Furthermore, along with invidium, saltzgadum, selgninaem, and lucovexitrin, it was one of only five undetectable substances that can exist in a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere, and which can alter the molecular structure of glass. Jakmanite had a half-life of about fifteen seconds and was thereby ruled out as having caused the malfunctions aboard the USS Enterprise-D in 2366, as there would not have been enough time to spread the substance all over the ship. (TNG: "Hollow Pursuits" )