Theta radiation Theta radiation is an energy form which can be extremely toxic to humanoid life . A regular byproduct of antimatter waste , theta radiation in high enough concentrations can disrupt subspace and prevent the formation of a stable warp field . ( ) In the absence of proper precautions , theta radiation can be extremely hazardous . Symptoms of theta radiation poisoning included hallucinations , fatigue , and nausea . Over longer periods of time , cumulative exposure can cause ular degradation and severely shorten life expectancy , and theta radiation of extremely high levels can liquefy organic material . ( ) By the 24th century , Starfleet had eliminated the generation of this form of waste product , utilizing a transkinetic chamber to break down the residual antimatter on a subatomic level , and a series of radiometric converter s to absorb the resultant theta radiation , recycling the energy and using it to power various ship ' s systems . ( ) In 2063 , upon traveling back in time from the year 2373 , the Borg attacked Zefram Cochrane ' s launch facility in Montana , damaging , among other things , the throttle assembly of Cochrane ' s warp vessel , the " Phoenix " , causing it to leak harmful theta radiation . This necessitated the inoculation of members of the crew of the , which had followed the Borg vessel from the future , against theta radiation poisoning . Cochrane ' s partner , Lily Sloane , herself succumbed to the effects of severe theta radiation poisoning , although she was successfully treated by Doctor Beverly Crusher , chief medical officer of the " Enterprise " . ( ) Theta radiation in small doses could be used to destroy microorganism s , and was used in ' s decontamination chamber when it was determined that a member of the crew was infected . In 2153 , after exploring an uninhabited planet , Doctor Phlox discovered that he and Sub - Commander T ' Pol had been infected with an unknown microorganism , and attempted to use theta radiation to eliminate the infection . ( ) Later that year , while attempting to synthesize trellium - D with which to insulate their hull against the effects of spatial anomalies , T ' Pol and Commander Tucker attempted theta radiation bombardment . However , when the molecular pressure began to rise uncontrollably , Tucker deactivated the theta radiation , to no effect , eventually necessitating Tucker and T ' Pol ' s evacuation of the lab in order to avoid the resultant explosion . ( ) In 2375 , while traversing the Delta Quadrant , the crew of the encountered a region of space nearly 2 , 500 light year s across , wherein no star system s existed , and all light from outside was occluded by heavy concentrations of theta radiation , resulting in a starless , oppressive expanse which the crew took to calling " " The crew soon discovered that the theta radiation was a result of massive amounts of antimatter waste being dumped in the region by the crew of a Malon export vessel , despite the harmful effects it was having on at least one species native to the area . In an attempt at diplomacy , the " Voyager " crew offered to share their reclamation technology with Controller Emck , the master of the Malon vessel , although Emck ultimately chose to turn down their offer , as it would put him out of business . ( ) Later that year , the " Voyager " crew encountered another Malon vessel , while attempting to retrieve a multispatial probe which had become trapped in the atmosphere of a gas giant . The Malon , attempting to obtain the probe for themselves , released a cloud of theta radiation as a form of attack , successfully weakening " Voyager " s shields to 89 percent . ( ) Also that year , while attempting to narrow the possible events which could have been causing a ship - wide molecular decay , the biomimetic crew of a duplicate " Voyager " considered an encounter with a species known as the Kmada , who attempted to sabotage their life support system with theta radiation , although they ultimately rejected this as a possibility . ( ) Later in 2375 , " Voyager " encountered a Malon vessel yet again , this time suffering from catastrophic damage , threatening to explode and spread over four trillion isoton s of antimatter waste over an area of three light year s . Utilizing an inoculation developed by The Doctor which temporarily prevented their cells from absorbing theta radiation ( although Neelix swore by his recipe of crushed rama leaves and Katyllian clove s ) , a boarding party from " Voyager " attempted to repair the vessel , only to discover that the ship had been sabotaged by what the Malon referred to as a " vihaar , " a former crewmember who had been severely poisoned and deformed by exposure to theta radiation . ( ) In 2376 , during his initial examination of Dr . Lewis Zimmerman , The Doctor asked him if he had been exposed to theta radiation , provoking annoyance from Zimmerman who considered it the sort of question a first - year medical student would ask . ( )