A mycelial-network propulsion system that lets Discovery jump to any location instantly.
The spore drive is an experimental propulsion system installed aboard the USS Discovery, which allows a ship to travel instantly to any point in the galaxy. It works by using the mycelial network, a vast web of fungal threads that connects locations across space, and its pilot is a person who is able to navigate the network.
The system was developed in secret during the Klingon War, with the aim of giving the Federation a decisive advantage. The mycelial network is a living thing, and its use raised questions about its harm, and about the experiments used to develop the drive. The pilot has to guide the ship, which is a demanding task and carries risk.
Paul Stamets, a scientist and expert on fungi, is the central figure of the spore drive in Star Trek: Discovery. His work with the system makes him an important member of the crew, and his experiences link him to the mycelial network. The drive's use in the first season is key to the plot, though it also raises worries about the harm it may do to the network.