Neural Queue

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Lore & Background

In the lore of Pandora, the Neural Queue is the physical mechanism for accessing Eywa's vast repository of memories. The source explicitly states that this entity hosts the memories of all beings who live on the moon, including those who have passed on. To access these records or seek guidance, Na'vi must connect their queues at locations of sacred importance, such as the 'Tree of Souls.' This connection is not merely symbolic; it allows for a depth of experience that surpasses standard human cognition. The ability to link with Eywa defines the spiritual identity of clans like the Omatikaya and Metkayina, who view their world as a living entity. Unlike Earth mammals which rely on four limbs, Pandoran biology evolved unique features like antennae and two pairs of eyes, but it is the queue that elevates their consciousness above simple survival.

In Their Own Story

During the conflict described in the film series, the Na'vi utilize their queues to coordinate against human aggression. While humans attempt to extract 'unobtainium' or hunt Tulkun for amrita, the Na'vi rely on their neural connections for tactical and spiritual unity. The source notes that the Omatikaya clan lives in a massive tree known as 'Kelutral,' which served as their home and identity until its destruction by the Resource Development Administration (RDA). In such moments of crisis, the connection to Eywa becomes vital. Although specific scenes of queue-linking are not detailed in the text, the capability allows for the sharing of complex thoughts and memories instantly. The narrative shifts from the exploitation of minerals under Hometree to the hunting of Tulkun in later movies, yet the Na'vi's reliance on their queues remains constant as they defend their world against human encroachment.

Reader's Guide

To utilize the Neural Queue, a Na'vi must physically connect it to another being or a sacred location. The source describes this as connecting via a 'neural queue (also known as a kuru) located in their hair.' This process allows for direct access to Eywa, particularly at sites like the Tree of Souls. While humans require breathing equipment due to the toxic atmosphere of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, Na'vi use their queues to navigate the spiritual landscape. The connection is described as being more advanced than the human brain, enabling a level of memory retention that spans generations. This biological interface is universal among all known clans, from the Aranahe to the Zeswa, ensuring that every member can participate in the collective consciousness of Pandora.

Did You Know?

• The neural queue is referred to as 'kuru' in the Na'vi language.
• Pandoran animals evolved six legs instead of four due to the moon's low gravity and high atmospheric density, mimicking Mars rover designs for traction.
• Eywa hosts the memories of all beings who have lived on Pandora, including those who have passed away.
• The floating mountains are caused by unobtainium, a superconductor that creates magnetic levitation in chunks of rock.
• James Cameron first envisioned the bioluminescent world of Pandora at age nineteen, dreaming of trees resembling fiber-optic lamps.

The World of Pandora and Its Ecosystem

Pandora is an exomoon within the fictional universe of Avatar, orbiting the gas giant Polyphemus which circles Alpha Centauri A. Slightly smaller than Earth, it features dense bioluminescent forests, oceans that glow with physical motion, and floating mountains caused by unobtainium's superconductive properties. The atmosphere is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, making it unsafe for humans without equipment. Life on Pandora has evolved distinctively; most fauna are six-legged to maintain traction under low gravity and high atmospheric density, similar to Mars rovers using six-wheel platforms. Animals possess two pairs of eyes and antennae, with the exception of Na'vi and their evolutionary link prolemuris. The ecosystem includes species like helicoradians that withdraw when touched, and intelligent Tulkun in the oceans.

Cultural Structure and Spiritual Connection

The Na'vi are organized into multiple clans, including the Anurai, Aranahe, Hulanta, Hyuticaya, Kame'tire, Kekukan, Li'ona, Mangkwan, Metkayina, Ni'awve, Olangi, Omatikaya, Rey'tanu, Sarentu, Tawkami, Tayrangi, Tipani, Tla'lim, Tomac'ta, and Zeswa. The Omatikaya reside in 'Kelutral,' known to humans as Hometree. All these groups share a spiritual connection with Pandora through Eywa, the 'Great Mother.' This entity stores the memories of all beings, living or dead. Na'vi connect to Eywa using their neural queues at sacred sites like the Tree of Souls. This network allows for a depth of communication and shared memory that exceeds human cognitive capabilities, binding the clans to each other and their environment.

Human Exploitation and Resource Conflict

Humanity from a future Earth arrived on Pandora in 2154 via the Resource Development Administration (RDA). Initially, they sought unobtainium, a 'thundering rock' worth millions per kilogram, which caused chunks of land to float as magnetic 'skyborne icebergs.' This extraction led to the destruction of Hometree. In later movies, human focus shifted to hunting Tulkun for amrita, a substance from their brains that stops human aging. These conflicts highlight the tension between human technological exploitation and the natural order of Pandora. The RDA uses genetically engineered avatars to interact with the Na'vi, but the native population remains opposed to human presence due to the threat to their ecosystem and spiritual way of life.

Creative Origins and Design Evolution

James Cameron first developed an 80-page screenplay for Avatar in 1994, inspired by a dream at age nineteen of a bioluminescent forest with trees like fiber-optic lamps. Dissatisfied with Star Wars worlds, he sought complexity based on underwater coral reefs. The planet's name references the Greek myth of Pandora, opened by curiosity to release a plague. Stan Winston Studios was hired in 2005, with artists like Neville Page and Wayne Barlowe designing creatures to be 'super-slick and aerodynamic.' Early designs for Neytiri (originally Zuleika) date back to a 1978 Xenogenesis pilot. Designers used the Zhangjiajie pillars in China as inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains, and Hawaiian rainforests like Kalalau for landscapes. Digital sculpting with ZBrush was used to achieve a 'fleshy feel' for characters and creatures.