Norwegian Researcher Reportedly Injures Himself Testing Pulsed-Microwave Device Linked to 'Havana Syndrome'

A Norwegian government researcher has reportedly sustained brain injury after secretly testing a pulsed-microwave device he built in an effort to disprove the existence of what is widely known as "Havana Syndrome," The Washington Post reported.

What Happened

The unidentified scientist constructed a machine designed to emit powerful, short bursts of microwave energy. According to reporting, he tested the device on himself in 2024 and soon developed symptoms similar to those reported by US diplomats and other officials affected by the mysterious condition — including headaches, dizziness, memory problems and hearing changes.

Official Notifications

After the experiment, Norwegian authorities informed US intelligence, and the matter was shared with the CIA, prompting visits by Pentagon and White House officials to follow up on the findings, the newspaper said. Details about the researcher’s current condition and the specific medical diagnosis have not been publicly disclosed.

Background: Havana Syndrome

The first reported incidents emerged in 2016, when staff at the US embassy in Havana described sudden neurological and cognitive symptoms. Since then, similar episodes — labeled "anomalous health incidents" by US authorities — have been reported in more than 15 countries.

Theories and Evidence

The new account, in which a researcher injures himself while testing a directed-energy device, gives weight to hypotheses that some incidents could stem from pulsed-energy or directed-energy sources. However, investigators remain divided. A 2022 interim CIA assessment said it was probably unlikely that a foreign country was responsible for Havana Syndrome, while later statements by White House officials said "external factors" could be plausible.

Related Claims and Unverified Reports

There has also been speculation that similar technology played a role in other international incidents, including unverified accounts from the capture of Venezuela’s leader that circulated on social media. These claims remain unverified, and no conclusive public evidence links any specific state actor to the reported health incidents.

Why It Matters

The Norwegian case — if confirmed — would be a rare example of someone reportedly harmed while testing a device thought to cause such symptoms, and it may influence ongoing scientific and government inquiries. Experts caution that the evidence remains inconclusive and that multiple explanations, from environmental and medical causes to novel weaponry, are still under investigation.

Source: Reporting by The Washington Post as described in public summaries of the incident.