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__________________________________ Lagomorphs Copyright © June, 2015, FurryWurry All rights reserved

Chapter 3 -- Colloquium __________________________________

"That's just fantasy!" The very senior professor emeritus of theoretical physics glared at the invited speaker. "Mass is mediated by the Higgs. Gravity is stretched space-time. You don't need to invoke a multiverse to explain them."

"That's not quite what I said." It was obvious the speaker was restraining himself. He had to be wondering why someone with such obsolete ideas would even be attending that afternoon's colloquium. Or maybe not. "String theory's knotted dimensions point inevitably to the presence of branes. As inter-brane distances are reduced, interactions between their potential surfaces increase, with gravitational effects dominating. Drag between them is inevitable, resulting in effects similar to those attributed to Dark Matter. Since the particles causing those effects aren't in our own brane, no experiment can detect them directly. Hence no detection of WIMPs, SIMPs or MACHOs, or any of the electromagnetic interactions that could be attributed to them. If inter-brane distances are minimal, there might be other interactions, but none that anyone has been looking for. We're hoping to change that."

"Branes, shames. You're still describing a multiverse. Stop trying to hide it!" The argument went downhill from there. Evidently the professor didn't hold his ex-student in very high esteem.

Finally the colloquium's host had to intervene. "I'm sorry, but Bill has to catch a flight back to Los Alamos. Why don't we give him our final thanks." He lead the enthusiastic applause and then hustled the speaker off the stage. The audience noisily filed out of the cavernous auditorium, leaving the professor to fume on his own.

Walking back to the Lab with his friends, Jeff chuckled. "You did notice that the speaker never quite said he wasn't describing a multiverse, didn't you? It's too bad they still can't do any experiments with enough energy to directly prove or disprove string theory. Somehow I don't think his proposal for measuring potentials is going to fly."

"I think you're being way too negative. Getting a high enough energy density might be enough without needing an absurdly high total. Maybe we just need to focus the beam a little tighter! Zap it right through!" Luke always was an enthusiastic optimist. Maybe it was his playful otter side.

"No, there's no way we could do it here." Nathan seemed to have gotten even more pessimistic since Luke had moved in with him, but Jeff envied their easy-going relationship. "Los Alamos might, though. They certainly have access to some, ah, highly energetic sources.

"Oh, Jeff, sorry, I almost forgot. Bob said he wanted to talk to you first thing in the morning. I dunno why he didn't just message you or something."

Dammit. What did their boss want now? Jeff was supposed to be leaving on vacation in a couple of days, and the plane reservations would be expensive to change.

Bright and early the next morning, Jeff rapped on the door frame of their boss's office.

"Bob, you wanted to see me?"

"Hi, Jeff. Yes, please come in. Close the door."

Oh, oh. That couldn't be a good sign.

"Sit, sit. I was talking to Bill Miller yesterday afternoon before the colloquium and mentioned that you'd be vacationing near Los Alamos. He thinks we might be able to collaborate on some research, but was reluctant to talk about the details without consulting with his co-workers. It's all very hush-hush for now. Do you think you could stop by his Lab when you get to New Mexico?"

"I guess. My schedule's pretty tight, though. They're expecting me to get to Puye at a particular time so I can get a ride out to the dig."

"I'm sure the discussion would be brief. Maybe only a couple of hours. Since it'd be official business, our Lab would pick up at least part of your travel expenses."

Oh. In that case....

"OK, sure. When and where should I meet him?"

"I'll leave that up to you two. Just be sure to fill out the preliminary travel reimbursement form before you leave. The business office has gotten even more strict about that since their last financial audit. Apparently it didn't go so well."