This colorless, odorless, and usually nonflammable substance is one of seven known monoatomic gases, or those that do not easily combine with other atoms. They are thus well suited for a variety of manufacturing implementations.

As an essential component of the navigational and tactical interface of spaceships, Neocoms are a small but essential cornerstone of the interstellar economy.

Only the highly advanced Ukomi superconductor can be rendered small enough for use in nano-factories, microscopic devices programmed to absorb and recycle ambient material into useful matter. Each factory is built from reactive metals, ensuring that they interact properly – or not at all – with their environment, while a mote of industrial explosive automatically destroys them when they have completed their task.

Though they are only simple machines and very small, nanites can be used to achieve miraculous medical results in small amounts or astounding feats of engineering in mass quantities.

Advances in molecular chemistry and nanite-reduced computer chips have made almost every form of miniature electronics possible, from the simple holovid viewer and missile tracking systems to wetware cybernetics and quantum entanglement communications.

Any life form too small to be detected by the unaided human eye qualifies as a microorganism, yet as a whole, this classification of biology covers an enormous and diverse spectrum. From parasites and viruses to fungi and insects, the study or industrial application of these creatures is just as broad.

Using advanced residual substrate isolation technology, silicon weave is threaded through layers of tough organic fibers. The resulting microfiber shielding is incredibly resilient and retains the microscopic profile required to shield miniaturized electronics.

These basic elements of all mechanical hardware can come in virtually any shape and size, although composite or modular functionality is highly advantageous in today's competitive market. Factories and manufacturers take these parts and assemble them into finished products, which are then sold on the market.

Livestock are domestic animals raised for home use or for profit, whether it be for their meat or dairy products.