There's a definite comfort about "Star Trek" returning to an episode-by-episode structure — as "Strange New Worlds" has eschewed longer arcs for single episodes — as now there can be "funny ones" again. Spock, the ultimate straight man, has to attend to T'Pring's meetings in her body, while T'Pring must attend diplomatic meetings with little experience in the process. It's a wonderful acting showcase episode, and elicits plenty of titters. 

Given that the shunting of Vulcan katras has now been the set piece of one Trek feature film, has been used as a clever/cheap circumvention of danger more than once, and has now been used as comedic screenwriting fodder, perhaps the conceit will remain a mere background detail. The easy swapping of bodies can too easily fall into the realm of contrivance, and make for a lack of drama (the same way transporters can be used to cure any disease or restore a person to an earlier version of themselves, potentially allowing them to live forever). "Strange New Worlds" not only poked fun at the idea, but also indicated that katra swapping can occur too easily, and that katras should, perhaps, not be monkeyed with. 

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Vulcan Meditation School: Tuvok teaches you to control fear (VOY 2×22)

The children believe that a monster called the Murrok, who lives in a cave some 20 metres from Tuvok’s crashed shuttle, is responsible.

Tuvok isn’t convinced.

He thinks the Murrok is all in their heads, and tries teaching a meditation to help them control their fear:

TUVOK: Children, you are allowing your fears to guide you. You must learn to exercise control over your own imagination. CORIN: But the Morrok! TUVOK: Yes, the existence of such a creature is one possibility. However, your emotional reactions are preventing you from accurately judging how unlikely that is to be true. CORIN: I can’t help it. I’m scared. TUVOK: I believe you can help it. Vulcan children learn to detach themselves from their emotions at an early age. ELANI: How? TUVOK: First, you must focus on the object of your fear. Picture the Morrok clearly in your minds. That image is accompanied by an emotional response. Describe for me what that feeling is like. TRESSA: It makes my stomach all tight. ELANI: I feel like I want to run, but my legs won’t work. TUVOK: Now, if you could see this emotion in physical form, what would it look like? CORIN: It’s like this big, black cloud with lots of thunder and lightning all around us. TUVOK: Then imagine a strong wind is pushing that cloud away. Watch as your fear grows more distant. It is no longer a part of you. Once you begin to detach yourselves from your emotional responses, you come closer to controlling them. Eventually, they will be eliminated altogether.

Vulcan Meditation School – lessons in fear control

Is this just Vulcan mumbo-jumbo, with no relevance to more round-eared folk? Maybe not.

If we break this down step-by-step, and compare the steps to similar practices in modern psychology and ancient contemplative traditions, we see it makes perfect sense as a means of controlling fear.

It’s a three step training exercise:

• Trigger the fear
• Observe the fear
• Control the fear

This applies to any unpleasant emotion – anger, anxiety, shame, sadness… whatever. But let’s stick with Tuvok’s example.

Step 1: Trigger the fear while in a safe setting

This is a tried and tested technique used by psychologists when treating phobias. You trigger the fear in a safe, training environment, so that you can learn to deal with it.

Then, if that fear crops up in your normal life, you’ve good some tools at the ready to help you deal with it.

As well giving you practice at dealing with fear, the mere effect of exposure to a fear over time tends to reduce its intensity. It’s like how on your first day of a job you’re super nervous, but within a week or two the nerves have usually calmed greatly – perhaps disappeared completely.

With this method, it’s also common to gradually increase strength of the trigger – like weight lifting, where you increase the weights as you get stronger. This is often called “progressive exposure” or “flooding”. It works like this.

Say if you’re scared of spiders. First you might picture one in your mind which triggers a fear response, just as Tuvok intends. So you use your technique to deal with it (we’ll discuss the techniques you can use shortly).

When you’re able to picture a spider without being overwhelmed by fear (which might take days, weeks – however long it takes.), you might look at a picture of one. Again, you use your technique to deal with any emotions that arise.

Next, you might watch a video of a moving spider. Then maybe look at a live Spider in a cage. Then perhaps live one outside of a cage, but not near you. Then you’d get closer… eventually hold one in your hand.

At each step, you’d learn to control the fear before moving on.

Step 2: Observe the physical sensations that the fear creates

This is actually a technique taught in Buddhism and other Eastern religious traditions. As Tuvok observes, emotions leave a “footprint” of sensations in our bodies. And the way we react to these sensations can actually make the emotion get stronger, or weaker.

If you start thinking that these are horrible sensations, you don’t want them there, you can’t handle them, and so on, they often become more intense.

However, if you don’t react and instead just observe them as they are, without judging them as good or bad, they often reduce in intensity.

The idea behind this is that emotions are signals from the brain, intended to guide our behaviour. If we just observe them, it’s like saying “OK, got it, message received.” But if you resist them or wish them to go away, the brain is like “Hmm, the body is not getting my message. I’ll make it louder.”

This usually involves scanning the body and trying to find where the emotion is, and what it is like – again, doing this objectively, and not judging the sensations as good or bad. Where is the fear? How would you describe it? Is it dull, tingly, pulsing, sharp, wide… use whatever words feel right to you.

I found a couple of videos that expands on this. First is a clip of S.N Goenka, a meditation teacher, who discusses observing emotions from a Buddhist perspective. And here’s a guided exercise you can try (it starts with some breathing/relaxation exercises, and then the emotion observation starts about halfway in).

Step 3: Apply a technique to reduce the fear, in this case visualisation

The final step in this Vulcan meditation, is to use a visualisation to remove the fear. First, Tuvok asks the children to imagine their fear in physical form – like a cloud, one of them says. Then he asks them to take control of the visualisation, and blow the cloud away.

So the visualisation you use here will depend on how the fear forms in your mind. If for you it’s a tidal wave, you could use the sun to evaporate the water. If it’s a monster, turn it into a cuddly bear, or change the narrative so that the monster is actually an ally, or a bodyguard.

This method is also useful tool with persistent negative thoughts or memories. Like that when you were 9 years old, and you tripped over and everyone laughed at you. For some reason your brain keeps reminding you of this decades later. Take control of it – it’s your visualisation after all!

Make the people help you up and ask if you’re OK. Make Tuvok catch you on the way down. Or just change the whole thing to a completely different scene – instead of people, they are all penguins wearing bowler hats playing the banjo, or something.

If the emotion is very strong, you could also try playing a visuo-spatial game like Tetris , immediately after triggering the emotion.

Can you eliminate negative emotions?

At the end of his lesson, Tuvok suggests it’s possible to eliminate emotions altogether. Now this part might be unique to alien races.

Emotions, even unpleasant ones, are a part of life. You’ll experience more unpleasant emotions in your life, and some very pleasant ones too. They will come and go, just as every emotion you’ve ever felt in your entire life, has come and gone.

It isn’t even wise to eliminate emotions completely. Fear serves a purpose – it alerts us to danger, and gets us ready to deal with it, usually through fight or flight. It’s a alarm, honed over millions of years of evolution to guide us.

Problems arise when these emotion systems get a little trigger happy – firing up at times when they are not really needed.

Like a job interview – nerves are not much use then. Your brain just doesn’t interpret the modern world that well. It thinks you’re being brought before the tribal elders, who are going to judge your fate or something.

It’s times like these where Tuvok’s technique comes in handy.

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TNG 1×6: Well wishes for The Traveller

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Vulcan meditation stone

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A Vulcan meditation stone was a slab of polished granite rock from planet Vulcan , used by Vulcans to facilitate meditation .

History and specifics [ ]

In the year 2270 , Commander Spock had a meditation stone in his quarters aboard the Federation starship USS Enterprise . ( TOS novel : The Entropy Effect )

Appendices [ ]

References [ ].

• TOS novel : The Entropy Effect

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Star Trek ’s Stoics: The Vulcans

Steven umbrello explores parallel philosophical universes..

“Anger, if not restrained, is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca “However, I have noted, that the ‘healthy’ release of emotion is frequently very unhealthy for those closest to you.” – Spock

In 1966 Gene Roddenberry, then a relatively unknown TV writer, created what was to become a cultural sensation. From cell phones and tablets, to MRI machines and medical jet injectors, Star Trek has undoubtedly anticipated much of the technology that we take for granted today. Moreover, the disagreements, fights and jokes between Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Dr Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and Mr Spock (Leonard Nimoy) were expertly crafted for dramatic impact. But I’m not writing this to confess to you my obsessive infatuation with the Star Trek universe. Instead I want to discuss how the beliefs and practices of Vulcans like Spock are similar to those of the Stoic school of philosophy.

In Star Trek , the natives of the planet Vulcan are an extremely advanced humanoid species known throughout the galaxy for their logical minds, as a result of which their civilization has enjoyed millennia of peace and prosperity. This was not always the case. Historically, the Vulcans were an extremely violent race, prone to all sorts of debauchery and war (eerily similar to our own state of civilization). However, when their species was brought to the brink of annihilation, a single individual, Surak, produced a new philosophical practice based on pure logic. Surak believed that the cause of all the conflict on his planet was the people’s inability to control their emotions; thus, Surak and his growing group of followers taught themselves to control and suppress their emotions. Eventually, all the citizens of Vulcan adopted this way of thinking, and it became an integral and necessary part of their culture.

Surak’s philosophy I believe closely resembles Stoicism, a philosophy with its roots in antiquity. Founded by Zeno of Citium, who taught in Athens from about 300 BC, it was made famous by the philosophers Epictetus and Seneca, and by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161-180 AD. The goal of this philosophy is to live as good and happy a life as is naturally feasible. To this end, Stoics advocated the harmonization of one’s being with nature and accepting one’s place in it. They believed that going against the naturally established order of life would result in a great deal of pain for the individual. Stoics also believe in not worrying about external events, which are largely beyond your control. Rather, to maximise your serenity, change your perception of what happens to you to one of placid acceptance. As Epictetus wrote, “Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.” Essentially, Stoicism does not want you to try and overcome all negative situations, nor to avoid bad, uncomfortable or disturbing scenarios; instead, Stoic principles require individuals to change the way they perceive such situations, which will change the way they react to them. Marcus Aurelius was a strong believer in this aspect of Stoicism. In his work Meditations (167 AD), he remarks, “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength” and “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” This was a revolutionary way of thinking for an individual who ruled one of the most imperialistic and warlike empires in history.

Surak’s teachings bear a resemblance to Stoicism in its belief that the individual should not deny or despair of his or her current predicament, but rather accept it as it is. As Epictetus taught, “There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” A Vulcan proverb expresses a similar thought: “In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace.” Both emphasize the necessity of eliminating emotional struggle with anything that cannot be controlled or changed.

Marcus Aurelius also wrote, “Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.” In Star Trek , Vulcan philosophy similarly asks the individual to analyze all situations and choose only the most logical path. (“Logic is the cement of our civilization, with which we ascend from chaos, using reason as our guide” – T’Plana-Hath, Vulcan High Priestess.) Like Stoicism, Vulcan logic requires practice and dedication to learn to look at life in a different light.

Before I conclude let me clarify a misconception suffered by both Vulcans and Stoics. Both are often regarded as cold-hearted or emotionless. In fact, both Vulcans and Stoics are deeply emotional, and although their stern faces and disciplined postures don’t give that impression, they nonetheless feel strongly; however, they control how they react and express themselves.

I think we can agree that there are some striking similarities between Stoicism and Star Trek ’s Vulcan philosophy. Whether or not Gene Roddenberry created the Vulcans with the Stoics in mind will forever remain unknown; but what I do know is that both the Stoic’s and Vulcans will agree with this farewell: “Live long and prosper!”

© Steven Umbrello 2015

Steven Umbrello is an undergraduate student of philosophy of science at the University of Toronto, and has been a practicing Stoic for most of his young adult life.

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Vulcan Meditation Incense

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Vulcan Meditation Incense is a Holiday Collectible (Holiday Commodity) item used as currency in Q's Winter Wonderland to buy items from the Holiday Item Vendor . This incense is used by Vulcans during meditation rituals. Non-Vulcans may find the spicy scent to be invigorating.

Availability [ | ]

This item is available only during the Winter Event (Q's Winter Wonderland) and can be obtained by chance from the following:

• successfully completing Winter Event assignments .
• participating in the “Snowball Fight!” which regularly occurs in Q's Winter Wonderland.
• participating in the “Pie Eating” contest at Q's Winter Wonderland.
• completing the “Winter Invasion” (Save the Gingerbread Colony) PVE event.
• completing recipe missions from the Winter Wonderland Chef .

• purchasing them on the Exchange .

Usage [ | ]

This item is used as currency to purchase special items from the Holiday Item Vendor during Winter Event. Vulcan Meditation Incense is not bound and can be traded, mailed, sold or purchased from the Exchange .

• At the Exchange, [ Vulcan Meditation Incense ] can be found in "All" tab if you type on search the keyword "meditation" or the entire name and use the "Common" rarity option.

Players with unspent Vulcan Meditation Incense can trade them in for Latinum at any GPL Conversion Unit , such as the one in Q's Winter Wonderland.

See Also [ | ]

• Holiday Collectibles
• 2 Playable starship
• 3 Infinity Prize Pack - T6 Ship

• Mirror Universe
• View history

The Vulcans , or Vulcanians , [1] were a warp-capable humanoid species from the planet Vulcan . They were widely renowned for their strict adherence to logic and reason as well as their remarkable stoicism.

In 2161 , their homeworld became a founding member of the United Federation of Planets . ( TOS : " Mudd's Women ", " Amok Time "; TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " Data's Day ", " Gambit, Part II "; Star Trek: First Contact ; ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Zero Hour ", " Awakening ", " These Are the Voyages... ") Vulcans were known by the Borg as Species 3259 . ( VOY : " The Raven ")

• 1.1 Mirror universe
• 1.2 Alternate reality
• 2.2 Medical conditions
• 2.3 Hybridization
• 3.2 Education
• 3.3 Logic and emotions
• 3.4 Attitudes to deception
• 3.5 Spirituality
• 3.6 Romantic relationships
• 3.7 Food and drink
• 3.8 Holidays
• 3.9 See also
• 4 Science and technology
• 5 Individuals
• 6.1 Appearances
• 6.2 Background information
• 6.3 Apocrypha
• 6.4 External links

History and politics [ ]

In 2154 , T'Pol stated that Vulcans had evolved on Vulcan. ( ENT : " The Forge ") Roughly a century later , however, Spock theorized that the Vulcans might be descendants of the Arretans . ( TOS : " Return to Tomorrow ") According to Narek , the myth of Ganmadan dated back to before the Romulan and Vulcan ancestors first arrived on Vulcan. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ") In 2369 , evidence was discovered that several species including the Romulans , and therefore also the Vulcans, could be traced back to DNA that had been seeded on many planets by ancient humanoids 4.5 billion years ago . ( TNG : " The Chase ")

The Vulcans were once an extremely violent and emotional people (even by Earth standards) who waged almost constant warfare on one another. ( ENT : " Impulse ", " Awakening "; TOS : " Balance of Terror ", " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield "; VOY : " Random Thoughts "; SNW : " A Quality of Mercy ") Paranoia and homicidal rage were common. ( ENT : " Impulse ") They believed in a variety of gods , such as war, peace, and death . ( TNG : " Gambit, Part II ") As their level of technology increased, the Vulcans eventually reached a point where their violent nature threatened the extinction of their own species. ( ENT : " Awakening ")

Surak, father of Vulcan logic

In an effort to avoid this fate, a Vulcan named Surak developed a new philosophy , thereby igniting the Time of Awakening . Surak maintained that the root cause of all the problems on Vulcan lay in the uncontrolled outpouring of the people's emotions. His followers swore to live their lives by an ethical system devised by Surak and based purely on logical principles. Emotions were to be controlled and repressed. ( TAS : " Yesteryear ")

Although this new philosophy spread rapidly across Vulcan, a minority, many of whom were known as "those who march beneath the raptor 's wings ", rejected Surak's ideals. A destructive war began, including the use of atomic bombs , and among the victims was Surak himself. ( ENT : " The Forge ", " Awakening ")

Eventually, however, those who opposed logic left Vulcan and founded colonies elsewhere ( TNG : " Gambit, Part I ", " Gambit, Part II ") – most notably on the planet Romulus , where they founded what eventually became the Romulan Star Empire . ( TOS : " Balance of Terror ", " The Enterprise Incident "; TNG : " Unification I ", " Unification II ") At some point in history, the Romulans and the Vulcans engaged in a hundred-year-long war against one another. The war was instigated by the actions of a member of the Q Continuum . ( VOY : " Death Wish ")

Another group that rejected Surak's philosophy was known as the " V'tosh ka'tur ", or "Vulcans without logic". The V'tosh ka'tur believed in controlling emotions by allowing themselves to actively experience them rather than suppressing them. Some of these also left Vulcan, and took up a nomadic existence. ( ENT : " Fusion ") Many turned to crime, however, and subsequently sent for rehabilitation at facilities such as the Ankeshtan K'til Retreat . ( SNW : " Spock Amok ", " The Serene Squall ") A prime example of a V'tosh ka'tur was Sybok , who underwent failed rehabilitation at Ankeshtan K'Til for involvement in piracy before ultimately trying to use emotion rather than logic to find answers to the creation of the universe. ( SNW : " The Serene Squall "; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

First contact with Humans in 2063

The Vulcans conducted a series of survey missions to the Sol system , as early as 1957 . ( ENT : " Carbon Creek ") Vulcans were, in fact, one of the first species to develop warp drive , though a century passed between the first warp flight and the breaking of the warp 2 barrier . ( ENT : " First Flight ") T'Pol told Archer that Vulcans "don't share" Humans ' "enthusiasm for space exploration," but a Syrrannite on Vulcan later advised Archer that this may not have been true. ( ENT : " Fight or Flight ", " The Forge ")

The official First Contact between Vulcans and Humans came on April 5 , 2063 , when a Vulcan survey ship , the T'Plana-Hath , detected the warp flight of Zefram Cochrane 's Phoenix . The Vulcans met with Cochrane at his launch site on the day following the flight. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

Subsequently, the Vulcans offered their technological guidance to Humans, but were criticized on Earth for holding back their development. ( ENT : " First Flight ", " Broken Bow ") A century after First Contact, the High Command had become worried about Humans, who, like Vulcans, had had devastating wars, but after which had rebuilt and started traveling to the stars much faster. There were those on the High Command who wondered what Humans would achieve in the century to come, and did not like the answer. ( ENT : " The Forge ")

By the mid- 22nd century , Vulcan culture had strayed from the path that Surak had originally laid out for them, to the point that Surak's katra did not recognize it as the culture he had helped to create. They had ceased being explorers and the High Command, once devoted to that goal, had instead become involved in a conflict with the neighboring Andorians . ( ENT : " Awakening ", " The Forge ")

The Vulcan High Command used an ancient monastery at P'Jem as a secret listening post to spy on the Andorians until June of 2151 , when the listening post was discovered by the Andorians and a landing party from Enterprise NX-01 . Later, the Humans helped negotiate a peace between the Vulcans and Andorians over a disputed class D planetoid known to the Vulcans as Paan Mokar . ( ENT : " The Forge ", " The Andorian Incident ", " Cease Fire ")

Vulcans also became less tolerant of political and philosophical challenges towards the High Command's operations, notably engaging in purges of the Syrrannite group, who claimed that Vulcan society was no longer following the teachings of Surak. These tensions came to a head in a crisis called the Vulcan Reformation , which resulted in the overthrow of the High Command (and its leader, V'Las , who was secretly allied with the Romulans), as well as a restructuring of the Vulcan government including the dissolution of the High Command. T'Pau became a minister in this government. A less aggressive policy towards Earth was also adopted. ( ENT : " The Forge ", " Awakening ", " Kir'Shara ", " United ")

By the 21st and 22nd centuries, the Vulcans had also made contact with the Cardassians , Trill , Tholians , Klingons (as early as 2016 ), and scores of other races. ( DS9 : " Destiny "; ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Future Tense ")

As of the 23rd century , Vulcan had never been conquered in its collective memory. That memory went so far back that Vulcans could not conceive of a conqueror. ( TOS : " The Immunity Syndrome ")

By the 24th century , Vulcan remained one of the principal Federation members, and was deeply involved at all levels of that society. Vulcans were present in the Federation colonies found within the Demilitarized Zone established between the United Federation of Planets and the Cardassian Union by the terms of the Federation-Cardassian Treaty of 2370 ; they were among the colonists' representatives during discussions with the Cardassians concerning terrorist attacks by the anti-Cardassian Maquis movement established in the Zone. At least one Vulcan, Sakonna , acted as a gun runner and interrogator for the Maquis and made use of her people's ability to mind meld in the latter role. ( DS9 : " The Maquis, Part I ", " The Maquis, Part II ")

The Vulcans' tradition of exploration continued; in the 24th century, a Vulcan ship was the first to make formal contact with a Gamma Quadrant civilization, upon encountering the Wadi . ( DS9 : " Move Along Home ") The Vulcans were at the forefront of exploration in the Gamma Quadrant, encountering the Rakhari and finding the remains of the Hur'q civilization. ( DS9 : " Vortex ", " The Sword of Kahless ") In the 24th century, the Vulcan ministry of security was known as the V'Shar . ( TNG : " Gambit, Part II ")

By 2369, the Vulcans had a saying known to the Federation: " We're here to serve. " ( DS9 : " Captive Pursuit ")

Despite the enmity between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire, some Vulcans attempted to forge a more cordial relationship with their cousins, ultimately hoping to reunify the two cultures. Many of these efforts met with little success. ( TNG : " Unification I ", " Unification II ")

Mirror universe [ ]

History turned out much differently for the Vulcans of the mirror universe . When the Vulcans made first contact with Earth of this universe in 2063, Zefram Cochrane shot the first Vulcan to publicly set foot on Terran soil, believing his vessel to be the vanguard of an intended invasion. The Terrans stormed the T'Plana-Hath and studied Vulcan technology. Eventually, the Vulcans were conquered by the Terran Empire . ( ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly "; DIS : " Die Trying ")

By the 2150s , Vulcans were considered slaves to Terrans and not treated as equals. Vulcans later participated in a rebellion against the Empire in the 2250s . By 2267 , the half-Vulcan Spock had become first officer of a starship and eventually rose to the top of the Terran Empire itself. After the Empire was conquered by the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance , Vulcans served as slaves to the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Using fans, several of them cooled the Intendant aboard Terok Nor . ( ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; TOS : " Mirror, Mirror "; DS9 : " Crossover ")

Some Vulcans, such as Tuvok , joined the Terran Rebellion . ( DS9 : " Through the Looking Glass ")

Alternate reality [ ]

In the alternate reality , the planet Vulcan was destroyed by a Romulan named Nero in 2258 . Over six billion Vulcans were killed, with an estimated ten thousand survivors. After witnessing the atrocity, Spock noted in his log that the Vulcan species had become endangered . ( Star Trek ) Spock's prime reality counterpart founded a colony for the survivors, which, by the following year, had been settled and named New Vulcan . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Physiology [ ]

Scan of a Vulcan's DNA

Species which shared some physiological and behavioral traits with Vulcans were categorized as Proto-Vulcan humanoids . One example of this were the Mintakans . ( TNG : " Who Watches The Watchers ") In addition, Rigelian physiology was very similar to that of Vulcans. ( TOS : " Journey to Babel ")

Vulcans were generally similar to Humans in appearance, distinguished mainly by their pointed ears and upswept eyebrows. Their skin color was most commonly pale with a bronze or greenish tint, though some had brown skin. Vulcan physiognomy could resemble Humans of European , Asian , or African descent. ( Star Trek: The Original Series ; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; Star Trek: Voyager )

Most Vulcans had straight, glossy black hair , though brown and/or curly hair was also possible. Vulcans had body hair similar to Humans, and some males could be very hirsute. Vulcan males were capable of growing facial hair , but most chose to shave it. ( TOS : " Mirror, Mirror ", " Patterns of Force "; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ; VOY : " Year of Hell "; ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "; Star Trek )

Vulcan teeth included anterior tricuspids , which could be protected from decay for decades by sealing them with a trifluorinate compound . ( ENT : " Dear Doctor ")

In contrast to their external similarities, Vulcan internal anatomy differed radically from that of Humans. For instance, their heart was where a Human's liver would normally be, ( TOS : " Mudd's Women ", " A Private Little War ", " The Omega Glory "; Star Trek Beyond ) and beat several hundred times per minute. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ", " Journey to Babel ") Vulcans also had no appendix . ( TOS : " Operation -- Annihilate! ") They did, however, have mitochondria . ( TNG : " Data's Day ")

A greenish bruise

Vulcan blood was copper -based and was copper- or rust-colored when deoxygenated in the veins and green when oxygenated, in the arteries, or when bleeding. Bruises and dermal abrasions took on a greenish color. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ", " Obsession ", " Patterns of Force "; DS9 : " Field of Fire "; VOY : " Repression "; ENT : " Shadows of P'Jem ", " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ")

Vulcan body chemistry used little, if any, sodium chloride compared to that of Humans. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ")

Vulcans possessed a highly efficient respiratory system to extract the oxygen they needed from Vulcan's thin atmosphere . They were most comfortable in high temperatures. A Vulcan of advanced age could become more sensitive to lower temperatures. ( TOS : " The Deadly Years "; ENT : " The Forge ")

The Vulcan digestive tract was highly adaptable. Although alien foods , notably Human food, would occasionally disagree with a Vulcan, given time, their body could adapt to the alien food. ( ENT : " Unexpected ")

Vulcan hearing was very sensitive. ( TOS : " Return to Tomorrow ", " The Way to Eden "; ENT : " Singularity ") Vulcan females possessed a heightened sense of smell . ( ENT : " Broken Bow ", " The Andorian Incident ")

Having evolved on a planet which was mostly desert , Vulcans developed ways of surviving in desert conditions. For example, they could survive for several days without water and had inner eyelids which protected their eyes . ( TOS : " Operation -- Annihilate! "; ENT : " Strange New World ", " The Forge ")

Vulcans had a superior metabolism to Humans. Caffeine and sapotoxins had little effect on them. ( ENT : " Breaking the Ice ") They were also capable of surviving for long durations without food or sleep. Under stress, Vulcans could do without sleep for weeks. ( TOS : " The Paradise Syndrome ") Tuvok once claimed that, as a Vulcan, he was capable of going without sleep for two weeks, although, shortly after making this claim, he fell asleep in the command chair after having gone a little over ten days without sleep. ( VOY : " Muse ")

Vulcans were, on average, three times physically stronger than Humans, and had considerably faster reflexes. ( DS9 : " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ")

Vulcans were very sensitive to nitrous oxide gas , which rapidly rendered them unconscious. ( TAS : " The Practical Joker ")

Vulcans typically had a lifespan of two hundred years or more. Their aging was correspondingly slower; a Vulcan of age 65 had the appearance of a 20th century human in their late 20s, and was considered in their "quarter-life". ( ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Zero Hour "; TNG : " Sarek "; LD : " Empathological Fallacies ")

A medical scan of Soval's brain

A medical scan of Spock's brain

A medical scan of Tuvok's brain

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Vulcan physiology was the brain . The Vulcan brain was described by The Doctor as " a puzzle , wrapped inside an enigma , housed inside a cranium . " ( VOY : " Riddles ") Indeed, The Doctor has also noted how " the Vulcan brain never ceases to amaze me. " ( VOY : " Blood Fever ")

A Vulcan's brain was in direct control of most of the bodily functions, acting as a control unit for many organs. Despite this, a Vulcan body from which the brain had been removed was capable of functioning and even walking around (albeit in a zombie-like state) with a portable life support system. ( TOS : " Spock's Brain ")

Unlike most humanoid species, traumatic memories were not only psychologically disturbing to Vulcans, but had physical consequences as well. The Vulcan brain, in reordering neural pathways, could literally lobotomize itself. ( VOY : " Flashback ")

Vulcans learned to gain conscious control of many of these functions, allowing them to regulate their bodies to a high degree by simple will-power. When injured, a Vulcan could go into a trance-like state, using this ability to concentrate all of his or her energy on repairing the injury. ( TOS : " A Private Little War ") However, Vulcans did have certain levels of pain they were unable to suppress, forcing them to endure the experience. ( VOY : " Resistance ")

This trance could be self-induced and gave the physical appearance of near-death. It was similar, in principle, to Vulcan neuro-pressure techniques which could be used to relax the mind and body. ( TOS : " By Any Other Name "; VOY : " Riddles "; ENT : " The Xindi ")

The substance trellium-D acted as a neurotoxin to Vulcans, destroying the neural pathways which controlled their emotions. Treatment had to be provided quickly after exposure; otherwise, the damage was irreversible. ( ENT : " Impulse ")

The most famous aspect of the Vulcan brain were the inherent telepathic abilities, such as the mind meld . Vulcans were natural touch-telepaths. Though considerable training was required to utilize this ability to the fullest (like performing the fal-tor-pan ), simpler contacts did not require any concentration, training, or even conscious knowledge of the act. ( VOY : " Blood Fever ")

Vulcans called focal points in the bioelectric field of the brain qui'lari . ( DS9 : " The Muse ")

Stronger minds were capable of non-contact telepathic projection and scanning, usually over short distances, ( TOS : " The Devil in the Dark ", " The Omega Glory "; VOY : " Random Thoughts ", " Prey ") but sometimes even over interstellar distances. ( TOS : " The Immunity Syndrome "; Star Trek: The Motion Picture ; DIS : " Lethe " )

Another psionic ability of the Vulcan race was the telepathic suggestion or compulsion, consciously performed by Spock, ( TOS : " Dagger of the Mind ", " A Taste of Armageddon ", " The Omega Glory ") Sybok , ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ) Tuvok, ( VOY : " Repression ") and T'Pol, ( ENT : " In a Mirror, Darkly ") and unconsciously performed by Sarek. ( TNG : " Sarek ")

Although Vulcans did not, typically, allow themselves to experience uncontrolled strong emotions, they could sense them in others. ( ENT : " Fallen Hero ")

Vulcans were capable of performing a synaptic pattern displacement , or the transfer of one individual's consciousness into another. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; DS9 : " The Passenger ")

The psycho-suppression system responsible for the Vulcan suppression of emotions was located in the mesiofrontal cortex . ( VOY : " Meld ")

Approximately every seven years, adult Vulcans had to endure pon farr , the Vulcan mating period. It was marked by intense emotions and primal urges (known as plak tow , or "blood fever") that could kill the Vulcan if not satisfied. Physiological symptoms included elevated dopamine levels and fever . For such an orderly society of quiet sobriety, the madness which accompanied the outbreak of pon farr was an unavoidable evil. ( ENT : " Bounty ", " In a Mirror, Darkly "; TOS : " Amok Time "; VOY : " Blood Fever ")

Medical conditions [ ]

There were several diseases from which the Vulcan species suffered, including:

• Pa'nar Syndrome
• Tuvan Syndrome
• Bendii Syndrome
• Choriocytosis

Hybridization [ ]

Vulcans and Humans could not reproduce without medical intervention according to 2150s medical knowledge. ( ENT : " E² ", " Demons ", " Terra Prime ")

In 2155, Terra Prime extremists created a binary clone from T'Pol and Trip Tucker . The child, whom they called Elizabeth , had many genetic flaws due to the method of her creation and she died. ( ENT : " Demons ", " Terra Prime ")

In 2230, Spock was born on Vulcan to Sarek and Amanda Grayson . ( ENT : " Terra Prime "; TOS : " Journey to Babel ", " The Squire of Gothos "; Star Trek Beyond )

The Vulcan heritage in Vulcan-Human hybrids was dominant, with copper-based blood, pointed ears, and the full range of Vulcan abilities.

Society and culture [ ]

IDIC, the Vulcan national symbol

Six different Vulcan scripts

Vulcans were generally non-violent, but logic dictated that combat was sometimes necessary. Vulcans could and did use weapons and practiced martial arts called tal-shaya and Suus Mahna . ( TOS : " Journey to Babel "; ENT : " Marauders "; DIS : " Context Is for Kings ")

Vulcans considered death to be the completion of a journey. Therefore, they did not fear it happening; however, the loss of one's katra was to be avoided if possible, since the katra lived on beyond the physical death. ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ) They also practiced euthanasia for the infirm and elderly, and saw nothing wrong with practicing ritual suicide when they reached a certain infirmity with age. ( VOY : " Death Wish ") As they knew death was an inevitability, they believed that fear of death was ultimately illogical. ( Star Trek Beyond )

The government on Vulcan was a representative democracy . Individual political advancement was based on meritocratic principles. ( ENT : " Awakening ")

Although Vulcans were highly integrated into the Federation, in the 23rd century, some Vulcans viewed service in Starfleet to be less prestigious than attending the Vulcan Science Academy , ( TOS : " Journey to Babel ") though in the twilight years of that century, this apparently became much less of an issue. ( VOY : " Flashback ") Furthermore, among all the Federation members whose people served in Starfleet, Vulcans were the only ones to be accommodated with starships crewed entirely by their own species, such as the USS Intrepid and the USS T'Kumbra . ( TOS : " The Immunity Syndrome "; DS9 : " Take Me Out to the Holosuite ")

Vulcans played a game known as kal-toh . ( VOY : " Alter Ego ", " The Omega Directive ", " Endgame ")

Vulcans had a traditional funeral dirge . ( VOY : " Tuvix ")

Vulcans occasionally gave gifts . However, Vulcan custom did not include receiving a gift back from a recipient. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Vulcans possessed family names , although they were pronounceable by Humans only after many years of practice. ( TOS : " This Side Of Paradise ", " Journey to Babel ")

Many Vulcan females had names beginning with "T'" and particularly "T'P" ( T'Pol , T'Pring , T'Pau , T'Mir , T'Pel, T'Pan), but not all ( Valeris , Sakonna , Saavik , Selar ); many males had names beginning with "S" ( Spock , Sarek , Sybok , Surak , Stonn , Soval ); again, though, there was variation ( Tuvok , Lojal , Vorik , Taurik , Koss ).

Education [ ]

Naturally, the development of a Vulcan's lifelong devotion towards logic was encouraged at a very early age. Vulcan parents utilized careful and gentle methods to train their infants in primary logic. ( VOY : " Human Error ") Vulcan children learned, by example, how to detach themselves from their emotions as well, and it often aided in difficult childhood situations. ( ENT : " Fusion ", " Home "; TAS : " Yesteryear "; VOY : " Innocence ", " Gravity ") Despite logic being paramount in education, Vulcan children were allowed much freedom as well, and enjoyed a number of passions their controlled states allowed them to coordinate.

As parents, Vulcans never restricted their children from real life. Doing so only hindered their ability to develop their own identity. A Vulcan parent's attachment to their children could not be described as an emotion. They were part of the parent's identity and the parent was incomplete without them. ( VOY : " Innocence ")

Children at Vulcan nursery schools danced. ( TOS : " Whom Gods Destroy ")

When they were older, they learned in skill domes . The Vulcan Learning Center employed these. ( Star Trek , DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ", " Battle at the Binary Stars ")

A Vulcan program suitable for young children which taught basic problem solving skills was available at Deep Space 9 's school in 2370 . ( DS9 : " Whispers ")

The Vulcan Science Academy and Vulcan Medical Institute were two notable post-secondary institutions.

Logic and emotions [ ]

Contrary to stereotype, Vulcans possess strong emotions. They use meditation as a way to suppress those emotions. For instance, emotions like remorse, relief, joy, and embarrassment were all displayed by Spock when he thought Captain Kirk was dead and then saw him alive. ( TOS : " Amok Time "). Indeed, Vulcan emotions were far more intense, violent, and passionate than those of many other species, including even Humans. ( TNG : " Sarek ")

It was this passionate, explosive emotionality that Vulcans blamed for the vicious cycle of wars which nearly devastated their planet. As such, they focused their mental energies on mastering them. The essence of their logical society was in arriving at the truth through logical process. Emotions were illogical, thus making them impure, and deterrent to truth. Vulcans were born with the same emotions that afflicted their violent ancestors, but continual mental conditioning generally gave them the impassivity they sought. ( TAS : " Yesteryear ")

Though not all could arrive at the ultimate pure logical state, the exacting process of mental control gave Vulcans enough to conform to the ideals of Vulcan society. The ultimate level of logical thought was achieved through the attainment of kolinahr , which was said to purge them of all remaining emotions. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

Attitudes to deception [ ]

Vulcans were renowned for their honesty, and indeed it has been claimed that "Vulcans could not lie ." However, they would do so for what they perceived as logical reasons, though they rarely referred to their dishonesty as "lying." ( TOS : " The Enterprise Incident "; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ; Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ) For instance, an elder denied the existence of technology and spies at the monastery at P'Jem in order to protect an ongoing surveillance operation. ( ENT : " The Andorian Incident "). Also, T'Pol's second foremother directly lied to another Vulcan, telling the commander of a rescue party that her crewmate had died in a crash, so that he could remain on Earth to "study" Humanity. ( ENT : " Carbon Creek ")

In 2259 of the alternate reality, Spock managed to deceive Khan Noonien Singh into transporting armed torpedoes aboard the USS Vengeance , as Khan believed they still carried members of his crew . Khan wasn't aware that Spock had anticipated his betrayal and removed Khan's crew from the torpedoes with the intent to detonate them and cripple the Vengeance . When Khan stated that he'd know if they weren't his, Spock assured him that " Vulcans do not lie " and that " the torpedoes were his ". This demonstrated that Vulcans, while still technically telling the truth, didn't always necessarily tell the entire truth if it was to their advantage. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Tuvok at one point stated, when responding to Seven of Nine questioning him as to whether Vulcans were capable of lying " we are capable of telling lies. However, I have never found it prudent or necessary to do so. " ( VOY : " Hunters ")

Spirituality [ ]

The Vulcans held a number of spiritual beliefs. Their religious system was polytheistic . They also believed in the katra , the soul and consciousness of a person, which could be transferred psionically prior to death. ( TAS : " Yesteryear "; Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan ; Star Trek III: The Search for Spock ; TNG : " Gambit, Part I "; ENT : " The Forge ", " Awakening ")

Meditation was a central component of Vulcan life. The Vulcan Sh'vhal type ship of the late 24th century was known to feature a dedicated meditation chamber that the crew could use alone or in small groups. ( LD : " wej Duj ")

What little is known about Vulcan religious beliefs indicates that, beginning prior to the "Time of the Awakening", they were polytheistic. Surak 's teachings became the primary focus of Vulcan spirituality/mysticism, but, as late as the 23rd century, it was still not unheard of to find Vulcans honoring the traditional gods. There were, however, no demons in Vulcan literature. ( TAS : " Yesteryear "; TNG : " Gambit, Part I "; VOY : " Heroes and Demons ")

Romantic relationships [ ]

Vulcan wedding ceremony

Vulcan ceremonial wedding grounds, circa 2260s

When Vulcan children came of age, having sometimes been betrothed to childhood companions by age seven, underwent the pon farr , the link compelled them to follow through with full marital rituals, which cemented their relationship. ( TOS : " Amok Time "; ENT : " Breaking the Ice ")

It was traditional for the female to propose marriage by presenting a necklace to the male. She may signal her intention to do so by wearing ritual mating colors on an auspicious date, such as the anniversary of a first courtship event . ( SNW : " Strange New Worlds ")

If, for whatever reason, the female did not wish to go through with the marriage, then the ceremony of koon-ut-kal-if-fee ("marriage or challenge") was invoked. The male fought for the right to keep his mate against a challenger of her choosing. The female became the property of the male who won the contest, unless he chose to release her. The koon-ut-kal-if-fee was a fight to the death. ( TOS : " Amok Time ")

As of 2266 , hearsay held that Vulcan men treated their women strangely. ( TOS : " The Naked Time ")

According to Spock, it was "undignified for a woman to play servant to a man that is not hers" as his reason for throwing food (from Nurse Chapel) against the wall. ( TOS : " Amok Time ") Yet, a century earlier, T'Pol brought Jonathan Archer food and blankets in sickbay, and in an alternate timeline, tended to him as a nursemaid ( ENT : " A Night in Sickbay ", " Twilight ").

Vulcan wedding ceremony, ca 2260s

Touching each other with both the middle- and the forefinger was a custom practiced by married couples and was part of the Vulcan marriage ceremony. ( TOS : " Journey to Babel "; VOY : " Bliss "; ENT : " Home ") It could also help to calm down male Vulcans during pon farr . ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

Food and drink [ ]

Although not always, most Vulcans were primarily vegetarians . They also did not touch food with their hands unless wearing special gloves. ( ENT : " Broken Bow ", " Home ") The v'tosh ka'tur were a major exception, however. ( ENT : " Fusion ")

Vulcans were fermenting wines , notably Vulcan port , during the 21st century. ( DS9 : " The Maquis, Part I ")

Guests in a Vulcan household were expected to rise before sunrise to prepare the morning meal. ( ENT : " Home ") Plomeek broth was considered a traditional Vulcan breakfast. ( ENT : " Unexpected ")

Holidays [ ]

See also [ ], science and technology [ ].

• Vulcan starships
• Vulcan starship classes

Individuals [ ]

• List of named Vulcans
• List of unnamed Vulcans

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

A list of all appearances of Vulcans (excluding the regular appearances of Spock , Tuvok , and T'Pol ):

• " Amok Time " (Season Two)
• " Mirror, Mirror "
• " Journey to Babel "
• " The Savage Curtain " ( Excalbian recreation only) (Season Three)
• " Yesteryear " (Season One)
• " The Time Trap "
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Trek Beyond
• " Encounter at Farpoint " (Season One)
• " The Last Outpost "
• " Coming of Age "
• " Symbiosis "
• " Conspiracy "
• " The Outrageous Okona " (Season Two)
• " The Schizoid Man "
• " A Matter Of Honor "
• " The Dauphin "
• " Shades of Gray " (footage from "The Dauphin")
• " The Ensigns of Command " (Season Three)
• " Yesterday's Enterprise "
• " Captain's Holiday "
• " Ménage à Troi "
• " Qpid " (Season Four)
• " Ensign Ro " (Season Five)
• " Unification II "
• " Unification I "
• " The First Duty "
• " Imaginary Friend "
• " Suspicions " (Season Six)
• " Gambit, Part I " (Season Seven)
• " Gambit, Part II "
• " Lower Decks "
• " Preemptive Strike "
• Star Trek Generations
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection
• Star Trek Nemesis
• " Emissary " (Season One)
• " The Nagus "
• " The Forsaken "
• " The Maquis, Part I " (Season Two)
• " The Maquis, Part II "
• " Crossover "
• " Through the Looking Glass " (Season Three)
• " Shakaar "
• " The Visitor " (Season Four)
• " Homefront "
• " Bar Association "
• " Rules of Engagement "
• " Shattered Mirror "
• " For the Cause "
• " Broken Link "
• " Trials and Tribble-ations " (Season Five)
• " Rapture "
• " Behind the Lines " (Season Six)
• " Favor the Bold "
• " Valiant "
• " Image in the Sand " (Season Seven)
• " Afterimage "
• " Take Me Out to the Holosuite "
• " Prodigal Daughter "
• " The Emperor's New Cloak "
• " Field of Fire "
• " Caretaker " (Season One)
• " Persistence of Vision " (illusion only) (Season Two)
• " Alter Ego " (Season Three)
• " Fair Trade "
• " Blood Fever "
• " Darkling " (hologram only)
• " Day of Honor " (Season Four)
• " Extreme Risk " (Season Five)
• " In the Flesh " ( Species 8472 posing as Vulcan)
• " Counterpoint "
• " Gravity "
• " Bliss " (illusion only)
• " Repression " (Season Seven)
• " Flesh and Blood " (hologram only)
• " Body and Soul " (hologram only)
• " Renaissance Man "
• " Endgame "
• " Broken Bow " (Season One)
• " The Andorian Incident "
• " Breaking the Ice "
• " Shadows of P'Jem "
• " Fallen Hero "
• " Carbon Creek " (Season Two)
• " Shockwave, Part II "
• " Dead Stop "
• " The Seventh "
• " Cease Fire "
• " First Flight "
• " The Expanse "
• " Impulse " (Season Three)
• " Twilight "
• " Home " (Season Four)
• " The Forge "
• " Awakening "
• " Kir'Shara "
• " In a Mirror, Darkly "
• " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II "
• " Terra Prime "
• " The Vulcan Hello " (Season One)
• " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Choose Your Pain "
• " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum "
• " Into the Forest I Go "
• " The Wolf Inside "
• " The War Without, The War Within "
• " Will You Take My Hand? "
• " Brother " (Season Two)
• " Light and Shadows "
• " If Memory Serves "
• " Project Daedalus "
• " The Red Angel "
• " Perpetual Infinity "
• " Through the Valley of Shadows "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
• " Unification III " (Season Three)
• " That Hope Is You, Part 2 "
• " Anomaly (DIS) " (Season Four)
• " Choose to Live "
• " All Is Possible "
• " ...But to Connect "
• " Rubicon "
• " The Galactic Barrier "
• " Rosetta "
• " Species Ten-C "
• " Coming Home "
• " Q&A " (Season Two)
• " Maps and Legends " (Season One)
• " The End is the Beginning "
• " Nepenthe "
• " Broken Pieces "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 "
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " The Star Gazer " (Season Two)
• " Farewell "
• " The Next Generation " (Season Three)
• " Disengage "
• " Seventeen Seconds "
• " No Win Scenario "
• " Imposters "
• " Dominion "
• " Surrender "
• " The Last Generation "
• " Second Contact " (Season One)
• " Much Ado About Boimler "
• " Veritas "
• " Kayshon, His Eyes Open " (Season Two)
• " Mugato, Gumato "
• " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers "
• " wej Duj "
• " First First Contact "
• " The Least Dangerous Game " (Season Three)
• " Hear All, Trust Nothing "
• " The Stars At Night "
• " Twovix " (Season Four)
• " In the Cradle of Vexilon "
• " Something Borrowed, Something Green "
• " Empathological Fallacies "
• " A Few Badgeys More "
• " The Inner Fight "
• " Old Friends, New Planets "
• " Kobayashi " (hologram) (Season One)
• " Supernova, Part 2 "
• " Strange New Worlds " (Season One)
• " Spock Amok "
• " The Serene Squall "
• " Ad Astra per Aspera " (Season Two)
• " Charades "
• " Under the Cloak of War "

Background information [ ]

The Vulcans were the first alien species created for Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry . ( " The Andorian Incident ", text commentary , ENT Season 1 DVD special feature )

^  The term "Vulcanian" has been described as an " Obsolete term meaning a native of the planet Vulcan. The term 'Vulcan' has come to mean both the planet and the native of same. " ( Star Trek Concordance , p. 248) The origin of the term from a production standpoint dates to 1966 , when NBC prepared a twelve-page booklet, entitled "Advance Information on 1966- 67 Programming: Star Trek ", which described the series' regular crewmembers. The description of Spock mentions that his father was a native of "Vulcanis," and his people were known as the "Vulcanians". ( The Star Trek Compendium , p. 25) As a result of early "growing pains" in the writing staff, the term "Vulcanian" was used sporadically (and sometimes interchangeably) during the first season , where it was heard in " Mudd's Women ", " Court Martial ", " A Taste of Armageddon ", " This Side of Paradise ", and " Errand of Mercy ". The Bajorans suffered similar "growing pains" when they were briefly known as the "Bajora" during their early appearances. The name "Vulcan" itself, in reference to the people, was first heard in " The Naked Time ". See also: Vulcanian expedition and Vulcanian Scientific Legion of Honor .

In notes that Costume Designer Robert Fletcher wrote about the various aliens in the film Star Trek: The Motion Picture , he included a description of the Vulcans. After pointing out the Vulcans were "from tv series", the brief continued as follows:

" Observed in the movie as Mr. Spock, others among crew, and the Masters on Vulcan planet scene. Unemotional, scientific people, their culture based on cold logic, reason and control. One of the Federation's most advanced races [....] Vulcans are mostly tall, slender, beautiful people, with strong sense of honor. Physically distinguished by upswept eyebrows and pointed ears. Their green blood is copper-based. "

Fletcher also imagined that, because their homeworld was rich in jade, the Vulcans made extensive use of that substance, such as with ruby jewellery and a red-colored giant statue is visible on the planet's surface, in the film. ( The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture , p. 133)

The depiction of Vulcans developed with the introduction of Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager , as he was the first black Vulcan main character. In developing the character of Tuvok, the series' creators tried to put a new spin on the long-established alien species. However, Executive Producer and series co-creator Jeri Taylor later stated, " Subsequently I have learned we were not the first. In the third feature there was a black Vulcan priestess, so it was clearly established there were different colors of people on Vulcan. " (Taylor's statement is not entirely true, as the black Vulcan priestess was actually in the fifth Star Trek film, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier .) When he was cast as Tuvok, actor Tim Russ was an expert on Vulcans, and, in fact, his expertise of portraying a member of the species got him the part. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, pp. 59 & 60) " People are always asking me how there could even be a black Vulcan, " said Russ, shortly after the start of VOY Season 1 . " If Vulcans are humanoids and other humanoids were the species they most often encountered, then logic would follow that because of genetic mutation and random selection, you're going to have different colors and different variations of the species at one time. So, Tuvok is a black Vulcan. " ( The Official Star Trek: Voyager Magazine  issue 2 , p. 20)

In a story idea that the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine writers had that eventually became the two-parter " Homefront " and " Paradise Lost ", the Vulcans were to withdraw from the Federation. The cause of this schism was to be their concern that the Federation was becoming too concerned with the Changeling infiltration at the cost of civil liberties. Starfleet was to assume incorrectly that the Founders had infiltrated Vulcan society. ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion  (p. ? ))

In developing the Vulcans for Star Trek: Enterprise , Brannon Braga noted " one of our goals with this series was to make the Vulcans interesting again. I think they've been taken for granted... I think the Vulcans in this era are very complicated and paradoxical and make good antagonists. " ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 3, Issue 2 , p. 10) Regarding the depiction of crazed Vulcan crewmembers of the starship Seleya in ENT : " Impulse ", Braga once remarked, " I loved the idea of Vulcan zombies. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 151 , p. 29)

In the unproduced animated series Star Trek: Final Frontier , set in the far future, the Vulcans left the Federation at some point in the 25th century to discuss reunification with the Romulans.

In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the script of Star Trek , Spock explained, " 'Cthia' is the stricture that binds our emotions... but few of us are that perfectly Vulcan. " [4]

For Star Trek Into Darkness , Vulcan ear prosthetics, in encapsulated silicone, were created by makeup artist David Snyder . A few changes were made to the Vulcan ears when compared to those from the previous film , Star Trek , on which Snyder had also worked. David LeRoy Anderson , the Makeup Department Head for Into Darkness , explained, " Our modifications were strictly mechanical, based on Dave's desire to make the application a little easier. Dave did a clay press of the existing sculpt and remodeled the ears to help mass-produce the pieces, and that gave us great edges. " The ears were applied by Snyder, using a cotton swab, and (at least in the case of Zachary Quinto as Spock ) a tiny amount of acetone. ( Cinefex , No. 134, p. 77)

Apocrypha [ ]

According to Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual (published in 1977 by "Star Fleet Productions, Inc."):

• Males height = 2.0 meters (6'6")
• Males weight = 70 kilograms (154.3 lbs)
• Females height = 1.7 meters (5'6")
• Females weight = 50 kilograms (110.2 lbs)
• Body temperature = 32.78 °C (91 °F)
• Heart rate = 242 bpm
• Blood pressure = 80/40

Vulcan blood vessels are more dilated than those of Humans. The larger blood vessels are the reason Vulcan blood pressure is lower. The dilated blood vessels and fast heart rate also play a key role in regulating Vulcan body temperature. A standard 91 °F body temperature is maintained by the internal cooling mechanism of fast blood circulation. ( Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual )

Vulcans do not have sweat glands, and cannot rely on evaporation as a means of cooling their bodies in the harsh heat of their planet's desert climate. Expelling heat through radiation is insufficient. Vulcans evolved an internal cooling mechanism. With an average body temperature of 91 °F, the high blood flow circulates cool blood throughout their body. ( Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual ) This systematic means of cooling gives credence to McCoy's comment "that green ice water you call blood." ( TOS : " The Paradise Syndrome ")

While " Little Green Men " implies that Vulcans were not warp-capable until at least 1947, in the novel Prime Directive they already possessed such technology in 1908: a Vulcan survey ship was responsible for the mysterious Tunguska event , redirecting a large meteor about to hit Western Europe – where it would have killed millions and done irreparable damage to Human civilization – so that it instead impacted in an area so remote that no Human deaths were recorded.

External links [ ]

• Vulcan at StarTrek.com
• Vulcan at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)