Not only in the real world are we fascinated by minerals and metals, but they are also present in the universe of fiction, from Adamantium, which coats Wolwerine's claws, to Valyrian Steel, which forged the best swords in Game of Thrones.
And outside of comics and books, have you ever wondered what the use of these substances would be on a daily basis? Curious about what this new reality would be like, Saga separated 7 metals and minerals from fiction that, more than a superpower, could be used in real life.
Adamantium
In one of the scenes of the movie "X-Men Origins", we see Wolverine's transformation process: his claws and his entire skeleton are now composed of the toughest metal on Earth, Adamantium!
Known for being an indestructible and inflexible metal alloy, the metal would be extremely useful in the metallurgical industry for the production of stronger alloys. The final product of Adamantium would have applications for civil construction, as well as in the construction of aircraft and automobiles. Another very important application would be in the arms industry, such as in the coating of tanks and other armored vehicles.
Valyrian Steel
Valyrian Steel, which makes up the plot of "A Song of Fire and Ice" and the spin-off series "Game of Thrones", has its origin in Valyria, home to the Targaryen, Velaryon and Celtigar houses. Over time, the secret to making steel has been lost, but its main components are believed to be magic and enchantment. Therefore, Valyrian Steel may be able to withstand even Daenerys Targaryen's famous "Dracarys", The Unburnt.
Among its special characteristics, Valyrian steel blades are lighter, stronger, sharper and wavier. In the real world, steel would be attributed to the production of sharper blades with high mechanical strength.
Vibranium
Back in the Marvel universe, Vibranium has a great differential: it absorbs energy instead of conducting, in addition to its high resistance. Although the metal is popularly portrayed as one of the main components of Captain America's shield, the first time it appears in the comics is to manufacture the weapons used by Black Panther and his archenemy Sonic Claw.
Not coincidentally, the largest reserves of Vibranium are found in Wakanda, being one of the factors for building this advanced society. Metal is also part of the Black Panther costume.
Outside of comics and movie screens, Vibranium, the rarest metal in the world, could be ideal for the automobile industry, allowing the development of much stronger car bodies. In civil construction, structures capable of absorbing large impacts could be created.
Kryptonite
What if instead of weakening effects, kryptonite could have applications on planet Earth?
Kryptonite, capable of weakening one of DC's greatest superheroes, Superman, is a mineral of origin from the planet Krypton, with harmful reactions to any Kryptonian. But what about on Earth: what would be its use?
One of the noble gases present on our planet, even if in very low quantities, is Krypton, which already has everyday applications, but which, with the use of kryptonite, could be improved. An example of this would be the production of more powerful lasers, photographic flashes with high-speed records and special incandescent lamps. Oh, we just have to keep all that away from Lex Luthor!
Dilithium
Dilithium is part of the fictional "Star Trek" universe and is portrayed as an extremely rare crystal that cannot be replicated. In the series, it is used for ships to exceed the speed of light, because, when placed in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, it does not react with antimatter. This means that, when the speed of light is reached, there is no annihilation of matter.
In our reality, this crystal would act as a great propellant for ships, jets, and rockets!
Mithril
Mithril, present in the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit", is one of the main minerals explored. Because it was very precious, it had an extremely high value.
One of the most memorable moments in the story is when Bilbo receives a vest made of mithril, described as a metallic mesh shirt, woven with many rings very close to each other, flexible, cold, resistant and shiny, adorned with white stones and with a belt of pearls and crystal. Throughout the plot, other characteristics of the metal are presented, such as: higher resistance than steel, never oxidizes and lighter than aluminum.
Among the various uses that the metal could have, the main ones are concentrated in metallurgy. In addition, it could be raw material for bulletproof vests and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Unobtainium
In James Cameron's film "Avatar", Unobtainium, ore extracted from Pandora's Moon, has magnetic and superconducting properties and is presented as a solution to the energy crisis on Earth, in addition to its use as a propellant in spaceships.
The name chosen by the author of the film was not by chance: the term, which comes from Latin, has been used for decades to refer to something that does not exist or is impossible to achieve with the current technique. But if the barriers of existing technology are overcome, Unobtainium has the combination of three important characteristics: lightness, resistance to high temperatures, and resistance to radiation damage. With its superconducting properties, it would be ideal for conducting electricity over great distances.
While we still do not have these minerals and metals in our daily lives, we will have to rely on the ores so well known to us that, even without superpowers, are extremely useful for our current way of life.
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References
https://stringfixer.com/pt/Dilithium_(Star_Trek)
https://www.tabelaperiodica.org/usos-do-criptonio-no-cotidiano-e-onde-existe-o-elemento/