Similar to Project Utopia, Project Tantalus's mission is to examine the phenomenon of paramorphs. As of 2008, only one paramorph is known: Maxwell Anderson Mercer. This is primarily due to the low-key nature of the abilities most paramorphs have, as well as their inability to be detected. Project Tantalus was started around the same time as Project Utopia, in 1998. Margaret A. Mercer was in control of the Project for a short time, until it was diverted to the control of another (with her blessing).