Right, they fought a war a century ago: Earth-Romulan War.

In an interview with Open Pike Night, the author said he was inspired to use neutrinos by this NPR story and by this What If? XKCD essay.

It feels like the marshmallows in the cereal of season two (Lower Decks crossover, musical episode) were so well received they decided to go with all marshmallows (gimmicky episodes)for the first half of this season.