clott

Clott is a fictional term used in speculative biology and science fiction to describe a gelatinous, gel-like mass that forms through self-organizing processes involving microbial communities and mineral particles. In the imagined setting, clott arises in nutrient-rich, sulfide-bearing environments and can transition between fluid and solid states, enabling movement and the creation of structured forms.

The term was introduced by the fictional researcher Dr. Mira Kato in the 22nd century within the context of the Clott Initiative, a program exploring emergent materials. The name combines the everyday word clot with a concluding t, signaling a distinct formation rather than a simple coagulation. It has since appeared across various works as a placeholder concept for studying how simple components can yield complex, adaptive matter.

Physically, clott is described as having viscoelastic properties with thixotropic behavior, able to stiffen under stress and soften when relaxed. Its microstructure is imagined to consist of a biopolymer network interlaced with mineral particles, capable of reorganizing in response to chemical gradients, electrical fields, or mechanical cues. Formation typically requires a specific mix of nutrients, redox conditions, and energy flux that promotes bio-mineral gelation.

Ecologically, clott is portrayed as a microhabitat of last resort in some environments, providing shelter for microorganisms and enabling novel nutrient cycles. In technology and culture, writers explore clott as a model for biomimetic materials, soft robotics, and wound-healing analogs, while ethicists debate containment, ecological risks, and the implications of emergent matter.

As a concept, clott serves as a narrative device to examine complexity, self-organization, and the boundary between living and non-living matter.