How many chances does one figure have to shift the culture? Sure, a pop song might chart for a few days, but it could just as easily disappear into the ether the following week. The same can be said of any effort, really. Any movie, TV show, or fashion statement can vanish as quickly as it was established, no matter how popular it once seemed. Deeply affecting the zeitgeist and creating something that spans generations is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That's why it's such a remarkable sight to behold when it actually happens.

Star Trek has contributed lots to the cultural milieu, some of which has gone on to a life of its own, outside of the series. "Beam me up, Scotty" wasn't even ever actually spoken in an episode. Such is the cultural footprint of one of television's most incredible shows. 

Another example of Star Trek's far reach is Spock's Vulcan greeting. The split-fingered gesture is instantly recognizable both to fans and— perhaps more significantly— to folks who've never seen the show. In his 1977 autobiography, I Am Not Spock, actor Leonard Nimoy wrote about the symbol's history here on Earth.

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"The greeting that I chose came from my Orthodox Jewish background. The hand symbol is that used by the Kohanim, who are the priests of the Hebrews, who bless the congregation during the High Holiday services. Saying, 'May the Lord turn his countenance unto you and give you peace, etc.' While doing so, they extend both hands out toward the congregation in the configuration that I described."

So, while the Vulcan salute may have outlived the original Star Trek series, its legacy existed long before the show, as well. By integrating his heritage into Spock's characterization, Leonard Nimoy grounded the Starfleet Second Officer in a believable reality. While the series is beloved for its high-concept sci-fi flights of fancy, it connected with audiences most in its human moments. Predictably for a Vulcan, Nimoy had some real logic in his approach to creating the well-remembered hand signal.

"There are many interpretations of this symbol, but the one which seems most obvious is that the hand, when held in that shape, forms the shape of the Hebrew letter Shin. This is the first letter in the word Shadai, which is the name of the Almighty. Therefore, the Kohanim are using this symbol of the Almighty's name in blessing the congregation. This is then the appropriate exchange when Vulcans were to greet on Star Trek in the future. It has also been picked up by thousands of fans and I am greeted with the Vulcan hand salute wherever I travel."