Intermond

Intermond is a fictional term used in science fiction and speculative philosophy to denote a hypothesized interdimensional medium that lies between realities and links separate universes or alternate timelines. The concept is described as a subtler substrate than spacetime, accessible through gateways that connect to discrete nodes or monds within a wider Intermond network. In many depictions, Intermond gateways require precise resonance and cognitive intent, with navigators acting as mediators between worlds.

Origins and usage: The idea appeared in late 21st-century fiction and later featured in crossover media. In some stories, scientists and explorers discover that certain cosmic regions host naturally occurring monds that connect to hidden realities. The network can carry information, and in some cases matter, but often with significant energy cost and risk of cross-dimensional interference.

Characteristics: The Intermond is typically portrayed as nonlocal, with topology that can change depending on observers’ measurements or narrative needs. Gateways can be stable or ephemeral, sometimes appearing only during rare cosmic alignments. Access is often restricted by ethical or existential safeguards due to potential paradoxes.

Reception: Critics in-universe argue that Intermond is a metaphor for connected systems or an emergent property of quantum information, while proponents view it as a legitimate, if speculative, framework for modeling cross-reality phenomena.

See also: Multiverse, Interdimensional travel, Quantum topology.