Protomatter

Protomatter is a substance which is controversial due to its unstable nature. The substance is so unstable that the Federation scientific establishment for the most part eschewed the use of protomatter.

Protomatter was one of the substances used by Doctor David Marcus and the Project Genesis team in the creation of the Genesis Device. Shortly after the device was completed, Khan Singh stole the device and eventually detonated it inside the Mutara Nebula. Because protomatter was used, and because the device was used in a manner different than originally intended, the resulting planet was unstable and exploded a few weeks after it was created.