John von Neumann (1903-1957) was a 20th century Human man. He was a noted physicist and mathematician, particularly in the field of quantum mechanics.
History[]
Von Neumann developed the idea of biological and non-biological self-replication. He also considered that a molecular assembler aboard an interstellar probe could be used for colonization. When the probe landed on a planet, it could automatically reform material on the surface to build everything colonists would need before they arrived, including its buildings, livestock and food. If consciousness could be stored long-term aboard the probe, the tech could also be used to rematerialize the colonists at the destination, avoiding the need to construct a colony ship. (TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Shinsei Shinsei comic: "Anything But Alone")
Legacy[]
In the 21st century, sentient von Neumann machines augmented Earth's Voyager 6 probe into the V'Ger entity. (TOS novel: Ex Machina, TNG - Cold Equations novel: The Body Electric)
A Ximegan in the 23rd century used the idea to resurrect a community after his homeworld was destroyed by a supernova. Spock recalled von Neumann's initial concepts while exploring the recreated colony on Ximega II. (TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Shinsei Shinsei comic: "Anything But Alone")
The USS Von Neumann and USS Neumann were probably named in his honor. (TNG novel: Sins of Commission, DTI novel: Forgotten History)
Appendices[]
Reference[]
- TOS novel: Ex Machina
- TNG - Cold Equations novel: The Body Electric
- TOS - Star Trek: The Manga - Shinsei Shinsei comic: "Anything But Alone"
External link[]
- John von Neumann article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.