Bela Tyken was a Melthusian captain who first encountered the rare anomaly which would come to be known as a Tyken's Rift sometime before mid-24th century.

When Tyken was trapped in the rift, his analysis determined that a massive energy release might overload and dislocate the anomaly. Utilizing his cargo of anicium and yurium, he was able to detonate the explosion and escape through the ruptured center of the rift. (TNG: "Night Terrors")