Necessus

Necessus is a fictional mineral that appears in speculative science fiction settings and related media. The term is derived from the Latin necessus, meaning “needed” or “required,” reflecting its imagined central role in energy systems within its universe.

In the lore, necessus forms under high-pressure hydrothermal conditions in the interiors of certain asteroids and icy moons. It crystallizes as a dense, iridescent mineral with a strong directional conductivity and a distinctive lattice structure. When refined, necessus yields a stable energy carrier with high energy density, relatively manageable radiotoxicity, and compatibility with advanced reactor and propulsion technologies. In practical use, necessus ingots are fabricated into fuel elements, battery modules, or superconducting components for spacecraft and high-performance computing.

Occurrence and mining are described as challenging. Deposits are largely confined to specific asteroid belts and a few captured moons, making access expensive and security-sensitive. Extraction relies on automated and remotely operated equipment to minimize human risk, while refining requires high-temperature facilities with strong shielding. Environmental and geopolitical considerations arise in stories where nations and organizations vie for control of necessus sources, balancing economic benefit against ecological impact.

In fiction, necessus often serves both a technical and thematic function: it enables advanced technology and stands as a symbol of dependence on scarce resources. Some authors use it to explore debates over sustainable mining, resource nationalism, and the ethics of technological progress.