A Norwegian government scientist built a device that emitted pulses of microwave energy and tested it on himself, attempting to prove that it would be harmless, the Washington Post reported, citing individuals familiar with the experiment. The scientist suffered symptoms aligned with “Havana syndrome,” a disputed medical condition.
Also known as Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI), the term “Havana syndrome” emerged in 2016 after personnel at the US embassy in Havana reported symptoms including dizziness, headaches, and cognitive difficulties. Believed by some to be caused by a device emitting electromagnetic pulses, hundreds of diplomats in several countries later reported similar AHI symptoms.
A 2022 panel of experts commissioned by the director of national intelligence and deputy CIA director concluded that electromagnetic waves “plausibly explain[ed]” AHI symptoms, though it emphasized significant information gaps.
However, in 2023, the US intelligence community, including the CIA and four other agencies, assessed that it was “very unlikely” that a foreign country was behind the incidents. In early 2025, some agencies changed their position, noting the possibility of foreign attacks on American diplomats.
Foreign involvement possible but unlikely
Two agencies, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), reportedly revised their earlier conclusions, citing new developments that suggested a foreign actor could possess capabilities consistent with at least some AHI symptoms. The CIA and four other agencies, however, maintained that foreign involvement remained “very unlikely.”
Although no country has been named as the source of the attacks, the Washington Post reported that former officials, as well as victims of AHI, have pointed out Russia as a source, although the country denies responsibility.
Towards the end of the Biden administration in 2025, the Department of Defense reportedly purchased and tested a partially Russian-made device believed to cause the symptoms, CNN reported.
According to the Washington Post, the Norwegian researcher, described as skeptical of the directed-energy theory, constructed an electromagnetic pulse-emitting device in 2024 using classified information and tested it on himself. Sources familiar with the experiment said he suffered neurological symptoms that were not publicly detailed.
The Norwegian embassy in Washington did not respond to the Washington Post’s request for comment.
The Norway experiment doesn’t prove that AHIs are the result of a foreign attack, but it could renew debate within the US government over whether pulsed electromagnetic devices could cause medical effects, and whether such capabilities are being developed by rival countries.