Life energy is a type of biological energy required for life.
In the 21st century on Earth, the Leiber-Kurtzberg Theory proposed the existence of life energy. Because proof could not be found at the time, the theory was discredited. (TOS comic: "The Hunger")
Examples
In Bajoran theology, a person's life energy is stored in their pagh. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)
Thousands of years ago, a Giant Brain organism living within the core of an unnamed asteroid began injecting large quantities of life energy into the lifeforms on the surface, which helped sustain them. (TOS comic: "The Brain-Damaged Planet")
In 2266, life energy was drained from the planet Ecnal by a Lerow rocket intent of using it to restore life on their dying Lerow homeworld. The Federation starship USS Enterprise provided its crew with an energy converter so it didn't need to steal the life energy. (TOS comic: "Planet Ecnal's Dilemma")
In the 2260s, the core of Tristas was found to be hollow, containing a vast field of life energy. Proximity to it merged six scientists into a group consciousness. In 2267, Admiral Tailen Kahn briefly connected with the life energy field, leaving him visibly shaken and notably changed. (TOS comic: "The Final Truth")
In 2269, a life energy transfer device built by Ylterans was discovered on Camus II. An exchange of life energy between two people connected to the device resulted in identity transference. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds, TOS episode & Star Trek 5 novelization: Turnabout Intruder)
Species/Entities that drain life energy
- Beavo (Selkye) (TOS comic: "Planet of the Dead")
- Crystalline Entity (SNW short story: "Guardians")
- Devidians (Devidia II) (Decipher RPG module: Aliens, TNG episode: "Time's Arrow")
- R'kaal (LUG RPG module: The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans)
- Hollow Planet (TOS comic: "The Hunger")
- Mortard robots (Raylo) (TOS comic: "Rescue at Raylo")
- Space amoeba (TOS episode & Star Trek 9 novelization: The Immunity Syndrome)
- Tactisian (Tactis II asteroid) (TOS comic: "The Mimicking Menace")
- Taurean colonists (Taurus II) (TAS episode & Log Two novelization: The Lorelei Signal)
In a Klingon interpretation of historical events played out in a holosuite, (*) was said to drain life energy rather than subsist on strong emotions such as hate. (SNW short story: "Guardians")
Appendices
References
- TOS episode & Star Trek 9 novelization: The Immunity Syndrome
- TOS episode & Star Trek 5 novelization: Turnabout Intruder
- TAS episode & Log Two novelization: The Lorelei Signal
- TNG episode: "Time's Arrow"
- TOS comic: "The Final Truth"
- TOS comic: "The Mimicking Menace"
- TOS comic: "The Brain-Damaged Planet"
- TOS comic: "Planet of the Dead"
- TOS comic: "Planet Ecnal's Dilemma"
- TOS comic: "Rescue at Raylo"
- TOS comic: "The Hunger"
- SNW short story: "Guardians"
- LUG RPG module: The Way of Kolinahr: The Vulcans
- Decipher RPG module: Worlds
- Decipher RPG module: Aliens