Dilithium Crystals - A rare mineral substance used to channel energy through the matter and anti-matter warp drive engines of the starship USS Enterprise on the sci-fi series STAR TREK/NBC/1966-69 and sequel series. Dilithium was worth 300 times its weight in diamonds and sources of this much-prized element were coveted by other alien races who needed the mineral to power their own space crafts with warp capabilities (travel faster than light). Dilithium crystals were also used to power phasers - futuristic weapons - that could stun or disintegrate their targets. Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) discovered the formula for creating synthetic Dilithium in 2286 in the motion picture Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). During the first few episodes of the original series, the Enterprise engines used Lithium Crystals. TRIVIA NOTE: A silly Star Trek joke floating about goes: "We've secretly replaced the Dilithium crystals with Folger's dark roast crystals. Let's see how long it takes for the Enterprise crew to notice..."