Étaner

Étaner is a fictional element featured in the speculative fiction novel "The Chronoliths" by Robert Charles Wilson. In the narrative, Étaner is presented as a substance of unknown origin and composition, discovered in association with the mysterious chronoliths, massive alien structures that appear throughout Earth's history. The element is described as having unusual properties, particularly its interaction with time and its apparent ability to influence biological processes.

The chronoliths, and by extension Étaner, play a central role in the novel's plot, suggesting an advanced alien civilization that has manipulated spacetime. Étaner is not a scientifically recognized element but serves as a plot device within the fictional universe. Its properties are not elaborated upon with scientific detail but rather serve to enhance the mystery and alien nature of the chronoliths and their creators. The discovery and study of Étaner are crucial to the human protagonists' attempts to understand the purpose and origin of the chronoliths and the intentions of the alien race responsible for them. The element embodies the unknown and the potential for profound, transformative discoveries that lie beyond current scientific understanding.