melimal

Melimal is a fictional term used in science fiction and fantasy to denote a material, substance, or phenomenon with extraordinary properties. It is not a real-world mineral or chemical, and its exact meaning varies across works and authors.

In many depictions, melimal appears as a crystalline or amorphous substance with high energy density, luminescence, or adaptive behavior. It is frequently presented as a primary energy source for advanced technology, a catalyst that enables new physics, or a medium that can influence information or consciousness.

In-universe origins differ: explorers might discover melimal in asteroid belts, extinct planet cores, or alien ruins, and it is often controlled by corporations, governments, or secret orders. Extraction and possession implications form a recurring ethical theme, including environmental impact and unequal access.

Melimal also serves as a plot device in games, comics, and novels, with some authors attributing sentience to the substance or associating it with psionic or magical effects. Phonetics and etymology are typically speculative within stories, chosen to evoke otherworldliness. There are no real-world measurements or validated data for melimal. See also unobtainium and other fictional materials used as plot devices in speculative fiction.