The Bene Gesserit are a key social, religious, and political force in Frank Herbert's fictional "Dune" universe. The group is described as an exclusive sisterhood whose members train their bodies and minds through years of physical and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman powers and abilities that can seem magical to outsiders. The Bene Gesserit are focused on acquiring more power and influence to direct humanity on an enlightened path. Some of their fictional powers are analyzed and deconstructed from a real-world scientific perspective in the book "The Science of Dune" (2008).