Cavorite

Developed by Cavor, a reclusive physicist, it has the ability to negate the force of gravity, enabling him and a businessman named Bedford to travel to the Moon using a spherical spacecraft propelled by Cavorite blinds.

The material was later referenced in numerous works of science fiction media, and its theoretical implications have been discussed by critics.

[1] Beyond Reason states that a material such as Cavorite is impossible in the real world, as it contradicts the laws of conservation of energy.

The book describes Cavorite as a convenient plot device that turned the reader's attention to "human questions" as soon as possible, comparing it to the shield of Achilles.

[3] In contrast, Sense of Wonder: A Century of Science Fiction called Cavorite "much more fanciful" than Verne's Columbiad cannon.