Q ( species ) The Q were a seemingly omnipotent and immortal species who inhabited the Q Continuum , possessing the ability of instantaneous matter - energy transformation and teleportation , as well as the ability of time travel . The Q had control over space , time , matter , and energy . ( ) In addition , Q spectacularly claimed to possess an IQ of 2005 . ( ) They didn ' t make official contact with the Federation until 2364 , when the crew of the met Q . ( ) At least one Q , acting on his own , had intervened and influenced Human affairs since at least the time of Isaac Newton . ( ) The Q evolved over countless centuries into their current form and considered themselves to be the ultimate form of evolution , existing in a state of " ultimate purity " . However , this caused most of the Q to develop an apathetic attitude towards the universe , as the Q believed that they already done everything and had experienced everything . As such , there was nothing left for them to see , do , experience , or discuss , because they had already done so at some point . ( ) The exact circumstances of how the Q came to exist is unclear . While Quinn stated that the Q were once not unlike humanoid lifeforms , Q implied that the Q never came in to existence , but rather always were . ( ) The true extent of the abilities of the Q is somewhat unclear . While most Q claimed to be omnipotent , and at least one Q claimed they were all knowing , there is some reason to dispute these claims . Quinn implied that the Q were not completely omnipotent . Considering that Quinn was a dissident , his claims may not have been entirely accurate , though they were supported by the fact that Q could be killed , which if they were completely omnipotent , would not be possible . ( ; ) At one point Q indicated that Humans might have one day equalled his species . ( ) However , what is evident is that their capabilities reached cosmic levels of power . An individual Q could accomplish such feats as traveling to a time and place that existed before and outside the universe itself , accidentally destroy a galaxy , or changing the gravitational constant of the universe , all on a whim . ( ; ; ) . An aspect of 24th century interactions with the Q included involvement in a Q Civil War . The Q had come to fear the influence of Human compassion and curiosity into their otherwise timeless , apathetic , and stable culture . The war was incredibly destructive to this dimension and involved weapons which , during a firefight , incidentally caused the supernova of numerous star s . The war was ultimately avoided upon the birth of Q Junior , restoring the Continuum to the status quo . ( ) The Qs ' abilities were not only limited to members of the Q Continuum species , as William T . Riker experienced the powers of the Q . ( ) Appendices . Apocrypha . In the Peter David novel " Q - Squared " , Trelane was revealed to be a member of the Q Continuum , with Q being assigned as his mentor . In the book , Trelane was able to tap into " The Heart of The Storm , " the theoretical and literal center of the universe , where chaos exists ; doing so gave Trelane more power than the entire Continuum , allowing him to close it off and play with the universe as he pleased . Trelane then manipulated three different tracks of the " Enterprise " - D timeline , with the ultimate goal of the experiment being the merging of all parallel timelines and the destruction of the multiverse order . Captain Picard , with the help of Q , managed to stop Trelane , though the experience reduced Trelane to a speck of his former existence . The trilogy " " introduced an additional Q known as the Quaestor , who resembled Picard . In this series it was revealed that the most prominent Q pulled a similar being known as 0 through the Guardian of Forever , and that 0 proceeded to bring forth such entities as the " " of Sha Ka Ree , Gorgan , and the Beta XII - A entity to join him in his villainy . The Continuum was forced to act , with the Quaestor leading Quinn , Q2 , and the female Q into battle against 0 and his forces . The outcome of this battle was the imprisonment of the Sha Ka Ree entity at the center of the galaxy and 0 outside of it , while their two allies escaped . The Q Continuum created barriers to prevent the return of their two prisoners , and Q was assigned to watch over Earth due to his part in wiping out the dinosaurs by redirecting an attack aimed at the female Q by 0 . The barriers created to keep 0 out were later weakened by the Q civil war , and he briefly managed to return but was then defeated by the unlikely alliance of Q and the Calamarain . He was then returned to exile , and the Continuum repaired the barriers . " " featured the Q caught in a war against the Pah - wraith s . Unlike the three - dimensional world , they found themselves oddly powerless in their own continuum . Following Q ' s merging with a Prophet , he became even more powerful than he had been before .