ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA Edition 428193 - Earth English Definition: 'Contact Steganography' A language English1 expression representing the foriscientific2 phenomena of casual information transference between objects. It is understood that a simple but well ordered structure, such as a crystal, will record and retain a detailed representation of a structure of greater complexity through direct physical contact - 'sic aiunt'. The recording object is referred to as a 'vessel', the imposing object is named the 'original' and the encoded information is known as the 'rendering'. This phenomena is described as 'steganograhy'3 because such renderings are difficult to detect and elude the technical prowess of Humanity's sciences as well as those of other young civilizations. Renderings are purported to occur during fundamental force interaction between the contact surfaces of the original and the vessel. The patterns of sub-atomic, atomic and molecular vibrations from the original modulate the less complex material vibrations of the vessel. This is akin to a voice signal imposed upon regular waveforms of radio frequency transmissions - amplitude modulation - though not to the same magnitude of signal strength. A regular lattice pattern in the vessel creates a repeating mechanism which distributes the rendering throughout the vessel and reinforces the signal strength. The greater the order of the vessel, the greater accuracy of the rendering. The more complex the original, the stronger the rendering signal. In principle, a perfect crystalline lattice with no impurities makes for an ideal vessel - preserving renderings for as long as the larger lattice remains intact. Impurities and imperfections introduce noise into the vibrational patterns of a rendering which grow over time. Eventually noise overwhelms the rendering signal making it unreadable. Though in practice, lattices found in high quality metals supposedly preserve renderings on a scale of thousands of years. Steganograhic renderings are purported to include original details down to the sub-atomic level. This suggests that a living original, termed 'author', may impose not just physical detail, but memories and thoughts as long as the vessel is of sufficient quality - 'sic aiunt'. It is because of this effect that contact steganography is wrongfully described as 'psychometry'. Though less rigorous scientists use the informal expression, 'stone tape effect'.4 Nevertheless contact steganography is a valuable tool for member centric communication between civilizations. Direct contact between members of technologically or intellectually unmatched civilizations is regarded as dangerous5. In other cases such contact is impossible due to differing environmental demands. Contact steganography, where technologically feasible, offers a means of personal communication that transcends these obstacles. Elder civilizations also use this phenomena for anthropological purposes. A common practice involves remote scanning of space exploration vehicles launched from less foremost civilizations beyond their sphere of influence.6 Any member which has had even casual contact with components of the spacecraft may author a readable rendering. This is considered an ethical though narrow means of studying members of less advanced civilizations without risking direct contact.5 Though not identical, mind to mind contact practiced by elder civilizations is known to function using similar principles. References: 1Civilization Humanity: Linguistic Types 2Definition: 'Foriscience' 3Definition: 'Steganography' 4Civilization Humanity: Paranormal Anecdotes and 'Stone Tape' Theories 5Definition: 'The Ethic Of The Community' 6Definition: 'Sphere Of Influence'