P2

P2 or p2 is a designation used in several contexts across different fields. Notable uses include a military aircraft, a political lodge, a broadcast technology format, and a developmental-biology concept. Context is usually required to determine which p2 is meant.

P-2 Neptune is a United States Navy twin-turboprop patrol aircraft designed for anti-submarine warfare and long-range reconnaissance. It was developed by Lockheed and entered service in the late 1940s. The P-2 served with the U.S. Navy and other air forces for several decades, with production and use tapering off as newer platforms arrived. It was gradually replaced in many roles by more modern aircraft such as the P-3 Orion.

Propaganda Due, abbreviated P2, refers to a secret Italian Masonic lodge famous for its clandestine influence on politics and the economy during the late 20th century. The lodge’s existence and connections were revealed during investigations in the early 1980s, linking it to various political and financial scandals. The organization was ultimately dissolved, and its activities became a symbol in discussions of corruption and state influence in Italy.

Panasonic P2 is a professional digital video format that uses solid-state memory cards known as P2 cards. Introduced in the 2000s, it provided tapeless recording for broadcast and news gathering, enabling rapid workflows and robust storage. The format supported a family of cameras and recorders and influenced subsequent high-definition and workflow technologies.

In developmental biology, P2 denotes a specific blastomere in the early embryo of Caenorhabditis elegans and related species. The P2 cell participates in signaling that helps determine the fates of neighboring cells during early development, contributing to the organism’s cell lineages.

Because p2 has multiple meanings, the intended topic is usually clarified by context.