Pandora is a lush habitable moon orbiting Polyphemus, a fictional gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system.

In 2154, humans have depleted Earth's natural resources, leading to a severe energy crisis.

He suffered a spinal injury in an unnamed war while fighting in Venezuela. The injury was severe, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Unobtanium is a room-temperature superconductor, which makes it very valuable, especially given Earth's energy crisis.

The Na'vi have a distinctive tendril feature protruding from the back of their heads, surrounded by hair (resembling a long plait or queue), feeding directly into the brain. This organ allows them to connect with other organisms around them, transferring electrochemical signals such as thoughts and memories to the trees, plants, and other creatures.

When Jake's avatar is attacked by a thanator, he flees into the forest, where he is rescued by Neytiri, a female Na'vi.

The Tree of Souls grants the Na'vi access to the psychic essences of their deceased. Its roots are capable of extending above the ground and connecting to the nervous system of any living thing, even humans.

Colonel Miles Quaritch, head of RDA's private security force, promises Jake that the company will restore his legs if he gathers information about the Na'vi and the clan's gathering place, a giant tree called Hometree.

When Jake examines his ponytail, Dr. Augustine remarks, "Don't play with that, you'll go blind." Later, it is revealed that the Na'vi us their "ponytails" to link their minds while mating.

Bonding with an ikran (mountain banshee) is a dangerous rite of passage for Na'vi warriors. To catch one, it must first choose you. Then it will try to kill you. If you survive long enough to connect your queue, this will bind you and the ikran for a lifetime of flying and hunting once the bond has been sealed with your first flight.