Singularity A singularity , or quantum singularity , is an extremely dense region of the spacetime continuum which produces extremely powerful gravitational forces . Singularities can be produced both naturally , as in black hole s , or artificially . History . Singularity was one of the vocabulary words listed on the chart " A Tunnel in the Sky " . This chart was seen in the schoolroom aboard Deep Space 9 in 2369 . Two locations in the Bajoran wormhole were described as Point singularities and a Ring singularity . ( ) In 2371 , Lieutenant Jadzia Dax ' s body acted as a singularity during the planet Meridian ' s dimensional shift ing . Dax ' s presence during the shift destabilized the planet ' s quantum matrix , threatening complete destruction of Meridian . As Dax was acting like an anchor , the crew of the was forced to beam her up in order for the shift to be completed . ( ) Quantum singularities can also be utilized as interdimensional rift s . In 2374 , the Borg created a series of quantum singularities via the generation of resonant graviton beam s , in an attempt to invade fluidic space . Seven of Nine was later able to modify ' s navigational deflector to perform the same function , and took the ship through the rift . ( ) Another novel use of a quantum singularity was in 2378 , when the crew of " Voyager " was able to bounce a tachyon beam off of one and successfully establish communication with Starfleet , on the other side of the galaxy . This communication was limited by the fact that the singularity was only in alignment for eleven minutes every day . ( ) Types of singularities . Microsingularities . A microscopic singularity ( or microsingularity ) is a naturally occurring phenomenon that can be described as a tiny black hole . Prior to 2151 , Vulcan scientist s theorized the existence of microsingularities , but their Human colleagues dismissed them as a " Vulcan myth " because of the lack of hard evidence . In 2151 , rendezvoused with a Tesnian ship at an asteroid field , at which time a microsingularity collided with the Tesnian ship and caused it to crash . Three microsingularities also struck " Enterprise " , dissipating on impact when they encountered its polarized hull plating . Shortly after , " " was also struck by a microsingularity , which passed directly through its hull and threatened on - board life support . ( ) In 2371 , a microscopic singularity passed through the Sol system and exploded , producing a surge of temporal energy which shifted the chroniton particle s lodged in the " Defiant " s ablative armor into a high level of temporal polarization . This caused a transporter beam passing through the polarized particles carrying Captain Benjamin Sisko , Lieutenant Dax , and Doctor Julian Bashir , to be redirected through time to San Francisco , the year 2024 . It also created a subspace bubble around the " Defiant " , isolating it from changes to the timeline inadvertently effected by the three officers . Using the remaining polarized chronitons , Chief O ' Brien and Major Kira were able to recreate the accident and rescue their stranded crewmates , after restoring the timeline . ( ) In 2374 , " Voyager " discovered a one hundred thousand year - old communications relay network being used by the Hirogen in the Delta Quadrant . Analysis indicated that each of the relay stations utilized a harvested microsingularity as a power source . While engaged in battle with an Hirogen vessel , the " Voyager " crew used an antithoron burst to destabilize the containment field around one of the singularities and increase its gravitational pull . The plan worked , but the containment field failed , destroying the relay station and causing the singularity to grow into a black hole . While " Voyager " was able to escape , the Hirogen ship was destroyed . ( ) Artificial quantum singularity . An artificial quantum singularity ( also known as a confined , or forced quantum singularity ) was a method utilized by the Romulan s for generating energy , instead of the more traditional matter - antimatter reaction used in Federation starship s . In order to remain undetected while cloak ed , nullifier core s were used to precisely balance the radiative emissions of the ship ' s engine s . ( ) In 2369 , a race of aliens from another time continuum mistook a Romulan Warbird ' s artificial quantum singularity for a natural black hole . Placing their embryo nic young in the singularity ' s gravity well for the purpose of incubation , they soon realized that their young had become trapped . Later , when the initiated a power transfer beam in an attempt to help the damaged Warbird , the beam ' s interaction with the compromised singularity created a temporal aperture , disrupting spacetime around both ships , creating a series of temporal fragment s . ( ) In 2371 , the temporal energy being radiated from the artificial quantum singularity of a cloaked Warbird orbit ing station Deep Space 9 interacted with the delta - series radioisotope s which Chief O ' Brien had absorbed due to the explosion of a plasma conduit . This had the effect of causing O ' Brien to shift forward in time by approximately five hours every time the singularity emitted temporal radiation at a specific wavelength . Later , O ' Brien and Doctor Bashir were able to control O ' Brien ' s time shifts by flooding his body with more of the isotopes and calibrating the decay rate to match the temporal frequency of the singularity . ( ) Type 4 quantum singularity . A type 4 quantum singularity is a highly localized disturbance in the spacetime continuum , characterized by a gravimetric flux density of over two thousand percent . In 2371 , " Voyager " encountered and became trapped within the event horizon of a type 4 quantum singularity in the Delta Quadrant . Due to massive temporal distortions being emitted from the singularity , the crew of " Voyager " encountered time - delayed reflection s of their own ship , initially making them believe that they had encountered another vessel being pulled into the singularity . Eventually , they were able to find their way out by exiting through a breach in the event horizon which they had created when they initially entered . ( ) Appendices . Background information . The term singularity is derived from mathematics , and gravitational singularities refer to points of infinite or near - infinite density or space curvature .