Every School’s Doomsday Machine
There’s an episode of the original Star Trek—my all-time favorite—called “The Doomsday Machine.” In its heart-stopping finale, Captain Kirk is stranded alone on a battered, listing USS Constellation. The starship’s engines are set to overload and timed to explode inside the insidious, remorseless planet crusher. With 30 seconds remaining, Kirk grabs his communicator and says,…