Scientist Made ‘Havana Syndrome’ Machine to Prove the Disorder Isn't Caused by a Secret Spy Weapon. Then the Machine Made Him Sick

A scientist attempted to simulate one of the theorized causes of the mysterious illness and ended up with symptoms of Havana Syndrome

NEED TO KNOW

• A Norwegian scientist who was trying to prove that Havana Syndrome isn’t caused by a microwave device built one, and tested it on himself
• He’s now experiencing similar symptoms to the disease
• The test shows that these devices can, indeed, impact humans, leading some to question the origins of Havana Syndrome

A Norwegian scientist built a device to disprove "Havana Syndrome." He's now sick.

Havana Syndrome gets its name from a 2016 incident, when intelligence personnel stationed at the U.S. Embassy in the Cuban city became stricken with a series of debilitating neurological conditions.

The incident became fodder for conspiracy theorists and scientists alike, especially after the condition was noted elsewhere, such as in Vienna in 2021. Specifically, it's tied to the theory that intelligence officials are being attacked by a mysterious device that causes neurological problems like dizziness and cognitive disruption.

But the stance of the government has been that intelligence personnel are not being attacked by a nefarious device.

In March 2023, ”the United States intelligence community concluded that the condition was a socially constructed catch-all category for an array of health conditions and stress reactions that were lumped under a single label,” according to the National Library of Medicine.

Studies allegedly support this theory: The National Institutes of Health found that MRIs were unable to see any changes to the brain — even though those afflicted complained of head pressure, headaches, dizziness and cognitive dysfunction.

The U.S. government categorized these illnesses as Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs), the Washington Post says, even though members of the intelligence community and global dignitaries all report struggling with similar cognitive challenges, dizziness and nausea.

That's why many think Havana Syndrome is caused by a sophisticated weapon, built by adversaries, that uses microwave energy for targeted attacks, WaPo reports.

In an attempt to disprove these theories, a Norwegian scientist built his own weaponized microwave machine — and used it on himself. WaPo reports the machine may have been built using stolen or classified blueprints.

The scientist later suffered neurological symptoms in line with Havana Syndrome, WaPo says.

Details remain classified about the Norwegian scientist. The outlet reports that, while it doesn’t necessarily prove that U.S. intelligence officials are being harmed by a secret ray, it does show that a pulsating energy device can, indeed, harm humans.

“I don’t know what possessed him to go and do this,” a person familiar with the Norwegian experiment told WaPo. “He was a bit of an eccentric.”

In 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken convened a panel that concluded that Havana Syndrome was not caused by some foreign agent acting against Americans, and in 2023, reiterated that it was “very unlikely” that these symptoms were caused by a foreign agent.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Those who are sickened don't agree: “There is so much anger among the victims right now,” Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA agent who struggles with Havana Syndrome, previously told CNN, saying the dismissal of likely causes for the illness makes those afflicted akin to “UFO chasers.”

Meanwhile, President  Donald Trump alluded to a mysterious device that may have been obtained when the United States invaded Venezuela, calling it “The Discombobulator.“ He told The New York Post. “I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

Read the full article here