Kryptonite

Kryptonite is a fictional mineral in the DC Comics universe, best known as a substance from the planet Krypton that weakens Kryptonians. It is typically portrayed as a radioactive ore whose exposure drains a Kryptonian's powers and can endanger their health. Kryptonite has no basis in real science and is used as a recurring plot device to create vulnerability for Superman and other Kryptonians. The concept originated in mid-20th-century comics and has since appeared in films, television, and various adaptations.

Traditional green kryptonite is the classic form most readers encounter. Prolonged exposure can weaken a Kryptonian’s muscles, senses, and invulnerability, and extended exposure can be lethal, though the effects can vary by story and writer. Humans exposed to kryptonite usually suffer no lasting powers loss unless exposed to high doses; the ore often has corrosive or radiological effects, requiring care when handling.

Multiple color variants have been introduced, each with different effects. Red kryptonite produces unpredictable, temporary changes in a Kryptonian's behavior or powers; blue kryptonite is often depicted as affecting certain Kryptonians differently or harming particular offshoots; gold kryptonite is commonly portrayed as removing Kryptonian powers permanently; white kryptonite is said to neutralize Kryptonian abilities but leave other life unaffected; black kryptonite can split a being into two versions, one good and one evil, in some continuities.

In media, kryptonite serves as a flexible plot device enabling conflict, rescue, and moral choices. Its canonical status and details vary by era and adaptation, with different writers changing its properties or introducing new varieties. Despite these variations, kryptonite remains a shorthand for the vulnerability of Kryptonians under a normal solar spectrum.