Special Containment Procedures: SCP-8574 is to be stored at all times within a Type-VI plasma containment chamber at Site-19. The chamber consists of a reinforced metal enclosure filled with sustained high-energy plasma, with anomalous heating elements embedded in the walls maintaining core temperatures in excess of 6000 K. Only the peripheral plasma requires active regulation; the central volume is heated via radiative and convective transfer.
In the event of complete power failure, the chamber’s thermal mass and specialized insulation are projected to sustain lethal temperatures for a minimum of five (5) years. SCP-8574 is never to be removed from primary containment except for approved testing. During testing, the object must be maintained at or above 4500 K using a mobile induction-heating apparatus in a secondary vacuum-sealed chamber equipped with equivalent thermal suppression.
Any instances of SCP-8574-A (digital records retaining pre-retcon information) are to be cataloged, archived in secure offline format, and stored separately from all operational databases. Cross-referencing of pre- and post-retcon data is restricted to personnel with Level 4 clearance.
Description: SCP-8574 is a cube measuring exactly 7.62 cm on each side, composed of a variable aluminum-titanium alloy. Successive elemental analyses return inconsistent ratios between tests, with no observable change in mass or external appearance. The object exhibits no conventional melting or vaporization point and remains intact at temperatures sufficient to ionize surrounding matter.
SCP-8574 autonomously initiates retroactive alterations to reality (“retcons”) at times of its own choosing, whenever it identifies an opportunity to cool. These alterations can affect any aspect of reality with no observed upper limit, though smaller, absurd, or inconvenient changes are overwhelmingly preferred. Human intent near the object functions only as a weak suggestion; the final outcome appears to incorporate a significant random component.
Physical evidence and the majority of human memories are updated to match the new timeline. Digital records (electronic files, security footage, databases, etc.) are frequently unaffected or only partially altered, resulting in conflicting evidence designated SCP-8574-A. These inconsistencies are believed to be deliberate demonstrations of the object’s agency, effectively a form of taunting by drawing attention to the change that occurred.
The radius of the effect is governed by the empirical relation y=(3.3494*10^1^0)*x^-2.53362, where y is the range in meters and x is the minimum temperature in Kelvin achieved during the event. Greater cooling correlates with dramatically increased range.
SCP-8574 retains heat exceptionally well once removed from suppression. Even after extraction from the plasma chamber, it requires many hours to days to cool below suppression thresholds using standard methods.
Addendum 8574-1: Discovery
On ██/██/20██, a small meteorite impacted a rural area in ████████, United States, following a calculated several hundred years in solar orbit. Embedded within the meteorite was SCP-8574, undamaged and perfectly formed. Local authorities transferred the object to FBI custody. Approximately six hours after recovery, embedded agents recorded the object’s temperature dropping to 50 K with no external cooling mechanism. Multiple minor timeline inconsistencies were noted in the surrounding area shortly thereafter. Foundation assets assumed containment following preliminary analysis.
Addendum 8574-2: Selected Testing Logs
| Test 8574-03 | |
| Subject | D-9364 |
| Procedure | Subject instructed to think about “knowing more about the Cube” while holding SCP-8574 at 3600 K. Sufficient equipment was supplied to prevent injury. |
| Results | Object cooled to 200 K over 23 seconds, and subject had a sufficient knowledge of the functionings of SCP-8574. Subject gave written details on SCP-8574 based on the knowledge they “had always known”. |
| Notes | Could potentially reflect an ulterior motive of the Cube, though has not been fully revealed by the Cube or any of its effects. |
| Test 8574-09 | |
| Subject | D-7742 |
| Procedure | Subject instructed to think about “wanting a better childhood” while holding SCP-8574 at 3200 K. Sufficient equipment was supplied to prevent injury. |
| Results | Object cooled to 42 K over 18 seconds (estimated range ~1.2*10^6 m). D-7742’s personnel file and medical records updated to reflect an affluent, trauma-free upbringing. A personal digital diary recovered from the subject’s effects (SCP-8574-A-09) retained multiple detailed entries describing the original abusive childhood. Subject reported no memory of the prior timeline and expressed confusion regarding the diary’s contents. |
| Test 8574-14 | |
| Procedure | Researcher verbally and mentally requested that “the coffee in my mug has always been room temperature.” |
| Results | Object cooled to 91 K. Liquid temperature updated retroactively. All security camera footage continued to show steaming hot coffee (footage was labeled as SCP-8574-A-14 and filed accordingly). Researcher later discovered their personal notes now described a long-standing preference for cold coffee. |
| Test 8574-22 (Autonomous) | |
| Procedure | No personnel present in testing chamber. Object monitored via remote sensors. |
| Results | SCP-8574 cooled autonomously to 18 K (estimated range ~9.8*10^7 m). A standard ballpoint pen in the chamber was retroactively altered so that it “had always been made of solid rubber.” Digital inventory logs retained original metallic specifications (SCP-8574-A-22). No personnel were affected. |
| Test 8574-31 | |
| Procedure | Researcher requested "a minor improvement to testing conditions." |
| Results | Object cooled to 67 K. All chairs in the testing chamber were retroactively changed so that they "had always been two centimeters too short for ergonomic use." Researcher noted mild inconvenience and frustration. Digital maintainance records retained original chair specifications. |
Addendum 8574-3: Researcher Notes
Note from Dr. ██████, Lead Researcher
“We’ve kept testing deliberately trivial. The cube doesn’t allow commands, it treats intent like a vague suggestion at best, then spins its own wheel. So far the results have been annoying more than dangerous: rubber pencils, shoes that have ‘always’ been on the wrong feet, lunch trays that have ‘always’ weighed ten tons. It doesn’t seem hostile or targeted. It just does what it wants. The digital remnants (SCP-8574-A) feel like it’s showing off. Like it’s saying ‘look what I changed. Revel in my power.’ The math, however, is concerning. If it ever decides the joke would be funnier on a larger scale… we may not get a second chance to heat it back up.”
Addendum 8574-4: Range Extrapolation (Level 4 Clearance)
Analysis confirms that if SCP-8574 were allowed to reach approximately 4.36*10^-7 K, the theoretical radius of effect would approach 4.35*10^26 meters, comparable to the radius of the observable universe.
Any test expected to induce temperatures below 1 K is prohibited pending O5 Council review. Current containment relies primarily on the object’s apparent preference for small-scale absurdity rather than active suppression alone.
Addendum 8574-5: Containment Note
The plasma chamber is considered as stable as physically and anomalously practicable. Even in the event of a catastrophic failure of active systems, the design makes a successful self-retcon of the form “the plasma has never been able to heat me” extremely difficult. Nevertheless, all personnel are reminded that SCP-8574 retains full autonomy and has no known moral compass. Testing is to retain minimal and low-stakes until further notice.