Tribble prop, Star Trek 'The Trouble with Tribbles' episode
Some artifacts and specimens from the collection illustrate how real scientists explore Earth. This adorable fictional creature is a screen-used prop designed by prop artist Wah Chang and constructed by Jacqueline Cumere for the popular 1967 “Trouble with Tribbles” episode of the original Star Trek TV series. It represents a new life form encountered by the curious crew of the Enterprise in outer space. They lovingly adopt and feed the tribbles as if they are Earth pets but discover they have underestimated the “unknown” when the tribbles multiply and eat the grain the crew is transporting. Ultimately, they learn that even the simplest living beings need to be treated with respect or the consequences can be serious.
