While we're on the subject of the Star Trek universe, here's a little article I dug up about 'anti-matter'.
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020916/020916-7.html
Also, I do recall reading an article some time ago about the 'transporter'. The experiments being conducted, by, I believe, scientists in the US, were very basic and were on the atomic / sub-atomic level. I just can't remember where I read the article but, I read it about a year ago or so. Definitely was interesting.
BST