o the casual observer it may seem as though every minuscule detail of the Star Trek universe has already been examined, but stalwart fans frequently manage to discover fresh elements to explore within the long-running franchise. Michaela Schlocker, a student at Stanford University, has uncovered a relatively recent effort by the Star Trek creative team to slyly insert the number 47 into the series as often as possible, and she has devoted her energies to documenting via this Web site every conceivable incidence of that numeral on the various Trek TV shows and films.
Recognizing that this integer can be represented in a variety of ways, Schlocker and her crew of contributors find dozens of situations where the figure is inconspicuously introduced into the sundry Starfleet serials. They scrutinize each incarnation of the show, and so far they've cited more than 60 instances from Star Trek: The Next Generation, more than 65 from Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and more than 75 from Star Trek: Voyager. They even present a few occurrences of the number in the original series and the assorted movies, along with samples of dialogue mentioning the numeral and images from the series that show relevant visual cues.
The 47 database also features a letter from Star Trek producer Brannon Braga that authenticates the existence of the 47 phenomenon, along with a link to the Pomona College Web site, which offers further evidence of a Star Trek/47 connection, primarily through screenwriter and 1979 graduate Joe Menosky.
Fascinating...
Even though Schlocker occasionally pushes the boundaries of believability with her 47 theory, the sheer quantity of 47s chronicled on this Web site is a testament to both the diligence of her investigative team and the creativity of the series' producers. From the obvious, like the holographic doctor on Star Trek: Voyager stating early in that program's first season that he has the experience of 47 medical officers, to the truly inventive, such as the winning poker hand (four sevens) held by Steven Hawking in the opening scene of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Descent, Part 1," Schlocker builds a convincing argument that the number 47 genuinely holds a special significance in the Star Trek milieu.
Based on the examples noted throughout the site, those intent on searching for the figure need to be perceptually flexible. According to Schlocker's examples, designations such as 4-G are considered fair game, since G is the seventh letter of the alphabet. Statements like "set the delta band of the holoemitter to seven megahertz" are also significant, as delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. The numeral 74 is also considered a valid sighting, as is any series of digits that add up to 47, like the transporter terminal in Star Trek: First Contact with the vertically aligned numbers 22, 10 and 15.
The author acknowledges that her interest in this scheme is a case study in obsession, but her devotion to rooting out each appearance of the numeral nevertheless represents a marvelous and truly monumental effort. Although in the long run such a quest may not be particularly productive, it undeniably offers fanatic followers of the Star Trek saga a fascinating and downright fun diversion.
