valvave

Valvave is a fictional mineral described in science fiction literature and tabletop role‑playing game sourcebooks. In these works, valvave is a crystalline substance with a valve‑like porous network that can regulate the flow of fluids and gases within the solid. The pores can be tuned by external stimuli, enabling a programmable network of microvalves embedded in the material. Physically, valvave is depicted as a layered silicate‑oxide framework doped with transition metals, giving chemical stability and variable conductivity.

In‑universe origin and discovery: Valvave is said to form in basaltic magmatic activity on the planet Valphaeah, often depicted near the Valva Ridge. The mineral entered fictional engineering lore in mid‑22nd century reference works and subsequently appeared in game materials, becoming a staple for designs that require integrated valving.

Applications: Within the fiction, valvave enables compact energy storage systems, microfluidic circuits, desalination membranes, and catalytic surfaces. It is used in space habitats and remote outposts to regulate resource flows and protect sensitive equipment from pressure fluctuations.

Variants: There are several valvave grades defined by pore‑size distributions, dopant levels, and thermal tolerance. Real‑time control schemes are described in companion texts as using electrical or magnetic stimulation to adjust valve states.

See also: Unobtainium, Adamantine.