[ WP ] You are a world-renowned university professor taking a cab to the conference hotel . Strangely , the cab driver seems to know more about your research area than you do .

`` Hello, I would like to go the Marriott on 18th and --'' 
 
 `` Got it,'' the driver mumbled and clicked the destination on his little GPS unit. The professor quickly took a seat in the back and shut the door. Closing his eyes, he leaned back and enjoyed cold air blasting from the vent. It was a relief to get out of the heat. 
 
 `` You here the conference, huh?'' The voice was gruff but vaguely familiar. The professor could n't quite place it. 
 
 `` Oh yes,'' he replied, a little surprised. `` How did you know?'' 
 
 `` Lot of you spiffy-looking fellas catching cabs today,'' the driver answered. `` Say, have I seen you around somewhere?'' 
 
 `` Well,'' he said, straightening himself out a little. `` Perhaps on TV or in the papers - Dr. Orobi sound familiar?'' 
 
 `` Oh, shit, right,'' the driver exclaimed. `` Big time particle physicist. Parallel universe stuff. Who has n't heard of you, eh? So, you presenting in the conference, too?'' 
 
 `` That's right.'' The professor was a little relieved that the driver talked about it so casually. Even though he was widely lauded in scientific circles, the common layperson was still wont to jeer at him for `` wasting tax-payer money on sci-fi'', as a particularly belligerent reporter had put it. 
 
 `` whatcha workin' on now, professor?'' 
 
 `` Oh, some new experiments to continue exploring the para-frontier,'' he responded. That was his ready answer; it was admittedly a little vague, but that was purposeful. Most of the stuff they did in the lab was too high-profile to just casually tell anybody. 
 
 `` Your boys figure the Tachyon decay problem yet?'' 
 
 Dr. Orobi's eyes went wide. `` W-wh-how do you know about that?'' he sputtered, not bothering to keep the surprise out of his voice. 
 
 `` It was in your last paper. Doc. In *Nature*, last month.'' 
 
 `` Oh, yes. That's true,'' he said, clearly still disturbed. `` But even most physicists have trouble understanding it...'' 
 
 `` I've dabbled in physics a bit, here and there,'' the driver answered airily. The professor said nothing back in return; instead he squinted and tried to get a better look at him. But the driver's face was obscured by the the black, translucent glass between the front and back of the car. There was panel he could slide and get a better look, but that seemed like a rude thing to do. 
 
 `` Your issue is that the tachyons somehow keep turning into way more elementary particles than they consist of, right? I think you need to think outside the box. That's not really a problem at all.'' The cab slowly came to a halt. They had arrived in front of the hotel. 
 
 But Dr. Orobi did n't move. Instead, he narrowed his eyes. `` I guess that's one way to put it. But what do you mean, it's not a problem? It defies the Standard Model, and common sense. An apple ca n't become two apples of equal size and shape to the first.'' 
 
 `` I've got a joke.'' 
 
 `` Huh?'' 
 
 `` What's an anagram for Banach-Tarski? [ Banach-Tarski ] ( http: //41.media.tumblr.com/56e0dabebe678aaa2bfefe9e8e7a80d3/tumblr_mqthx3dtZo1suhdw4o1_500.png ).'' 
 
 The professor's eyes widened. The door next to him unlocked electronically, and he automatically pushed it open, until he realized he had n't paid yet. He fumbled with his wallet as his mind raced. `` Wait a second. Are you saying - but that's completely theoretical, it ca n't be - and what relevance does that have to para-verse theory --'' 
 
 Suddenly, the driver reached over and slide the panel back. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at his grinning doppelganger. `` A lot of relevance, I would say,'' the driver said cheerfully. `` This ride's on me, professor. Enjoy the conference.'' 
 
 
 
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