The Numbers Game: Why Does "47" Pop Up So Often In Star Trek?

How many 47s can you find? Image: Paramount.

APRIL 7, 2023 - ‘90s Star Trek has a distinct feel to it, in part because The Next Generation flows into Deep Space Nine which in turn flows into Voyager. But there is a common thread tying these series together. You may not have noticed it because it is subtle. Since today is 4/7, that makes it the perfect day to talk about the number “47” and how it has proliferated in Star Trek.

Whether you want to consider it an in-joke, an easter egg, or a meme, the number 47, and various iterations of 4 and 7 appearing along-side one another, have made many appearances in dialog, on props, and in computer screens. This was the work of writer and producer Joe Menosky. Now that you know “47” has been planted in so much of ‘90s Trek, it becomes a fun game to spot it in an episode. But why “47”?

Joe Menosky is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, California. Current students and alumni of Pomona will tell you that 47 is the quintessential random number. That’s the theory put forth by Donald Bentley in 1964, professor of statistics at Pomona College. Bentley put together a proof showing that all numbers are equal to 47. This was, in reality, a ‘trick proof’ meant to be used as an example. But it took on a life of its own and eventually snowballed its way onto Star Trek. If you get the chance to visit Pomona College, be sure to stop by Café 47.

Beyond the ‘90s era of Star Trek, 47s also made its way into the J.J. Abrams films. And players of Star Trek Online have undoubtedly danced the night away at Club 47.

Have you caught any 47s in this current era of Paramount+ Star Trek? Let us know!