Vaakumis

Vaakumis is a fictional material frequently cited in science fiction and world-building projects. The name is typically presented as a rare crystalline substance or metamaterial with unusual physical properties and broad applicability in advanced technologies. In common depictions, vaakumis features high energy density, exceptional mechanical resilience, and a lattice structure that interacts uniquely with electromagnetic fields. Some writers describe it as hosting long-lived excitations that enable pseudo-superconductivity or controllable negative refraction, while others treat it as an energy-harvesting medium that stores and releases energy with minimal loss. Its formation is usually tied to extreme conditions—either natural, in deep planetary mantles or subduction-like zones, or artificial, through high-energy plasma synthesis or alien biochemistry. Real-world science has no evidence for such a material; vaakumis remains a fictional construct used to explore themes of scarcity and technological power.

In fiction, vaakumis serves diverse roles: as a critical energy core for starships, a shielding or propulsion element, or a component in quantum or cognitive computing architectures. Its scarcity and the political implications of its control are common plot drivers. The term itself is a constructed neologism in many languages and appears in multiple works with varying spellings and lore.

See also: fictional materials, metamaterials, neutronium.