Is Wakandan Technology Feasible with Elements from Far Outer Space?

Wakandan technology, a concept that captivates the imaginations of many fans of Marvel’s Black Panther, is often depicted with elements like Vibranium that seem almost magical in their capabilities. However, does this technology stand up to scientific scrutiny when examined through the lens of our understanding of elements and their behaviors in the Universe?

Universe and Elements

Our Universe, as we know it, is governed by a finite set of chemical elements. According to scientific understanding, the elements are spread evenly across the cosmos, with no unique "outer space" elements being identified. Every element, from hydrogen to uranium, exists across the vastness of the Universe, from nearby stars to distant galaxies. This consistency follows from the fundamental laws of physics and the nature of matter.

Vibranium and Phlebotinum

Compared to scientifically verifiable elements, Vibranium, the fictional material of Wakandan technology, falls under the category of "phlebotinum." In fictional writing, phlebotinum is a catch-all term for an element or substance that drives the plot by providing magical or fantastical properties. Vibranium's existence and attributes, such as anti-gravity, power source, force fields, and instant wound healing, are designed to meet the comic book writers' needs, making it a fantastical element, not a real one.

Is There Any Room for Unknown Elements?

Differentiating between elements based on their atomic numbers (protons) is a well-established method. Elements are numbered based on the specific number of protons, with known elements ranging from hydrogen (one proton) to elements like oganesson (with 118 protons). When you reach numbers beyond 120, the periodic table includes hypothetical elements that decay almost immediately, as they are highly unstable.

Furthermore, any new elements beyond the currently known range would need to fit within the periodic table based on their proton numbers. As of now, there is no place on the periodic table for an element like Vibranium, since it does not correspond to any known configuration of protons. The properties described for Vibranium, such as its ability to do anything the comic-book writers want it to do, are purely fictional and do not conform to any physical or chemical laws.

Practical Applications vs. Fantasy

The elements we know, from those commonly found in everyday substances to the rare and exotic ones, are created and obtained through natural processes. Stars create and mix elements through nucleosynthesis. We have a comprehensive understanding of their existence and behavior based on precise scientific methods like spectroscopy. When we examine the spectra of distant objects, including stars and galaxies, we see the same elements as those found on Earth, confirming the universality of elemental composition.

The properties of elements, like those we observe in reality, can be modified and manipulated to some extent, accounting for variables like isotopic mixtures. However, this alteration does not provide a pathway to the kind of fantastical elements described in Wakandan technology. Heavy water, for example, does have distinct properties, but these are a result of changes in the isotopic makeup of hydrogen, not the creation of a new type of element.

In conclusion, while elements from far outer space exist and conform to the same principles as those we find on Earth, there is no basis for an element like Vibranium within our current scientific framework. Wakandan technology, with its reliance on fictional compounds, remains firmly within the realm of fantasy rather than scientific possibility.