TREK TECH

Here are some Star Trek technologies that have been invented since they were originally dreamed up in our favorite episodes and movies.

The replicator

Additive Manufacturing Machines are also called 3D Printers. Similar to how the Star Trek Replicator builds an object by precisely arranging its atoms to the desired structure, these machines build an object by precisely spraying a basic raw material out of a print head the same way an ink jet printer sprays ink onto a page. The print heads on these machines move side to side, up and down and back and forth, and they can have large bays filled with any basic raw material such as powered or liquid metals, plastics, and composites. Objects can be scanned and replicated, or be created from scratch using CAD software.

http://www.txchnologist.com/2011/3d-printing-and-the-replicator-eco...

http://www.economist.com/node/21552892

Transparent Aluminum

Commercially it's known as Aluminum Oxy-Nitride (ALON) or Transparent Aluminum Armor. It's formula is Al₂₃O₂₇N₅  and its made by heating the compound to more than 2000 degrees under high pressure and then polishing to transparency.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/01/frank-williams/bulletproof...

http://www.reade.com/products/32-nitride-compounds-powders/5259-alu...

http://www.surmet.com/docs/Processing_ALON.pdf

Tricorder

Dr. Peter Jansen has built a working Next Generation Style Tricorder. His invention is equipped with 10 atmospheric and electromagnetic sensors, and the plans are even available on the website below in case you want to build one yourself.  

http://tricorderproject.org/

http://www.zmescience.com/research/inventions/real-life-working-tri...