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Electroid was an "electrical fluid" that made it possible for a leviathan to fly, along with other uses.

History[]

Rychnowski[]

Polish physicist Frances Rychnowski isolated small amounts of electroid in 1878 while seeking to create an "electrical explosive", or "eteroid bomb". Soon other scientists, and then governments, began exploring this substance's unique properties, finding a variety of applications, though none so dramatic as the ability to make ships fly.[1][2]

Shukhov[]

In 1880, Russian spies obtained copies of research notes, samples of eteroid, and equipment from Rychnowski. These were put in the hands of Vladimir Shukhov for further study. In 1882, he discovered that high alternating current applied to the products of eteroid can produce lift, though the technology available to him was not able to useful practical results.[3]

Oblimovsky[]

Another Russian, Fedor Oblimovsky, attempted to create an electroid-based explosive shell. While this was not realized, it did draw the attention of other nations.[3]

Siemens and Schmidt[]

In 1885, German spies enabled Ernst Werner von Siemens to get a closer look at Shukov and Oblimovsky's work. Siemens was able to produce useful lift using higher voltages.[3] Frederick III, however, was less concerned with this research than his father, and traded copies of it to the French Republic in exchange for promises of medical aid that did not arrive in time.[4]

Dr. Ernst Schmidt worked as von Siemens' assistant, and took over von Siemens' role after his death.[5]

France[]

In 1886, France took von Siemens' research and began work on the Ganymède.[3]

Lord Kelvin and the E Committee[]

In 1887, Lord Kelvin and the E Committee began work on electroid-assisted flight.[6] In 1889, a functional prototype took flight, though a boiler malfunction resulted in the loss of Tom Ablett, the test pilot.[7]

Description[]

Electroid is a liquid, slightly opaque and cool to the touch, with an oily feel that gives a light electrical shock to bare skin. It has a density lower than that of water. Unless contained in a Faraday Cage or a container made of electrically conductive material, it quickly dissipates into electrical current.[8][2]

Source[]

Electroid can be refined from many materials, but the most efficient source known is eteroid ore.[8]

Uses[]

Electroid impacted the fields of communications, the production of energy, and medicine, but the most notable use was in transportation: giant tanks of electroid fluid providing lift for airborne vessels known as "leviathans".[1][9]

Hazards[]

When electroid was agitated by high voltage, there is a risk of "flashover", with the fluid violently converting to electrical discharge. Proper containment and control of the voltages applied were necessary to prevent this. Sudden release of agitated electroid could be disastrous.[9][10]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Grand Revelation of Leviathans at the Great Exhibition!
  2. 2.0 2.1 Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 4
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 8
  4. Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 48
  5. Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 51
  6. Leviathans Gazetteer, p. 9
  7. Leviathans Gazetteer, pp. 9-10
  8. 8.0 8.1 "From Rychnowski to Ferdinand" (blog post), https://monstersinthesky.com/index.php/2022/03/31/from-rychnowski-to-ferdinand/
  9. 9.0 9.1 Leviathans Gazetteer, pp. 6-7
  10. Last Flight of the Swan of the East

Bibliography[]