Doven

Doven is a fictional mineral resource frequently used in science fiction to power advanced technology. The term has no basis in real-world geology and is not considered a real material outside of imagined worlds.

In most depictions, doven is a crystalline ore with exceptionally high energy density, releasing energy when exposed to a specific magnetic field or neutron interaction. It is typically found in sparse deposits on outer-system bodies such as basalt-rich moons or asteroids and requires specialized deep-mining techniques and secure processing facilities. Raw doven is unstable and must be stabilized through refining, encapsulation, and cooling; improper handling can release radiation or trigger explosive reactions, giving it high-risk status.

Processing involves ore crushing, heat treatment, and containment in a controlled reactor; refined doven compounds are used for propulsion reactors, shield generation, or as a battery-like energy vector in starships. The rarity and extraction costs make doven a strategic resource, shaping economics, trade routes, and geopolitics in fictional universes.

Environmental and ethical issues often appear: mining damage to fragile ecosystems, monopolization by corporations or states, and conflict over control of refining infrastructure.

Because it is a fictional construct, the properties of doven vary by work, and some narratives repurpose the term to denote a currency, a tech alloy, or an energy catalyst rather than a mineral. This variability is characteristic of its usage in worldbuilding.