Anomalies are an AoE effect that certain Bridge Officer abilities can generate. They are often, but not always, sources of Exotic Damage.
List of Anomalies
Chronometric Inversion Field
Gravity Well
Ionic Turbulence
Subspace Vortex
Timeline Collapse
Tyken's Rift
Very Cold In Space
List of things that boost Anomalies
Electrified Anomalies - BOff anomalies deal electrical damage & grant power boosts
Spore-Infused Anomalies - Science and Intel abilities cause your anomalies to deal damage.
By The Book - Anomaly and Temporal Abilities extend duration of all active bridge officer anomalies by 2 sec.