Topical Tens: 5 April: Vulcans

On this date in 2063, according to Star Trek, first contact will be made with with the Vulcans. The official contact between Vulcans and humans occurred when a Vulcan survey ship detected the warp flight of Captain Zefram Cochrane’s Phoenix.

Where do Vulcans come from? The planet Vulcan is located in the triple star system 40 Eridani, 17 light years from Earth, orbiting the largest star A, a main sequence K1 star. Their planet is mostly deserts and mountain ranges, and has no moon.
Vulcans look like humans, but there are differences, the most obvious being the shape of their ears and Eyebrows. Less obvious differences are that they have an inner eyelid, an adaptation for living on a bright world. Their Hearts, which beat much faster than a human's, are on the right side of their bodies, between the ribs and pelvis. Dr. McCoy says about Spock in one episode: "He is lucky that his heart is where his liver should be, or he'd be dead!" They have more teeth than humans, but no appendix. Their Blood is Copper based, giving their skin a slightly Green hue.
The Vulcan race is known for using logic rather than emotion. This wasn't always the case. Ancient Vulcans were violent and emotional and worshipped a pantheon of gods. In about the 4th century AD, a philosopher named Surak advocated the suppressing of emotion in favor of logic. This period was known as the "Great Awakening". Not all Vulcans embraced this philosophy, however. Some wanted to carry on being violent and emotional. This faction left the planet to make their homes elsewhere. Romulans are descended from these people.
Vulcan eating habits: they are vegetarians by choice but can and will eat meat if it is the only food available. They do not touch food with their bare hands. They use utensils, or wear gloves. When Vulcans go to dinner at someone else's home, it is the guests, rather than the host, which prepare the meal. Some sources claim they never drink alcohol, but they have been observed doing so in numerous Star Trek episodes, and there is such a thing as "Vulcan Brandy". They also become inebriated if they eat sugar - Chocolate or candy can make them drunk.
The Vulcan language was the first alien language introduced in the Star Trek franchise. "Dif-tor heh smusma" means "Live long and prosper."
About every seven years, they get an overpowering urge to mate which, if not satisfied or controlled by meditation, can lead to death. "Pon Farr" is caused by a hormone imbalance. You may think this is the only way Vulcans manage to reproduce given that they suppress emotions and are relentlessly logical. However, they do experience sexual urges at other times as well.
Vulcans practice arranged marriage. Males and females are bonded as children. They are not fully married at this time, but are considered more than simply "betrothed". A male can challenge another male for his "fiancee" and fight to to death to win her.
A rite of passage in Vulcan society is the "Kahs-wan" in which children are left in the wilderness to fend for themselves for a time. Not all of them survive the experience.
Vulcans can perform "mind melds" with others - not only of their own species. They have been known to mind meld with humans and other species, including humpback whales. The technique requires physical contact and can be used to share thoughts, experiences, memories and knowledge with another individual. It doesn't work on the Ferengi, however, and Cardassians can be trained to resist it. A Vulcan can even transfer their "essence" into another person just before they die.
Vulcans are stronger, faster, and longer-lived than humans. They are stronger because the gravity on their home planet is higher than on Earth. They can go without water for much longer, having evolved on a hot, dry planet, and can go for two weeks without sleep.