Norwegian Scientist Finds Havana Syndrome Risks, Suffers Brain Injury

Last Updated:February 18, 2026, 12:50 IST

Havana Syndrome is a term that has been used to describe a set of bizarre symptoms that were exhibited by US diplomats and intelligence officers in Havana, Cuba, in 2016

In a bizarre incident that has sparked renewed controversy over Havana Syndrome, a government scientist in Norway allegedly inflicted brain damage upon himself in 2024 while experimenting with a homemade device he had built to determine whether some energy weapons might pose a threat to the human brain.

According to an exclusive report in The Washington Post, the unidentified Norwegian scientist, who doubted the hypothesis that Havana Syndrome was caused by directed energy or electromagnetic weapons, built a device that could produce strong pulses of microwave or electromagnetic radiation as part of a secret research project.

In an attempt to prove that such a device was harmless, he decided to test it on himself in 2024, with the result that he began to suffer from neurological symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, memory loss, and other cognitive problems that were similar to those experienced by Havana Syndrome victims. In the end, he suffered lasting damage to the brain.

The Norwegian government later informed intelligence partners, prompting visits by officials from the CIA, the Pentagon and the White House to review the findings and the device itself.

What Is Havana Syndrome?

Havana Syndrome is a term that has been used to describe a set of bizarre symptoms that were exhibited by US diplomats and intelligence officers in Havana, Cuba, in 2016. People started suffering from a sudden onset of bizarre symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and problems with their senses.

The term has stuck because it was largely US personnel in Cuba who were affected, but it has since been reported in other countries as well.

What Are The Common Symptoms?

The symptoms of Havana Syndrome include neurological and sensory manifestations such as headaches, dizziness or loss of balance, nausea, ringing or buzzing in the ears, confusion, memory loss, sleep disturbances, and pressure or headaches in the head. These symptoms have often occurred suddenly, with some people reporting the sensation of hearing high-pitched sounds or a “pressure wave" before the onset of symptoms.

Where All Has This Been Reported?

Though it started in Cuba, there have been cases of strange symptoms reported to have affected US personnel in other countries as well, including China, Germany, Russia, Austria, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and other countries where diplomats, intelligence agents, and even some military personnel were posted. There have also been reports of cases in India, where diplomats and intelligence agents were affected, though documentation is limited.

How Did It Start & What Are the Main Theories?

Right from the beginning, it has been difficult for scientists and intelligence agencies to pinpoint a definitive cause. Several theories have emerged:

• Directed Energy/Microwave Device Exposure: Perhaps the most popular theory to emerge is that some kind of energy—possibly microwaves or other forms of directed energy waves—was deliberately or accidentally beamed at personnel. This theory proposes that exposure to the energy could cause neurological symptoms without necessarily causing any visible external damage. A variant of this theory proposes that undercover devices, such as radio or audio transmitters, purchased or used by intelligence agencies, could inadvertently emit damaging frequencies.

• Environmental or Biological Causes: Some scientists have suggested that environmental factors—such as pesticides, toxins, infections, or natural acoustic phenomena—could potentially cause simultaneous symptoms.

• Psychological/Stress-Related Explanations: Since the symptoms of the syndrome have been reported largely by diplomats and intelligence personnel operating in high-stress environments, some scientists have proposed that stress-related neurological symptoms might account for some of the reported cases.

News explainers Norwegian Scientist Finds Havana Syndrome Risks, Suffers Brain Injury

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