Thalaron radiation
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Thalaron radiation is a type of deadly radiation in the fictional Star Trek Universe. Its lethality is such that a microsopic amount could kill everyone on board a starship. It turns all organic matter into an extremely unstable and rocklike substance on contact that is also noticeably brittle, as demonstrated in the beginning of the film Star Trek: Nemesis, Appeared in Star Trek: Nemesis, where it was the primary McGuffin of the film.
Thalaron radiation was the key weapon aboard the Reman Warbird, known as the Scimitar, which was intended to eliminate the population of Earth. However, it is apparently extremely volatile, as a simple phaser shot into its generator on the Scimitar was enough to detonate it, completely destroying the Scimitar.
Because of its hazards, thalaron research is banned by the Federation. Its only known useful purpose is as a weapon, and as such detecting it aboard a ship is almost certainly a sign of ill intentions.