Chiralium

**Chiralium** is a crystallization of Chiral Matter originated from the Beach. Chiralium is present through the atmosphere of the planet as a result of the Death Stranding and is responsible for the meteorological event known as Timefall.

## Overview

### Properties

Chiralium originates from the Beach, and, like its point of origin, does not experience the flow of time. Chiralium has been likened to dark matter, in that it has likely been present in the universe since the Big Bang, and merely invisible and unable to interact with the living world until the Death Stranding, when a man and BT first came together in voidout and left nothing but chiralium in their wake. Chiralium has a tendency to float in the air, a property exploited to create hovering platforms.

When chiralium crystals are exposed to timefall, they showed no signs of degradation, so chiralium is used on a large array of high-tech devices exploiting the properties of the Beach, but overexposure is lethal, and can't be stored in large quantities either, so only small objects and some structures are coated with it.

### Chiral contamination

Prolonged exposure to chiralium can significantly impact physical and mental health, manifesting as depression, suicidal thoughts, apocalyptic nightmares, and even death; this condition is called **Chiral Contamination**. The most common symptom of chiral contamination is poor sleep quality due to vivid nightmares and if left unchecked, however, it can quickly progress a more advanced stage. The resulting hormonal imbalances frequently lead to heightened destructive impulses towards the self and others. Those dominated by such urges are named Homo Demens and, in the case of some porters, such as MULEs, impaired memory and judgment has led them to develop an irrational obsession with their profession. DOOMS sufferers have demonstrated a particular resistance to the chiralium contamination.

Chiral contamination can be alleviated using similar methods to those used to alleviate stress: increasing oxytocin secretion through contact with other people, administering smart drugs, and so forth. A hormone dubbed "Likecin" is used to mitigate the effects of chiral contamination while also restoring basic physical and mental acuity. Unlike oxytocin, likecin cannot be administered externally. It is secreted within the body, but only in response to external stimuli.

### Presence

Chiralium is produced from heavy precipitation, which makes it common in rainy areas and places of high BT concentration. The defeat of a Catcher BT causes it to solidify into a mass of chiralium and shatter, leaving behind a large number of freshly grown chiralium crystals. A BTs presence is also associated with an increased chiral density, which often accompanies timefall. Connecting a region to the Chiral Network also increases the local chiral density.

## Notes

* The name is a reference to 'chirality', where an object and its mirror image cannot be superimposed over one another.
* The word chirality is derived from the Greek χειρ, "hand," a familiar chiral object, in this sense, chiralium and normal matter are chiral images of one another. Similarly, chiral crystals resemble grasping hands and appear to the naked eye to have a golden luster.