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{\an1}Tonight, a mysterious illness
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{\an1}strikes hundreds
of government officials.
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{\an1}MARC POLYMEROPOULOS:
In the middle of the night,
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{\an1}I woke up
and the room was spinning.
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{\an1}I had a terrible case
of vertigo.
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{\an1}I was frankly terrified.
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{\an1}Ongoing investigations raise
more questions than answers.
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{\an1}MICHAEL HABIB: It's causing
a lot of confusion, frustration,
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{\an1}and really starting to feel
kinda like
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{\an1}they're in some sort
of bad spy thriller.
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{\an1}Now, we reveal the top theories
behind this bizarre epidemic.
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{\an1}SASHA INGBER: This could have
been caused by something
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{\an1}that was already inside
the embassy staff quarters.
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{\an1}JOHN TEFFT: These chemicals
have been used
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{\an1}in some of the most deadly
chemical attacks on the planet.
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{\an1}Could some foreign power have
developed a new sonic weapon?
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{\an1}What's behind the strange
phenomenon
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{\an1}known as Havana syndrome?
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{\an1}[music]
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{\an1}November 2016,
Havana, Cuba.
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{\an1}As the sun sets on the island,
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{\an1}a U.S. diplomat and his wife
are unwinding with friends.
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{\an1}SASHA: This couple
has just moved to Cuba,
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{\an1}and their names have been kept
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{\an1}anonymous in reports.
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{\an1}But the diplomat and his wife
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{\an1}are living in
an upscale development
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{\an1}called El Country Club.
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{\an1}They're having neighbors
over for drinks,
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{\an1}and suddenly
they hear this sound,
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{\an1}and it fills the air and sounds
kind of like cicadas,
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{\an1}only it's a more
piercing metallic sound.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: The noise persists
through dinner.
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{\an1}JASON HORTON:
At the couple's request,
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{\an1}maintenance workers check
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{\an1}the property for insects,
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{\an1}and look for any
electrical issues
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{\an1}that could be causing
the racket.
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{\an1}But they find nothing.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: The sound lingers
for three months,
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{\an1}during which time
the couple falls ill.
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{\an1}JASON: He and his wife
have been feeling off
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{\an1}ever since shortly after
the sounds began--
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{\an1}kind of cloudy
with difficulty concentrating.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: After a while,
the diplomat
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{\an1}shares his experience
with coworkers
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{\an1}at the U.S. embassy.
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{\an1}SASHA: A colleague in his 30s
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{\an1}says that he also heard
this high-pitched sound
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{\an1}and started to experience
health issues.
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{\an1}And he plays some audio
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{\an1}that he's recorded
of the incident.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: It's the same noise
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{\an1}the diplomat's been hearing
for months.
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{\an1}Days later, that diplomat
and his wife
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{\an1}are examined by doctors in Miami
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{\an1}and diagnosed with
concussion-like symptoms--
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{\an1}headache, fatigue,
disorientation,
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{\an1}and balance issues.
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{\an1}MICHAEL: More diplomats
and others start reporting
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{\an1}exactly the same set
of symptoms.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: Over the next
two months,
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{\an1}more than two dozen officials
in Havana are diagnosed
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{\an1}with the strange condition.
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{\an1}What's even worse,
is some of these victims
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{\an1}enter a second phase
of the illness
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{\an1}where they have even greater
cognitive difficulty
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{\an1}and trouble hearing or seeing.
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{\an1}JOHN: It's really horrible.
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{\an1}These symptoms
have just appeared,
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{\an1}and there appears to be
no treatment.
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{\an1}You have to wonder,
what could cause this
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{\an1}in so many different people?
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{\an1}LAURENCE: To try to learn why,
the U.S. government
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{\an1}opens an investigation
in January of 2017.
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{\an1}The first group
of embassy employees
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{\an1}are thoroughly examined
in the United States,
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{\an1}and a report is published
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{\an1}in the Journal of the American
Medical Association in 2018.
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{\an1}MICHAEL: Perhaps most seriously
and notably,
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{\an1}the study concluded
that the patients
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{\an1}had sustained widespread injury
to brain networks.
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{\an1}JASON: There is a clear
physical change
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{\an1}that has happened
to the brains of these patients.
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{\an1}It's visible in the MRIs.
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{\an1}But that change is minor
compared to the results
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{\an1}of several neurological tests
that target memory,
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{\an1}executive functioning,
and spatial orientation.
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{\an1}LAURENCE:
According to the study,
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{\an1}these same severe effects
would occur
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{\an1}after a devastating car crash
or explosion.
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{\an1}But none of these victims have
experienced that type of trauma.
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{\an1}At a loss, doctors dub
the mysterious illness
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{\an1}Havana syndrome.
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{\an1}Is some strange virus
or infection
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{\an1}spreading through
the American embassy?
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{\an1}JASON: This, of course,
is a huge concern
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{\an1}to multiple government agencies.
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{\an1}For no apparent reason,
their staffers
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{\an1}are suddenly
dropping like flies.
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{\an1}It's not killing anyone,
but it's making them
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{\an1}pretty much unable
to function in their jobs
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{\an1}and sometimes in
their daily lives.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: In 2018,
the U.S. government
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{\an1}brings in the CIA,
Defense Department,
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{\an1}State Department, and CDC
to further investigate.
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{\an1}At the earliest
onset of symptoms,
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{\an1}these victims are hearing
a chirping,
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{\an1}a screeching, a clicking,
and they're also feeling
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{\an1}a certain pressure
in their heads.
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{\an1}They say they're hearing
these sounds in their homes
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{\an1}or in their hotel rooms,
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{\an1}and there's a certain
directionality to the sensation,
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{\an1}almost like it's coming
through a wall
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{\an1}or in a specific
part of the room.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: Based on
the victims' testimony,
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{\an1}officials believe
they have the answer.
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{\an1}Diplomats and CIA officers,
or spies,
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{\an1}are the ones who were afflicted.
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{\an1}This is not affecting
the general public.
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{\an1}So, the U.S.'s first guess
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{\an1}is that it could be
a covert sonic weapon.
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{\an1}JASON: In October 2017,
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{\an1}President Trump
holds a news conference
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{\an1}where he calls the incidents,
quote,
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{\an1}"a very unusual attack."
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{\an1}He's going public with the idea
that this is a weapon.
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{\an1}SASHA: Sound, like anything,
can be and has been weaponized.
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{\an1}It's not something
we think about
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{\an1}because we can't see it.
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{\an1}But at certain frequencies,
it can cause vomiting
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{\an1}and internal distress,
and maybe even death.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: It's something
the Nazis tried to harness
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{\an1}during World War II.
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{\an1}JOHN: The Nazi regime
had a team of scientists
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{\an1}working on wonder weapons
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{\an1}which they claimed
would revolutionize the war.
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{\an1}And their chief architect,
Albert Speer,
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{\an1}developed one that's called
the acoustic cannon.
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{\an1}The idea is to kill
or injure someone
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{\an1}by focusing or magnifying
soundwaves on a reflective dish.
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{\an1}JASON: At a distance
of around 600 to 1,200 feet,
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{\an1}the sound is reported to cause
vertigo and nausea
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{\an1}by vibrating structures
in the inner ear.
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{\an1}At closer ranges, it could
even damage internal organs.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: But this weapon
has one serious flaw.
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{\an1}It's huge.
The reflector dishes are so big
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{\an1}that it's hard to maneuver,
and any damage to the dishes
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{\an1}would render it
entirely inoperable.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: While the Nazis'
acoustic cannon
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{\an1}was never used in battle,
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{\an1}it paves the way
for modern versions.
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{\an1}MICHAEL: In the early 2000s
the U.S. developed a weapon
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{\an1}that it called an LRAD--
long-range acoustic device.
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{\an1}These LRADs are capable
of projecting
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{\an1}very powerful pulses
or beams of sound
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{\an1}up to two miles away.
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{\an1}[alarm wailing]
JASON: And if you set it
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{\an1}to emit high-decibel chirping
or a beeping sound,
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{\an1}it could also be used
as a deterrent.
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{\an1}Nowadays, our military
uses LRADs
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{\an1}for everything
from crowd control
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{\an1}to repelling pirates
from cruise ships.
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{\an1}At a high enough decibel,
LRADs can be used as weapons.
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{\an1}They're certainly capable
of creating pain,
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{\an1}nausea, imbalance,
and even permanent hearing loss.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: It's a promising lead,
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{\an1}but experts say
there's one problem
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{\an1}with the sonic weapon theory.
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{\an1}MICHAEL: LRADs are not
subtle weapons.
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{\an1}They are definitely
very, very loud.
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{\an1}And given that none
of the patients in Havana
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{\an1}reported hearing a loud sound,
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{\an1}their reports
are not really consistent
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{\an1}with the use of an LRAD.
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{\an1}JASON:
So, the next question becomes,
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{\an1}could some foreign power have
developed a new sonic weapon,
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{\an1}one that somehow produces
the same effects
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{\an1}by primarily using sound outside
the range of human hearing?
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{\an1}LAURENCE: There's no evidence
found in Cuba.
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{\an1}But in 2019,
the Chinese Academy of Sciences
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{\an1}announces a prototype
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{\an1}for the first
portable sonic gun.
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{\an1}JOHN: The Chinese claim
that they use focus waves
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{\an1}of infrasound.
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{\an1}These waves painfully vibrate
the subject's eardrums,
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{\an1}eyes, and brain.
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{\an1}JASON: It may mess
with the inner ear,
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{\an1}causing vertigo and imbalance.
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{\an1}Infrasound may also cause
nausea, vomiting, bowel spasms,
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{\an1}and potentially affect
internal organs like the heart.
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{\an1}In field tests,
according to the Chinese team,
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{\an1}it produced extreme discomfort.
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{\an1}JOHN: Of course, this thing
had to have been developed
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{\an1}and tested years prior to 2019,
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{\an1}possibly even
field tested covertly.
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{\an1}JASON: According to
the South China Morning Post,
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{\an1}which first reported the story,
this device has been approved
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{\an1}for mass production
by the Chinese government.
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{\an1}If that's the case,
it's definitely been
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{\an1}in the works for quite a while.
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{\an1}LAURENCE: Still, many doubt
this technology
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{\an1}is the source
of Havana syndrome.
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{\an1}JASON: In the end, infrasound
would be a poor choice
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{\an1}because it spreads
in all directions.
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{\an1}It'd be difficult
to target specific individuals.
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{\an1}Infrasound can't be
easily focused.
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{\an1}It would also affect
the user of the weapon,
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{\an1}probably more so than some
of the targets,
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{\an1}since they're closer
to the source.
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{\an1}And frankly, the effects
from an infrasonic weapon
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{\an1}would probably be more annoying
than debilitating.
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{\an1}SASHA: In February of 2022,
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{\an1}the Office of the Director
of National Intelligence
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{\an1}and the CIA state
that there's still a possibility
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{\an1}that this could be
a sonic weapon in Havana,
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{\an1}but it would need to be placed
extremely close to the target,
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{\an1}meaning against a wall
or through a window.
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{\an1}In some of these Havana cases,
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{\an1}the victims were in
secure facilities
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{\an1}away from public access.
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{\an1}So, is it possible
that this was a sonic weapon?
223
00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,208
{\an1}Sure.
But is it probable?
224
00:09:48,375 --> 00:09:49,083
{\an1}No.
225
00:09:53,250 --> 00:09:54,750
{\an1}LAURENCE: In 2016,
226
00:09:54,875 --> 00:09:58,083
{\an1}after more than two dozen
American diplomats
227
00:09:58,208 --> 00:10:02,792
{\an1}develop a mysterious illness
called Havana syndrome,
228
00:10:02,875 --> 00:10:06,333
{\an1}some government officials
suspect an ultrasonic weapon.
229
00:10:07,917 --> 00:10:11,417
{\an1}But computer security engineer
Dr. Kevin Fu
230
00:10:11,542 --> 00:10:14,708
{\an1}has a more surprising theory.
231
00:10:14,833 --> 00:10:16,708
{\an1}KEVIN FU: My laboratory
uses analog signals
232
00:10:16,875 --> 00:10:18,458
{\an1}to break into computer systems
233
00:10:18,542 --> 00:10:21,125
{\an1}with lasers, acoustics,
234
00:10:21,250 --> 00:10:22,583
{\an1}and soundwaves.
235
00:10:23,625 --> 00:10:26,708
{\an1}LAURENCE: In other words,
Dr. Fu specializes
236
00:10:26,833 --> 00:10:29,792
{\an1}in hacking some of our most
sensitive electronics
237
00:10:29,875 --> 00:10:33,250
{\an1}to identify security flaws
and protect against them.
238
00:10:34,708 --> 00:10:36,458
{\an1}KEVIN: A few of the examples
239
00:10:36,542 --> 00:10:39,083
{\an1}include creating
a homemade radio transmitter
240
00:10:39,208 --> 00:10:42,583
{\an1}to induce fatal heart rhythms
in a defibrillator.
241
00:10:42,708 --> 00:10:46,583
{\an1}We have used laser pointers
over hundreds of feet
242
00:10:46,708 --> 00:10:48,958
{\an1}to take over
voice-controlled assistance.
243
00:10:49,042 --> 00:10:53,167
{\an1}We have also turned hard drives
into listening devices
244
00:10:53,333 --> 00:10:54,750
{\an1}through some of the mechanisms
245
00:10:54,875 --> 00:10:57,833
{\an1}on the inside
of the spinning discs.
246
00:10:57,958 --> 00:11:00,708
{\an1}JASON: So, when Dr. Fu first
hears about Havana syndrome,
247
00:11:00,833 --> 00:11:03,375
{\an1}he realizes, "Hey, this sounds
kind of like a phenomenon
248
00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:04,833
{\an1}"I've encountered before.
249
00:11:04,958 --> 00:11:07,000
{\an1}"My whole job
is to glitch out electronics,
250
00:11:07,125 --> 00:11:10,042
{\an1}and maybe that's what
this is-- a glitch."
251
00:11:10,208 --> 00:11:12,667
{\an1}Dr. Fu believes
the Havana syndrome conditions
252
00:11:12,792 --> 00:11:15,250
{\an1}could have occurred without
any massive secret weapon.
253
00:11:15,375 --> 00:11:18,792
{\an1}This theory states that
this could have been caused
254
00:11:18,917 --> 00:11:21,333
{\an1}by something
that was already inside
255
00:11:21,458 --> 00:11:24,000
{\an1}the embassy staff quarters.
256
00:11:24,125 --> 00:11:27,333
{\an1}LAURENCE: According to Fu,
there's a good chance
257
00:11:27,458 --> 00:11:30,667
{\an1}the afflicted American officials
were under surveillance
258
00:11:30,833 --> 00:11:34,625
{\an1}while in Cuba,
a detail he thinks is key
259
00:11:34,750 --> 00:11:36,458
{\an1}to solving this puzzle.
260
00:11:37,583 --> 00:11:40,083
{\an1}KEVIN: I believe that some kind
of unintentional accident
261
00:11:40,208 --> 00:11:43,000
{\an1}with malfunctioning
eavesdropping devices
262
00:11:43,167 --> 00:11:46,667
{\an1}may have caused the sensations
that the witnesses reported.
263
00:11:50,458 --> 00:11:54,167
{\an1}LAURENCE: When Fidel Castro
comes to power in 1959,
264
00:11:54,292 --> 00:11:57,500
{\an1}American diplomats
are unwelcome in Havana
265
00:11:57,667 --> 00:11:59,375
{\an1}for nearly 20 years.
266
00:11:59,542 --> 00:12:01,917
{\an1}JASON: But in 1977,
the United States
267
00:12:02,042 --> 00:12:03,750
{\an1}reopens a limited
diplomatic relationship
268
00:12:03,875 --> 00:12:06,750
{\an1}to work with Cuba
on areas of mutual interest.
269
00:12:06,875 --> 00:12:09,000
{\an1}From then on, the Cubans
keep a pretty close watch
270
00:12:09,083 --> 00:12:11,125
{\an1}on any American diplomats
in their country.
271
00:12:11,208 --> 00:12:14,375
{\an1}SASHA: As a State Department
official, you'd come home,
272
00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:17,833
{\an1}and maybe you'd see
the TV on or the window open,
273
00:12:17,917 --> 00:12:19,833
{\an1}and you might be thinking,
what's happening?
274
00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,833
{\an1}And then you realize
that Cuban spies
275
00:12:22,958 --> 00:12:24,708
{\an1}want you to get this message,
276
00:12:24,875 --> 00:12:26,583
{\an1}that if you think
you're being watched,
277
00:12:26,708 --> 00:12:27,958
{\an1}you probably are.
278
00:12:28,042 --> 00:12:30,125
{\an1}JASON: It's almost
like a game sometimes.
279
00:12:30,208 --> 00:12:32,500
{\an1}There are reports of things like
an undercover CIA agent
280
00:12:32,625 --> 00:12:34,000
{\an1}finding his tires punctured,
281
00:12:34,167 --> 00:12:36,333
{\an1}or maybe his family pet
is poisoned.
282
00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,125
{\an1}LAURENCE: Eventually in 2015,
283
00:12:39,208 --> 00:12:42,583
{\an1}an American embassy
reopens in Cuba.
284
00:12:42,708 --> 00:12:47,833
{\an1}One year later, the first cases
of Havana syndrome are reported.
285
00:12:47,917 --> 00:12:49,292
{\an1}JASON: This is one reason
286
00:12:49,375 --> 00:12:51,208
{\an1}why the sonic weapon theory
never made sense.
287
00:12:51,375 --> 00:12:53,750
{\an1}Why would the Cuban government
initiate a brazen attack
288
00:12:53,875 --> 00:12:55,792
{\an1}on American officials
at the very moment
289
00:12:55,875 --> 00:12:57,625
{\an1}when they were reopening
diplomatic relations?
290
00:12:57,708 --> 00:12:59,500
{\an1}It just doesn't add up.
291
00:12:59,625 --> 00:13:00,792
{\an1}JOHN: That doesn't mean
the Cubans
292
00:13:00,875 --> 00:13:02,167
{\an1}quit spying on Americans.
293
00:13:02,333 --> 00:13:04,042
{\an1}Of course not.
Everybody spies on each other,
294
00:13:04,167 --> 00:13:06,333
{\an1}and we find their devices
frequently.
295
00:13:06,458 --> 00:13:08,958
{\an1}KEVIN: So, when we looked
at what the witnesses
296
00:13:09,042 --> 00:13:11,542
{\an1}reporting about
the sensations in Havana,
297
00:13:11,667 --> 00:13:13,583
{\an1}we started brainstorming
about all sorts
298
00:13:13,708 --> 00:13:15,250
{\an1}of different kinds of conditions
299
00:13:15,375 --> 00:13:16,833
{\an1}that could make
an eavesdropping device
300
00:13:16,917 --> 00:13:20,083
{\an1}produce the same signals
that the witnesses heard.
301
00:13:20,208 --> 00:13:22,083
{\an1}JASON: If you're going to
conduct a spying operation,
302
00:13:22,208 --> 00:13:24,417
{\an1}you can't just hook up
a hidden camera to Wi-Fi.
303
00:13:24,542 --> 00:13:27,667
{\an1}You've gotta do it in a way that
will go completely undetected.
304
00:13:27,792 --> 00:13:29,750
{\an1}And we know that one way
spy devices
305
00:13:29,875 --> 00:13:31,292
{\an1}secretly transmit information
306
00:13:31,375 --> 00:13:34,125
{\an1}is through
the ultrasonic frequency range.
307
00:13:34,208 --> 00:13:37,000
{\an1}LAURENCE: Ultrasound technology
is most commonly used
308
00:13:37,125 --> 00:13:39,042
{\an1}in healthcare applications,
309
00:13:39,167 --> 00:13:42,000
{\an1}motion detectors,
and pest repellents.
310
00:13:42,083 --> 00:13:45,208
{\an1}It's generally considered
harmless.
311
00:13:45,375 --> 00:13:47,292
{\an1}JASON: But Dr. Fu's team
has discovered a scenario
312
00:13:47,417 --> 00:13:50,042
{\an1}where ultrasonic transmitters
could become dangerous.
313
00:13:51,375 --> 00:13:53,000
{\an1}KEVIN: There's an interesting
phenomena
314
00:13:53,125 --> 00:13:55,500
{\an1}when two signals
interfere with each other
315
00:13:55,667 --> 00:13:58,167
{\an1}to create a third tone.
316
00:13:58,250 --> 00:14:01,167
{\an1}It's called
intermodulation distortion.
317
00:14:01,250 --> 00:14:04,833
{\an1}So, although ultrasound
is not audible,
318
00:14:04,958 --> 00:14:06,750
{\an1}and is designed
not to be audible,
319
00:14:06,875 --> 00:14:09,875
{\an1}if two ultrasonic transmitters
come together
320
00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,708
{\an1}and cross paths in the air,
they can produce a byproduct
321
00:14:13,875 --> 00:14:16,167
{\an1}that is quite audible
to the human ear.
322
00:14:17,375 --> 00:14:19,917
{\an1}LAURENCE: Dr. Fu's team is able
to replicate this phenomenon,
323
00:14:20,042 --> 00:14:22,667
{\an1}creating the same
metallic chirping sound
324
00:14:22,833 --> 00:14:24,833
{\an1}recorded by American diplomats.
325
00:14:24,958 --> 00:14:26,917
{\an1}[metallic screeching]
326
00:14:28,500 --> 00:14:30,000
{\an1}KEVIN: If you listen
to the audio recordings
327
00:14:30,167 --> 00:14:31,708
{\an1}of some of the incidents
and the sound
328
00:14:31,875 --> 00:14:33,625
{\an1}from our experiments
in the laboratory,
329
00:14:33,708 --> 00:14:36,333
{\an1}we found that the two signals
were essentially identical.
330
00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:40,542
{\an1}LAURENCE: But could these sounds
actually make people sick?
331
00:14:40,667 --> 00:14:44,125
{\an1}According to Dr. Fu,
it's possible.
332
00:14:44,250 --> 00:14:46,583
{\an1}We don't know if these
particular sounds caused harm,
333
00:14:46,708 --> 00:14:50,000
{\an1}because our experiments were all
confined to the laboratory,
334
00:14:50,083 --> 00:14:52,000
{\an1}not involving human subjects.
335
00:14:52,083 --> 00:14:54,917
{\an1}But we do know that sound
can cause harm.
336
00:14:55,042 --> 00:14:57,250
{\an1}It can cause nausea,
internal distress,
337
00:14:57,375 --> 00:15:00,125
{\an1}it can even cause harm
to the human body
338
00:15:00,250 --> 00:15:02,792
{\an1}at intense enough frequencies.
339
00:15:02,875 --> 00:15:05,292
{\an1}LAURENCE: But not everyone's
convinced.
340
00:15:05,417 --> 00:15:07,333
{\an1}It doesn't make any sense
as an intentional act,
341
00:15:07,417 --> 00:15:08,542
{\an1}at the very least.
342
00:15:08,708 --> 00:15:10,125
{\an1}If you're spying on somebody,
343
00:15:10,250 --> 00:15:11,875
{\an1}you do not want your devices
344
00:15:12,042 --> 00:15:13,375
{\an1}that you're using
for surveillance
345
00:15:13,542 --> 00:15:15,875
{\an1}to drive away the people
that you're trying to spy on,
346
00:15:16,042 --> 00:15:18,167
{\an1}which is exactly what happened.
347
00:15:18,333 --> 00:15:20,417
{\an1}The reason why Dr. Fu
and many others
348
00:15:20,542 --> 00:15:22,667
{\an1}have researched this
is because there's no answers
349
00:15:22,792 --> 00:15:24,500
{\an1}to what is causing
the Havana syndrome.
350
00:15:24,667 --> 00:15:26,375
{\an1}The U.S. government hasn't been
able to figure it out.
351
00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:29,500
{\an1}At least Dr. Fu
has replicated the noise,
352
00:15:29,625 --> 00:15:32,000
{\an1}and that's more than most people
have accomplished.
353
00:15:32,125 --> 00:15:33,833
{\an1}Part of the scientific process
is about exploring
354
00:15:33,917 --> 00:15:35,500
{\an1}many different hypotheses,
355
00:15:35,667 --> 00:15:38,583
{\an1}some of which may turn out
to be incorrect or less likely.
356
00:15:38,708 --> 00:15:41,292
{\an1}But we hope that the research
done in my laboratory
357
00:15:41,417 --> 00:15:43,833
{\an1}is helping us come closer
as a community to a conclusion
358
00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:45,250
{\an1}to solve this mystery.
359
00:15:50,042 --> 00:15:53,000
{\an1}LAURENCE: Initially,
the mysterious Havana syndrome
360
00:15:53,083 --> 00:15:55,667
{\an1}only impacts U.S. diplomats
in Cuba.
361
00:15:57,042 --> 00:16:01,042
{\an1}But by March of 2018,
diplomats at another embassy
362
00:16:01,167 --> 00:16:03,708
{\an1}in Havana fall victim.
363
00:16:03,875 --> 00:16:06,167
{\an1}JASON: It starts happening
to the Canadian embassy staff.
364
00:16:06,250 --> 00:16:07,500
{\an1}This is very strange
365
00:16:07,583 --> 00:16:08,625
{\an1}because the Canadian embassy
366
00:16:08,708 --> 00:16:09,667
{\an1}is about three miles away
367
00:16:09,792 --> 00:16:11,000
{\an1}from the U.S. embassy,
368
00:16:11,167 --> 00:16:13,167
{\an1}so it's not like
they're adjacent or anything.
369
00:16:13,250 --> 00:16:15,000
{\an1}MICHAEL: Canadian diplomats
and their families
370
00:16:15,125 --> 00:16:16,625
{\an1}start reporting exactly the same
371
00:16:16,750 --> 00:16:17,833
{\an1}kinds of symptoms
372
00:16:17,958 --> 00:16:19,833
{\an1}U.S. embassy staff had reported.
373
00:16:19,958 --> 00:16:23,542
{\an1}Disorientation,
nausea, dizziness.
374
00:16:23,667 --> 00:16:27,708
{\an1}Ultimately,
40 Canadian diplomats fall ill,
375
00:16:27,833 --> 00:16:30,292
{\an1}and so the Canadian government
ends up pulling its diplomats
376
00:16:30,375 --> 00:16:32,083
{\an1}out of Cuba.
377
00:16:33,208 --> 00:16:36,375
{\an1}LAURENCE: By 2019,
Canada's workforce in Havana
378
00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:38,125
{\an1}is reduced by half.
379
00:16:38,250 --> 00:16:40,458
{\an1}This illness, whatever it is,
380
00:16:40,542 --> 00:16:43,000
{\an1}is severely limiting
their ability
381
00:16:43,167 --> 00:16:45,875
{\an1}to conduct
diplomatic relations in Cuba.
382
00:16:46,042 --> 00:16:48,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: That same year,
Canadian officials
383
00:16:48,833 --> 00:16:51,333
{\an1}launch their own investigation.
384
00:16:51,458 --> 00:16:52,917
{\an1}At this point,
the Americans are probably glad
385
00:16:53,042 --> 00:16:54,167
{\an1}to have the help.
386
00:16:54,250 --> 00:16:56,167
{\an1}We've got no clear motive,
387
00:16:56,292 --> 00:16:58,333
{\an1}no clear means,
and no good suspects.
388
00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:01,167
{\an1}MICHAEL: It's causing a lot
of confusion, frustration,
389
00:17:01,292 --> 00:17:02,792
{\an1}and really starting
to feel kinda like
390
00:17:02,917 --> 00:17:05,041
{\an1}they're in some sort
of bad spy thriller.
391
00:17:05,208 --> 00:17:07,083
{\an1}LAURENCE: Among the Canadian
researchers
392
00:17:07,208 --> 00:17:09,500
{\an1}is Dr. Alon Friedman,
393
00:17:09,625 --> 00:17:12,416
{\an1}who works at a highly regarded
brain research center
394
00:17:12,541 --> 00:17:14,000
{\an1}in Nova Scotia.
395
00:17:14,166 --> 00:17:16,000
{\an1}Dr. Friedman is a neuroscientist
396
00:17:16,083 --> 00:17:18,333
{\an1}who studies
the blood-brain barrier,
397
00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:21,500
{\an1}and in particular, the chemicals
that can cross that barrier,
398
00:17:21,625 --> 00:17:23,208
{\an1}which typically
protects your brain
399
00:17:23,333 --> 00:17:25,500
{\an1}from most chemical attacks.
400
00:17:25,583 --> 00:17:27,791
{\an1}JOHN: Although some researchers
have looked at the causes
401
00:17:27,916 --> 00:17:29,833
{\an1}being maybe sonic or physical,
402
00:17:29,958 --> 00:17:31,792
{\an1}Dr. Friedman is looking to see
403
00:17:31,917 --> 00:17:34,042
{\an1}if it may be a chemical
characteristic.
404
00:17:34,208 --> 00:17:35,917
{\an1}MICHAEL:
While the blood-brain barrier
405
00:17:36,042 --> 00:17:38,458
{\an1}does protect against
a lot of chemicals,
406
00:17:38,583 --> 00:17:40,458
{\an1}it turns out that the number
of chemicals
407
00:17:40,542 --> 00:17:42,583
{\an1}that can cross
that blood-brain barrier,
408
00:17:42,708 --> 00:17:44,292
{\an1}still very large.
409
00:17:44,417 --> 00:17:47,792
{\an1}And so, Dr. Friedman wants
to look at every possibility.
410
00:17:47,917 --> 00:17:50,417
{\an1}It's not even really finding
a needle in a haystack.
411
00:17:50,542 --> 00:17:53,958
{\an1}It's looking at a haystack
and not knowing
412
00:17:54,083 --> 00:17:56,542
{\an1}if there are any needles inside.
413
00:17:56,708 --> 00:18:00,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: Dr. Friedman
conducts brain scans and MRIs
414
00:18:00,750 --> 00:18:04,167
{\an1}on 23 Canadian diplomats
and their families.
415
00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:08,208
{\an1}Initial evaluations confirm
the Canadians
416
00:18:08,333 --> 00:18:12,292
{\an1}have damaged brain tissue
just like the Americans.
417
00:18:12,375 --> 00:18:14,208
{\an1}In addition, Dr. Friedman
418
00:18:14,375 --> 00:18:17,000
{\an1}conducted a range
of blood tests,
419
00:18:17,167 --> 00:18:19,667
{\an1}as well as something
called mass spectrometry.
420
00:18:19,833 --> 00:18:22,667
{\an1}Mass spectrometry is a technique
421
00:18:22,792 --> 00:18:25,917
{\an1}that creates a fingerprint
for a chemical,
422
00:18:26,042 --> 00:18:27,917
{\an1}allowing you to tell
exactly what is there
423
00:18:28,042 --> 00:18:29,750
{\an1}and how it's comprised.
424
00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:33,292
{\an1}Specifically, he was on
a search for neurotoxins,
425
00:18:33,417 --> 00:18:35,750
{\an1}because all the symptoms
are consistent
426
00:18:35,875 --> 00:18:39,083
{\an1}with some sort of damage
or effect on the nervous system.
427
00:18:39,208 --> 00:18:41,333
{\an1}JASON: Turns out,
they find neurotoxins.
428
00:18:41,417 --> 00:18:43,083
{\an1}They find them in every single
symptomatic patient
429
00:18:43,208 --> 00:18:44,500
{\an1}that they test.
430
00:18:44,625 --> 00:18:46,500
{\an1}JOHN: Everyone has some toxins
in their body,
431
00:18:46,667 --> 00:18:47,917
{\an1}but based on this study,
432
00:18:48,042 --> 00:18:49,333
{\an1}it appears that
the Havana syndrome
433
00:18:49,417 --> 00:18:50,750
{\an1}could have been caused
by a chemical weapon.
434
00:18:55,417 --> 00:18:57,250
{\an1}MICHAEL: The pattern
of brain injuries
435
00:18:57,375 --> 00:18:59,458
{\an1}in the patients from Havana
436
00:18:59,542 --> 00:19:03,875
{\an1}are consistent with regular
low-dose exposure
437
00:19:04,042 --> 00:19:07,292
{\an1}to a class of neurotoxins called
cholinesterase inhibitors.
438
00:19:07,417 --> 00:19:09,542
{\an1}These chemicals have been used
439
00:19:09,708 --> 00:19:11,958
{\an1}in some of the most deadly
chemical weapons attacks
440
00:19:12,042 --> 00:19:13,667
{\an1}on the planet.
441
00:19:13,792 --> 00:19:17,417
{\an1}Now, cholinesterase inhibitors,
as the name suggests,
442
00:19:17,542 --> 00:19:20,167
{\an1}inhibit cholinesterase
from working.
443
00:19:20,250 --> 00:19:22,750
{\an1}This chemical is crucial
for the communication
444
00:19:22,875 --> 00:19:24,708
{\an1}between the brain
and the muscles.
445
00:19:24,833 --> 00:19:26,875
{\an1}If your brain cells
cannot talk to each other,
446
00:19:27,042 --> 00:19:28,667
{\an1}then you have problems thinking.
447
00:19:28,792 --> 00:19:31,458
{\an1}MICHAEL: Some cholinesterase
inhibitors have been weaponized.
448
00:19:31,542 --> 00:19:34,792
{\an1}One famous example is sarin.
449
00:19:34,917 --> 00:19:38,250
{\an1}Originally developed
by Hitler's Nazi Germany,
450
00:19:38,375 --> 00:19:41,417
{\an1}it was so devastating that even
Hitler was scared to use it.
451
00:19:42,708 --> 00:19:44,208
{\an1}LAURENCE: Another variant
of this chemical
452
00:19:44,333 --> 00:19:46,375
{\an1}is called Novichok.
453
00:19:46,542 --> 00:19:49,208
{\an1}This was a chemical that
was found in the bloodstream
454
00:19:49,333 --> 00:19:52,167
{\an1}of Russian opposition leader
Alexei Navalny,
455
00:19:52,250 --> 00:19:54,333
{\an1}who was poisoned in 2020.
456
00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:56,958
{\an1}MICHAEL: Obviously,
cholinesterase inhibitors
457
00:19:57,042 --> 00:19:59,125
{\an1}can be very dangerous,
even deadly.
458
00:19:59,250 --> 00:20:01,458
{\an1}And so, Dr. Friedman
wants to find out
459
00:20:01,542 --> 00:20:03,375
{\an1}exactly what kind
of cholinesterase inhibitor
460
00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,417
{\an1}is affecting these patients.
461
00:20:06,542 --> 00:20:09,500
{\an1}LAURENCE: After further testing,
Dr. Friedman's team
462
00:20:09,583 --> 00:20:12,042
{\an1}is able to identify
the chemical.
463
00:20:12,167 --> 00:20:14,167
{\an1}It isn't as nasty
as sarin or Novichok.
464
00:20:14,250 --> 00:20:16,833
{\an1}It is something else
called temephos.
465
00:20:16,917 --> 00:20:19,042
{\an1}MICHAEL: Temephos
is not particularly lethal,
466
00:20:19,208 --> 00:20:22,125
{\an1}but regular exposure
can cause symptoms
467
00:20:22,208 --> 00:20:26,167
{\an1}such as dizziness,
disorientation,
468
00:20:26,250 --> 00:20:29,292
{\an1}sensitivity to sounds--
symptoms that align
469
00:20:29,375 --> 00:20:31,333
{\an1}with what was reported
in Havana syndrome.
470
00:20:31,417 --> 00:20:33,833
{\an1}JOHN: When the Havana syndrome
first hits the news,
471
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,458
{\an1}a lot of people are saying
this sounds a lot like a weapon.
472
00:20:36,542 --> 00:20:40,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: But there's also
a less sinister possibility.
473
00:20:40,792 --> 00:20:43,167
{\an1}Temephos is used widely
throughout the world
474
00:20:43,250 --> 00:20:45,167
{\an1}as an agent
to control mosquitos.
475
00:20:45,250 --> 00:20:47,125
{\an1}It attacks the nervous system
of the larvae,
476
00:20:47,250 --> 00:20:48,667
{\an1}preventing them
from turning into adults,
477
00:20:48,833 --> 00:20:50,292
{\an1}and therefore helping
to stop the spread
478
00:20:50,375 --> 00:20:51,500
{\an1}of mosquito-borne illness.
479
00:20:51,667 --> 00:20:54,333
{\an1}It is in a sense a pesticide.
480
00:20:54,417 --> 00:20:57,417
{\an1}Dr. Friedman concludes
that these diplomats
481
00:20:57,542 --> 00:21:00,500
{\an1}and their families
have been exposed to pesticides.
482
00:21:04,833 --> 00:21:06,333
{\an1}LAURENCE: Could high levels
of pesticide
483
00:21:06,458 --> 00:21:08,875
{\an1}actually be responsible?
484
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,125
{\an1}In March of 2015, Zika is
officially detected in Brazil,
485
00:21:13,208 --> 00:21:16,125
{\an1}and by 2016,
the World Health Organization
486
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:18,583
{\an1}has declared it
a public health emergency.
487
00:21:18,708 --> 00:21:22,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: The Zika virus is
transmitted by mosquito bites.
488
00:21:23,833 --> 00:21:26,250
{\an1}JASON: Countries are spraying
for mosquitoes like crazy.
489
00:21:26,375 --> 00:21:28,167
{\an1}Tropical and semitropical places
like Cuba
490
00:21:28,333 --> 00:21:30,417
{\an1}are using vast quantities
of temephos.
491
00:21:30,542 --> 00:21:33,250
{\an1}LAURENCE: And the timing
seems to fit.
492
00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,083
{\an1}JOHN: Cuba reports
its first outbreak
493
00:21:35,208 --> 00:21:37,875
{\an1}of the Zika virus
in March of 2016.
494
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:40,500
{\an1}The first American diplomats
report symptoms
495
00:21:40,625 --> 00:21:43,333
{\an1}of the Havana syndrome
about six months later.
496
00:21:43,417 --> 00:21:46,833
{\an1}MICHAEL: Canadian records
confirm that in 2017,
497
00:21:46,917 --> 00:21:49,167
{\an1}the Canadian embassy
and its grounds
498
00:21:49,250 --> 00:21:52,333
{\an1}increased the use
of temephos pesticides,
499
00:21:52,458 --> 00:21:54,750
{\an1}which roughly coincides
with symptoms
500
00:21:54,875 --> 00:21:56,625
{\an1}in their embassy workers.
501
00:21:56,750 --> 00:21:59,333
{\an1}JOHN: In fact, the EPA
has actually outlawed temephos
502
00:21:59,417 --> 00:22:01,500
{\an1}as a residential pesticide
503
00:22:01,583 --> 00:22:03,583
{\an1}because of its neurological
effects.
504
00:22:03,708 --> 00:22:05,875
{\an1}LAURENCE:
But not everyone's convinced
505
00:22:06,042 --> 00:22:08,500
{\an1}Friedman's solved the mystery.
506
00:22:08,625 --> 00:22:10,208
{\an1}JASON: Temephos was being used
all over the place
507
00:22:10,333 --> 00:22:11,500
{\an1}throughout the Americas,
508
00:22:11,625 --> 00:22:13,500
{\an1}not just at
diplomatic residences.
509
00:22:13,625 --> 00:22:15,333
{\an1}It was in
Cuban government offices,
510
00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:17,500
{\an1}Cuban homes, and dozens
of other places
511
00:22:17,583 --> 00:22:19,625
{\an1}where Havana syndrome
didn't occur.
512
00:22:19,708 --> 00:22:22,167
{\an1}What about Brazil?
What about Colombia?
513
00:22:22,250 --> 00:22:24,125
{\an1}If temephos caused this illness,
514
00:22:24,208 --> 00:22:26,958
{\an1}you'd have seen it affect
a much larger group worldwide.
515
00:22:27,042 --> 00:22:30,500
{\an1}LAURENCE: Regardless,
Dr. Friedman still believes
516
00:22:30,625 --> 00:22:32,833
{\an1}a chemical could be the cause.
517
00:22:32,958 --> 00:22:34,667
{\an1}MICHAEL: This doesn't mean
that it couldn't be
518
00:22:34,792 --> 00:22:37,292
{\an1}a neurological agent
of some kind at play.
519
00:22:37,375 --> 00:22:39,375
{\an1}Friedman couldn't test
for everything.
520
00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:42,125
{\an1}He tested for a handful
of likely candidates,
521
00:22:42,208 --> 00:22:44,417
{\an1}and it's possible that there
was something else at play
522
00:22:44,542 --> 00:22:46,333
{\an1}that he didn't test for.
523
00:22:46,458 --> 00:22:49,167
{\an1}In the end, we can't rule out
that the Havana syndrome
524
00:22:49,292 --> 00:22:51,833
{\an1}may have been caused
by chemical exposure.
525
00:22:51,958 --> 00:22:53,333
{\an1}JASON: Is there another
chemical weapon out there
526
00:22:53,458 --> 00:22:54,583
{\an1}that we don't yet know about?
527
00:22:54,708 --> 00:22:56,833
{\an1}Hopefully not, but maybe.
528
00:23:01,708 --> 00:23:04,333
{\an1}As growing fears about
the mysterious Havana syndrome
529
00:23:04,417 --> 00:23:06,958
{\an1}threaten relations between
the U.S. and Cuba,
530
00:23:07,083 --> 00:23:10,542
{\an1}the Cuban government launches
its own investigation.
531
00:23:10,667 --> 00:23:15,583
{\an1}In 2018, Cuba's officials
announce their findings,
532
00:23:15,708 --> 00:23:19,708
{\an1}and identify
a surprising new culprit.
533
00:23:20,958 --> 00:23:22,708
{\an1}JASON: From very early on,
the United States has believed
534
00:23:22,875 --> 00:23:25,000
{\an1}that Cuba is behind
Havana syndrome somehow.
535
00:23:25,125 --> 00:23:26,500
{\an1}I mean, you give it that name,
536
00:23:26,625 --> 00:23:27,833
{\an1}the president goes on
live television
537
00:23:27,958 --> 00:23:29,458
{\an1}to blame the Cubans,
538
00:23:29,542 --> 00:23:31,000
{\an1}this is a very bad look
for them.
539
00:23:31,125 --> 00:23:32,625
{\an1}JOHN: Some in the White House
540
00:23:32,708 --> 00:23:34,375
{\an1}are actually calling this
an act of war,
541
00:23:34,542 --> 00:23:35,875
{\an1}so the Cubans are very anxious
542
00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,625
{\an1}to clear their name.
543
00:23:37,708 --> 00:23:40,875
{\an1}SASHA: The Cuban government
interviews about 300 neighbors
544
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:42,542
{\an1}of these diplomats.
545
00:23:42,708 --> 00:23:45,833
{\an1}They say that they've gone
to the living quarters
546
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,458
{\an1}of embassy staffers,
547
00:23:47,583 --> 00:23:50,500
{\an1}that they've analyzed
air and oil samples,
548
00:23:50,583 --> 00:23:54,250
{\an1}and that they've conducted
dozens of medical examinations
549
00:23:54,375 --> 00:23:56,542
{\an1}to see if people
in the surrounding area
550
00:23:56,667 --> 00:23:59,000
{\an1}were afflicted, and they say
they find nothing.
551
00:23:59,167 --> 00:24:00,458
{\an1}JASON: The Cubans are saying
552
00:24:00,542 --> 00:24:02,167
{\an1}there's simply no known
form of energy
553
00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:04,000
{\an1}that can selectively
damage the brain
554
00:24:04,125 --> 00:24:05,833
{\an1}the way the doctors describe.
555
00:24:05,917 --> 00:24:07,958
{\an1}They're even doubtful
that there's a syndrome at all.
556
00:24:08,083 --> 00:24:11,417
{\an1}LAURENCE: Instead, they offer
an alternative explanation
557
00:24:11,542 --> 00:24:14,833
{\an1}for both the sounds
and the symptoms.
558
00:24:14,917 --> 00:24:16,708
{\an1}JOHN: The Cuban government
in their report
559
00:24:16,833 --> 00:24:19,875
{\an1}theorize that this was not
caused by sonic weapons,
560
00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,042
{\an1}and the chirping noise
heard by everyone was crickets.
561
00:24:23,208 --> 00:24:25,167
{\an1}The rest of the symptoms,
the Cuban government says,
562
00:24:25,292 --> 00:24:26,542
{\an1}could be caused by stress.
563
00:24:30,708 --> 00:24:32,250
{\an1}JASON: After all the hours
investigating,
564
00:24:32,375 --> 00:24:33,875
{\an1}evacuating diplomats,
565
00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,917
{\an1}conducting extensive
medical tests,
566
00:24:36,042 --> 00:24:38,875
{\an1}to suggest that maybe people
were just worn down
567
00:24:39,042 --> 00:24:40,250
{\an1}by the sound of crickets?
568
00:24:40,375 --> 00:24:41,833
{\an1}That feels like
an insult.
569
00:24:42,958 --> 00:24:46,625
{\an1}LAURENCE: Two biologists,
UC Berkeley's Alexander Stubbs
570
00:24:46,708 --> 00:24:51,167
{\an1}and the University of Lincoln's
Fernando Montealegre-Zapata,
571
00:24:51,292 --> 00:24:53,375
{\an1}research Cuba's claim.
572
00:24:53,542 --> 00:24:55,333
{\an1}To them, that metallic
chirping noise
573
00:24:55,417 --> 00:24:57,583
{\an1}recorded in Havana
sounds vaguely familiar.
574
00:24:57,708 --> 00:25:00,458
{\an1}KEVIN: These biologists
had a massive database
575
00:25:00,542 --> 00:25:02,458
{\an1}of the sounds of different kinds
of insects,
576
00:25:02,583 --> 00:25:04,333
{\an1}their mating calls.
577
00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:06,292
{\an1}And what the biologists found
578
00:25:06,375 --> 00:25:07,667
{\an1}is that the sounds
579
00:25:07,750 --> 00:25:09,625
{\an1}that were recorded in Havana
580
00:25:09,750 --> 00:25:13,042
{\an1}match precisely that of one
particular kind of insect,
581
00:25:13,208 --> 00:25:14,833
{\an1}the Indies cricket.
582
00:25:14,917 --> 00:25:17,958
{\an1}And moreover,
this particular Indies cricket
583
00:25:18,083 --> 00:25:19,792
{\an1}is resident in Cuba.
584
00:25:19,917 --> 00:25:21,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: For confirmation,
585
00:25:21,833 --> 00:25:24,333
{\an1}they use state-of-the-art
audio technology.
586
00:25:24,458 --> 00:25:28,833
{\an1}Forensic audio analysis can be
incredibly specific these days.
587
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,625
{\an1}Soundwave patterns can be
kind of like fingerprints.
588
00:25:32,708 --> 00:25:35,167
{\an1}They can even be used
to convict killers.
589
00:25:35,250 --> 00:25:37,500
{\an1}KEVIN: So, what's interesting
is that when you apply
590
00:25:37,583 --> 00:25:39,667
{\an1}some of these acoustic
forensic techniques
591
00:25:39,792 --> 00:25:41,875
{\an1}to what was recorded in Cuba,
592
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,833
{\an1}it's an exact match
of the cricket mating call.
593
00:25:44,917 --> 00:25:47,292
{\an1}SASHA: Obviously,
crickets aren't as menacing
594
00:25:47,417 --> 00:25:51,000
{\an1}as a sonic weapon
or a deadly neurotoxin,
595
00:25:51,083 --> 00:25:54,000
{\an1}but this isn't
your garden variety cricket.
596
00:25:54,125 --> 00:25:57,458
{\an1}The Indies cricket can chirp
at 100 decibels,
597
00:25:57,542 --> 00:26:00,000
{\an1}the same volume
as a subway train.
598
00:26:00,125 --> 00:26:02,167
{\an1}MICHAEL: You can imagine
that if you had a couple
599
00:26:02,292 --> 00:26:04,875
{\an1}in your residence, that could be
a really rough night,
600
00:26:05,042 --> 00:26:08,250
{\an1}especially if you're not
habituated to those sounds.
601
00:26:08,375 --> 00:26:10,500
{\an1}If you're from another country
602
00:26:10,625 --> 00:26:12,042
{\an1}and this is the first time
you've ever heard it,
603
00:26:12,167 --> 00:26:14,042
{\an1}that could be
extremely disruptive.
604
00:26:14,167 --> 00:26:16,833
{\an1}LAURENCE: According to
the Cuban report,
605
00:26:16,958 --> 00:26:20,125
{\an1}the crickets
may be magnifying stress
606
00:26:20,250 --> 00:26:23,667
{\an1}that the diplomats
are already experiencing.
607
00:26:23,833 --> 00:26:26,292
{\an1}JOHN: The Havana syndrome
has some classic telltale signs
608
00:26:26,375 --> 00:26:28,333
{\an1}of psychogenic illnesses.
609
00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:29,875
{\an1}There are studies that show
that people
610
00:26:30,042 --> 00:26:32,167
{\an1}who have been exposed
to long-term stress
611
00:26:32,292 --> 00:26:35,000
{\an1}have similar brain scans
as the Havana victims.
612
00:26:35,125 --> 00:26:37,500
{\an1}JASON: That stress
might be self-perpetuating.
613
00:26:37,625 --> 00:26:39,500
{\an1}After the news
of a possible weapon
614
00:26:39,583 --> 00:26:41,875
{\an1}hits the media, the diplomats
are put on alert.
615
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,333
{\an1}They're told that someone
could be watching them at home.
616
00:26:44,417 --> 00:26:47,417
{\an1}They're told not to sleep
or to stand near their windows,
617
00:26:47,542 --> 00:26:48,917
{\an1}and to report
any strange symptoms.
618
00:26:49,042 --> 00:26:50,417
{\an1}They're afraid
for their families.
619
00:26:50,542 --> 00:26:52,042
{\an1}They can never feel safe.
620
00:26:52,208 --> 00:26:54,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: But those suffering
from Havana syndrome
621
00:26:54,750 --> 00:26:56,917
{\an1}strongly disagree.
622
00:26:57,042 --> 00:27:00,250
{\an1}Several people got sick
before there was an alert,
623
00:27:00,375 --> 00:27:04,625
{\an1}before it reached headlines
and people went into panic mode.
624
00:27:04,708 --> 00:27:07,708
{\an1}And the first four cases
were CIA officers.
625
00:27:07,833 --> 00:27:09,958
{\an1}These are people who are trained
626
00:27:10,042 --> 00:27:12,708
{\an1}to deal with massive amounts
of stress.
627
00:27:13,875 --> 00:27:16,833
{\an1}LAURENCE: With opinions split
over the cricket theory,
628
00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,500
{\an1}the U.S. government calls in
an elite scientific team
629
00:27:20,625 --> 00:27:23,708
{\an1}to conduct its own analysis.
630
00:27:23,833 --> 00:27:26,708
{\an1}JOHN: The federal government
has a semi-secret advisory board
631
00:27:26,875 --> 00:27:28,375
{\an1}known as JASON.
632
00:27:28,542 --> 00:27:30,667
{\an1}It was originally called
Project Sunrise,
633
00:27:30,792 --> 00:27:32,792
{\an1}and was later changed
to the name JASON
634
00:27:32,875 --> 00:27:34,500
{\an1}from Greek mythology.
635
00:27:34,583 --> 00:27:36,375
{\an1}It was formed in the aftermath
636
00:27:36,500 --> 00:27:39,167
{\an1}of the Soviet Sputnik launch
in 1960.
637
00:27:39,292 --> 00:27:43,208
{\an1}SASHA: JASON attracts the
nation's most elite scientists
638
00:27:43,375 --> 00:27:45,750
{\an1}to advise on defense matters,
639
00:27:45,875 --> 00:27:48,375
{\an1}kind of like what we saw
in World War II
640
00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:52,500
{\an1}with the Manhattan Project
when Einstein and Oppenheimer
641
00:27:52,625 --> 00:27:55,542
{\an1}were researching nuclear energy
and weapons.
642
00:27:55,667 --> 00:27:57,542
{\an1}JASON: Today, there are between
30 and 60
643
00:27:57,708 --> 00:27:59,958
{\an1}of our country's best scientists
involved in JASON,
644
00:28:00,042 --> 00:28:01,667
{\an1}and they're only activated
645
00:28:01,750 --> 00:28:03,292
{\an1}when there's a particularly
difficult task at hand.
646
00:28:03,417 --> 00:28:05,833
{\an1}SASHA: And at this point,
the U.S. government
647
00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,875
{\an1}sees Havana syndrome
as such a difficult matter,
648
00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,875
{\an1}that then they turn to JASON.
649
00:28:12,042 --> 00:28:14,250
{\an1}JASON: Through a Freedom
of Information Act request,
650
00:28:14,375 --> 00:28:17,500
{\an1}JASON's top-secret 2018 report
is released to the public.
651
00:28:17,583 --> 00:28:19,083
{\an1}And while much of it
is redacted,
652
00:28:19,208 --> 00:28:21,125
{\an1}the JASON scientists
concur that the noises
653
00:28:21,250 --> 00:28:23,458
{\an1}on the Havana recordings
are crickets.
654
00:28:23,542 --> 00:28:26,625
{\an1}LAURENCE: While they agree
on the source of the sound,
655
00:28:26,708 --> 00:28:29,792
{\an1}they don't agree
on the source of the illness.
656
00:28:29,875 --> 00:28:32,167
{\an1}The report goes on to say,
quote,
657
00:28:32,333 --> 00:28:35,667
{\an1}"It cannot be ruled out
that the perceived sounds,
658
00:28:35,792 --> 00:28:38,375
{\an1}"while not harmful,
are introduced
659
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:40,750
{\an1}"by an adversary as deception
660
00:28:40,875 --> 00:28:44,167
{\an1}"so as to mask
an entirely unrelated mode
661
00:28:44,292 --> 00:28:47,875
{\an1}of causing illness
in diplomatic personnel."
662
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,333
{\an1}Basically, they're saying
these crickets
663
00:28:50,458 --> 00:28:54,833
{\an1}could be a distraction to hide
another form of attack.
664
00:28:54,958 --> 00:28:58,417
{\an1}And suddenly,
the Cubans blaming the crickets
665
00:28:58,542 --> 00:29:00,333
{\an1}seems really convenient.
666
00:29:00,458 --> 00:29:02,792
{\an1}JASON: Maybe the Cubans
are involved, maybe not.
667
00:29:02,875 --> 00:29:05,333
{\an1}Either way, once again,
we're left with no idea
668
00:29:05,458 --> 00:29:06,375
{\an1}what's making our people sick.
669
00:29:10,208 --> 00:29:14,792
{\an1}LAURENCE: December 2017,
Moscow, Russia.
670
00:29:14,917 --> 00:29:17,500
{\an1}CIA operative
Marc Polymeropoulos
671
00:29:17,625 --> 00:29:19,500
{\an1}is asleep in his hotel room
672
00:29:19,667 --> 00:29:23,208
{\an1}when he is awakened
by a strange sound.
673
00:29:23,333 --> 00:29:24,917
{\an1}MARC: In the middle
of the night, I woke up
674
00:29:25,042 --> 00:29:26,083
{\an1}and the room was spinning.
675
00:29:26,208 --> 00:29:28,000
{\an1}I had a terrible case
of vertigo.
676
00:29:28,125 --> 00:29:30,667
{\an1}I couldn't get up.
I was falling over.
677
00:29:30,833 --> 00:29:33,333
{\an1}I had tinnitus,
which is ringing in my ears.
678
00:29:33,417 --> 00:29:35,833
{\an1}I had a splitting headache
in the back of my head.
679
00:29:35,958 --> 00:29:37,667
{\an1}And overall, there was just
this incredible feeling
680
00:29:37,833 --> 00:29:38,833
{\an1}of being disoriented.
681
00:29:38,958 --> 00:29:40,750
{\an1}I was-- I was frankly terrified.
682
00:29:41,917 --> 00:29:44,542
{\an1}LAURENCE: At the time,
Marc believes he has a bad case
683
00:29:44,667 --> 00:29:46,208
{\an1}of food poisoning.
684
00:29:46,375 --> 00:29:47,833
{\an1}I had been in Iraq
and Afghanistan,
685
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,000
{\an1}been shot at
a whole bunch of times,
686
00:29:49,083 --> 00:29:50,542
{\an1}but I was flat-out scared.
687
00:29:50,708 --> 00:29:53,125
{\an1}LAURENCE: A veteran operative,
688
00:29:53,250 --> 00:29:54,875
{\an1}Marc's been posted
on covert missions
689
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,000
{\an1}all over the world.
690
00:29:57,125 --> 00:29:58,750
{\an1}MARC: I was the Deputy
Chief of Operations
691
00:29:58,875 --> 00:30:01,125
{\an1}of the Europe and Eurasia
Missions Center
692
00:30:01,208 --> 00:30:03,667
{\an1}that entailed oversight over
all CIA's clandestine operations
693
00:30:03,792 --> 00:30:05,167
{\an1}from Dublin, Ireland,
694
00:30:05,292 --> 00:30:06,708
{\an1}to the farthest regions
of Russia,
695
00:30:06,875 --> 00:30:09,167
{\an1}which encompasses
11 time zones.
696
00:30:09,292 --> 00:30:10,875
{\an1}So, my position at the time
was the equivalent
697
00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:12,667
{\an1}of a three-star general.
698
00:30:12,833 --> 00:30:15,250
{\an1}It was a routine trip
where I'm talking
699
00:30:15,375 --> 00:30:17,083
{\an1}to my counterparts in
the Russian Security Services.
700
00:30:18,625 --> 00:30:22,167
{\an1}LAURENCE: Marc's symptoms
subside for a few days.
701
00:30:22,333 --> 00:30:24,833
{\an1}MARC: I was eating at a very
fancy restaurant in Moscow,
702
00:30:24,958 --> 00:30:27,542
{\an1}and the symptoms came back,
particularly the vertigo.
703
00:30:27,667 --> 00:30:30,333
{\an1}I remember clearly that
the room started spinning again.
704
00:30:30,417 --> 00:30:32,708
{\an1}The headaches came back
even more severe,
705
00:30:32,875 --> 00:30:34,792
{\an1}the tinnitus,
the ringing in my ears.
706
00:30:34,875 --> 00:30:36,250
{\an1}And I had to get back
to my room,
707
00:30:36,375 --> 00:30:37,958
{\an1}and in effect, for the last
couple days of my trip,
708
00:30:38,042 --> 00:30:39,625
{\an1}I didn't really do much.
709
00:30:39,708 --> 00:30:41,333
{\an1}The vertigo
was so disorienting,
710
00:30:41,458 --> 00:30:43,417
{\an1}and I kind of crawled up
the stairs of the airplane
711
00:30:43,542 --> 00:30:45,417
{\an1}to finally make my way back
to the United States,
712
00:30:45,542 --> 00:30:47,250
{\an1}hoping that, you know,
these symptoms would get better.
713
00:30:48,625 --> 00:30:50,167
{\an1}LAURENCE: As time goes by,
however,
714
00:30:50,250 --> 00:30:52,708
{\an1}his symptoms only get worse.
715
00:30:52,833 --> 00:30:55,125
{\an1}I proceeded to go
to multiple doctors,
716
00:30:55,250 --> 00:30:57,333
{\an1}and these included allergists,
infectious disease specialists,
717
00:30:57,458 --> 00:31:00,417
{\an1}multiple neurologists,
pain doctors.
718
00:31:00,542 --> 00:31:02,958
{\an1}And for months and months,
they could find no way
719
00:31:03,083 --> 00:31:04,792
{\an1}to alleviate my symptoms.
720
00:31:04,917 --> 00:31:07,250
{\an1}But still, it was a mystery
to them what occurred.
721
00:31:08,375 --> 00:31:10,792
{\an1}LAURENCE: One year later,
news breaks of a similar illness
722
00:31:10,917 --> 00:31:13,333
{\an1}affecting diplomats in Havana.
723
00:31:13,458 --> 00:31:14,958
{\an1}MARC: I still was having
these symptoms,
724
00:31:15,083 --> 00:31:17,292
{\an1}I still was feeling
incredibly ill.
725
00:31:17,375 --> 00:31:19,792
{\an1}When I heard about what had
happened to officers
726
00:31:19,917 --> 00:31:21,500
{\an1}at the U.S. embassy in Havana,
727
00:31:21,625 --> 00:31:23,125
{\an1}I had actually at the time
728
00:31:23,250 --> 00:31:24,875
{\an1}thought I could have experienced
the same thing.
729
00:31:28,583 --> 00:31:30,417
{\an1}LAURENCE: Convinced
there's a connection,
730
00:31:30,542 --> 00:31:32,333
{\an1}Marc takes his complaint
731
00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:35,375
{\an1}to the CIA's
Office of Medical Services.
732
00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:37,542
{\an1}And I went and I asked
CIA doctors there,
733
00:31:37,708 --> 00:31:41,083
{\an1}take a look at me, but in about
a 10-minute quick interview
734
00:31:41,208 --> 00:31:44,083
{\an1}and exam, they thought I did not
look like the U.S. officials
735
00:31:44,208 --> 00:31:46,000
{\an1}who were afflicted
by Havana syndrome.
736
00:31:46,167 --> 00:31:48,417
{\an1}But really, what was interesting
and pretty alarming
737
00:31:48,542 --> 00:31:51,208
{\an1}is that officers that I knew
would stop by my office
738
00:31:51,333 --> 00:31:53,125
{\an1}and they'd say,
"Hey, something happened to me."
739
00:31:53,208 --> 00:31:55,167
{\an1}Their symptoms
were very similar.
740
00:31:55,250 --> 00:31:57,917
{\an1}They had an event occur,
usually in a hotel room.
741
00:31:58,042 --> 00:31:59,542
{\an1}It was the same things,
such as vertigo,
742
00:31:59,667 --> 00:32:01,000
{\an1}splitting headaches.
743
00:32:01,125 --> 00:32:02,417
{\an1}And like myself,
they were all involved
744
00:32:02,542 --> 00:32:04,000
{\an1}in Russian operations.
745
00:32:04,083 --> 00:32:06,417
{\an1}Unfortunately, there still
was a lot of resistance
746
00:32:06,542 --> 00:32:07,958
{\an1}from inside the Office
of Medical Services.
747
00:32:08,083 --> 00:32:09,708
{\an1}But really in that timeframe,
748
00:32:09,833 --> 00:32:11,667
{\an1}I started suffering
from brain fog
749
00:32:11,792 --> 00:32:12,833
{\an1}and had a bout of several weeks
750
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:14,208
{\an1}where I lost
my long-distance vision.
751
00:32:14,333 --> 00:32:16,333
{\an1}Ultimately,
the result of all this,
752
00:32:16,417 --> 00:32:17,958
{\an1}I couldn't perform my duties.
753
00:32:18,042 --> 00:32:20,500
{\an1}And in mid-2019,
I made the decision
754
00:32:20,625 --> 00:32:22,000
{\an1}that I would retire.
755
00:32:22,125 --> 00:32:24,792
{\an1}LAURENCE: Polymeropoulos
believes he may be one
756
00:32:24,875 --> 00:32:27,208
{\an1}of the first to experience
Havana syndrome
757
00:32:27,375 --> 00:32:29,333
{\an1}outside of Cuba.
758
00:32:29,417 --> 00:32:31,833
{\an1}JASON: In June 2018,
nearly a dozen diplomats
759
00:32:31,958 --> 00:32:33,583
{\an1}are evacuated
from Guangzhou, China,
760
00:32:33,708 --> 00:32:35,000
{\an1}with similar symptoms.
761
00:32:35,125 --> 00:32:37,000
{\an1}Since then,
even more possible cases
762
00:32:37,125 --> 00:32:39,917
{\an1}have popped up in Georgia,
Poland, Taiwan,
763
00:32:40,042 --> 00:32:41,875
{\an1}Australia,
and the list goes on--
764
00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,458
{\an1}Colombia, Kyrgyzstan,
765
00:32:43,542 --> 00:32:45,208
{\an1}Uzbekistan, and Austria.
766
00:32:45,375 --> 00:32:49,333
{\an1}LAURENCE: Cases have even been
reported on American soil.
767
00:32:49,458 --> 00:32:51,792
{\an1}MICHAEL: At least two cases
of Havana syndrome
768
00:32:51,875 --> 00:32:53,750
{\an1}have been reported
in the United States,
769
00:32:53,875 --> 00:32:56,083
{\an1}including one on the south side
of the White House.
770
00:32:56,208 --> 00:32:58,000
{\an1}We don't know if these cases
are linked,
771
00:32:58,167 --> 00:33:00,083
{\an1}we don't have
any idea of the cause,
772
00:33:00,208 --> 00:33:02,958
{\an1}but some doctors have dubbed it
"the immaculate concussion."
773
00:33:03,042 --> 00:33:06,667
{\an1}SASHA: Now that Havana syndrome
is happening outside of Cuba,
774
00:33:06,792 --> 00:33:10,542
{\an1}it opens up a staggering array
of possibilities.
775
00:33:10,667 --> 00:33:12,000
{\an1}It doesn't have to be caused
776
00:33:12,125 --> 00:33:14,208
{\an1}by something developed in Cuba,
777
00:33:14,333 --> 00:33:16,000
{\an1}but it does have to be something
778
00:33:16,125 --> 00:33:18,833
{\an1}small enough to be smuggled
into Cuba
779
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,125
{\an1}and into other countries.
780
00:33:21,250 --> 00:33:22,958
{\an1}JASON: And I'd say that
if these many attacks
781
00:33:23,042 --> 00:33:24,708
{\an1}in various countries
are connected,
782
00:33:24,833 --> 00:33:27,500
{\an1}that pretty much rules out
the accidental theories
783
00:33:27,583 --> 00:33:28,875
{\an1}like pesticides
784
00:33:29,042 --> 00:33:31,417
{\an1}or poorly-calibrated
listening devices.
785
00:33:31,542 --> 00:33:34,000
{\an1}SASHA: It seems more likely
that this is originating
786
00:33:34,125 --> 00:33:37,542
{\an1}from a country
with more influence than Cuba.
787
00:33:37,667 --> 00:33:39,667
{\an1}I don't think they have
the capability
788
00:33:39,792 --> 00:33:41,375
{\an1}to pull off so many incidents
789
00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:43,792
{\an1}in so many countries
across the world.
790
00:33:43,917 --> 00:33:45,542
{\an1}MICHAEL:
So, the question becomes,
791
00:33:45,667 --> 00:33:48,500
{\an1}is there a weapon that could
possibly fit the bill?
792
00:33:48,625 --> 00:33:52,125
{\an1}Something small, portable,
and in the hands of a government
793
00:33:52,208 --> 00:33:54,500
{\an1}connected enough
to global politics
794
00:33:54,583 --> 00:33:57,292
{\an1}to get an advantage from
causing that kind of panic?
795
00:34:01,333 --> 00:34:03,083
{\an1}LAURENCE: When cases
of Havana syndrome
796
00:34:03,208 --> 00:34:04,917
{\an1}start surfacing worldwide
797
00:34:05,042 --> 00:34:08,167
{\an1}in 2018, U.S. officials
798
00:34:08,333 --> 00:34:10,583
{\an1}can't find a definitive cause.
799
00:34:10,708 --> 00:34:14,042
{\an1}But former spies like
Marc Polymeropoulos
800
00:34:14,167 --> 00:34:16,208
{\an1}believe they know the source.
801
00:34:16,333 --> 00:34:17,542
{\an1}Obviously, I wasn't there
802
00:34:17,667 --> 00:34:18,833
{\an1}in Cuba, but when talking
803
00:34:18,958 --> 00:34:20,500
{\an1}to the victims,
it is very similar
804
00:34:20,667 --> 00:34:23,792
{\an1}with what I felt at that hotel
in Moscow in 2017.
805
00:34:25,375 --> 00:34:27,833
{\an1}LAURENCE: Polymeropoulos
thinks he's the victim
806
00:34:27,958 --> 00:34:30,167
{\an1}of a unique deadly weapon.
807
00:34:34,417 --> 00:34:36,667
{\an1}Of course, you've heard the word
"microwave" before.
808
00:34:36,833 --> 00:34:38,792
{\an1}Most of us have microwave ovens
809
00:34:38,875 --> 00:34:41,000
{\an1}to heat food.
810
00:34:41,125 --> 00:34:43,125
{\an1}The difference
with a microwave weapon
811
00:34:43,208 --> 00:34:45,292
{\an1}is not the fundamental kinds
of waves it's producing.
812
00:34:45,375 --> 00:34:47,167
{\an1}They're still microwaves.
813
00:34:47,333 --> 00:34:51,500
{\an1}It's that they're producing them
at much, much higher energy.
814
00:34:51,667 --> 00:34:54,250
{\an1}In other words,
you've supersized the system.
815
00:34:54,375 --> 00:34:57,458
{\an1}KEVIN: There's a small device
on the inside of the microwave
816
00:34:57,583 --> 00:35:00,708
{\an1}that emits tiny, tiny
radiofrequency signals.
817
00:35:00,875 --> 00:35:04,167
{\an1}And these tiny radiofrequency
signals heats up molecules.
818
00:35:04,250 --> 00:35:05,958
{\an1}In the case of a microwave
weapon,
819
00:35:06,083 --> 00:35:07,083
{\an1}you're not simply heating up
820
00:35:07,208 --> 00:35:08,583
{\an1}a cup of coffee,
821
00:35:08,708 --> 00:35:11,417
{\an1}but you're actually heating up
human tissue.
822
00:35:11,542 --> 00:35:13,792
{\an1}JOHN: A high-powered
microwave weapon
823
00:35:13,875 --> 00:35:15,208
{\an1}may explain the symptoms--
824
00:35:15,375 --> 00:35:17,417
{\an1}the nausea, the vertigo,
825
00:35:17,542 --> 00:35:19,583
{\an1}the headaches,
even the reported sounds.
826
00:35:19,708 --> 00:35:21,167
{\an1}It can really do a number
827
00:35:21,250 --> 00:35:24,083
{\an1}on the electro-neurological
functions of the brain.
828
00:35:24,208 --> 00:35:25,708
{\an1}MICHAEL: Unlike a sonic weapon,
829
00:35:25,833 --> 00:35:29,167
{\an1}which are very difficult
to focus into a narrow area,
830
00:35:29,292 --> 00:35:31,333
{\an1}microwaves are very easy
to direct.
831
00:35:31,458 --> 00:35:33,250
{\an1}JOHN: You point
a microwave one way,
832
00:35:33,375 --> 00:35:34,625
{\an1}and that's the way it goes.
833
00:35:34,750 --> 00:35:36,458
{\an1}It will not hit the person
who's firing it
834
00:35:36,542 --> 00:35:38,542
{\an1}or impact
the surrounding neighborhood.
835
00:35:38,708 --> 00:35:41,333
{\an1}KEVIN: Microwave technology has
been rapidly advancing recently.
836
00:35:41,458 --> 00:35:43,000
{\an1}Is it possible that a weapon
837
00:35:43,125 --> 00:35:44,125
{\an1}has been developed that can
838
00:35:44,250 --> 00:35:45,583
{\an1}target a single individual,
839
00:35:45,708 --> 00:35:46,750
{\an1}fit in a suitcase,
840
00:35:46,875 --> 00:35:49,208
{\an1}and be deployed from
a few hundred yards away?
841
00:35:49,375 --> 00:35:51,625
{\an1}Well, the U.S. has already
created something pretty close.
842
00:35:53,208 --> 00:35:56,000
{\an1}LAURENCE: In 2004,
the U.S. Marine Corps
843
00:35:56,125 --> 00:35:57,667
{\an1}commissions the development
844
00:35:57,750 --> 00:36:01,375
{\an1}of a microwave weapon
code-named MEDUSA.
845
00:36:01,542 --> 00:36:05,500
{\an1}SASHA: MEDUSA, or Mob Excess
Deterrent Using Silent Audio,
846
00:36:05,625 --> 00:36:10,208
{\an1}this was basically
a nonlethal microwave ray gun
847
00:36:10,333 --> 00:36:12,542
{\an1}that could be channeled
at people,
848
00:36:12,667 --> 00:36:15,667
{\an1}and it could potentially
incapacitate them.
849
00:36:15,792 --> 00:36:17,792
{\an1}JOHN: These microwaves can
stimulate the parts
850
00:36:17,917 --> 00:36:21,500
{\an1}of the inner ear and mimic
an actual audio signal.
851
00:36:21,583 --> 00:36:23,917
{\an1}This gets interpreted
by the brain as sound.
852
00:36:24,042 --> 00:36:25,792
{\an1}This is what's called
the Frey effect.
853
00:36:25,875 --> 00:36:28,750
{\an1}MICHAEL: MEDUSA can make you
feel like you're hearing
854
00:36:28,875 --> 00:36:31,333
{\an1}different kinds of sounds,
even recognizable sounds
855
00:36:31,417 --> 00:36:33,208
{\an1}like voices inside your head.
856
00:36:33,333 --> 00:36:36,208
{\an1}This could be the source
of the sounds
857
00:36:36,375 --> 00:36:39,667
{\an1}reported by those
experiencing Havana syndrome.
858
00:36:39,750 --> 00:36:42,125
{\an1}JOHN: Although the U.S. has been
toying with these weapons
859
00:36:42,250 --> 00:36:44,500
{\an1}for about 20 years,
we know of another country
860
00:36:44,625 --> 00:36:46,333
{\an1}that has been using them
for longer.
861
00:36:48,167 --> 00:36:49,500
{\an1}The Russians deployed
a microwave weapon
862
00:36:49,625 --> 00:36:51,292
{\an1}against the U.S.
during the Cold War.
863
00:36:52,458 --> 00:36:58,333
{\an1}LAURENCE: Starting in 1953
and continuing until 1976,
864
00:36:58,458 --> 00:37:03,208
{\an1}Soviet authorities aim
a near-constant microwave beam
865
00:37:03,333 --> 00:37:06,000
{\an1}at the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
866
00:37:07,125 --> 00:37:08,958
{\an1}JOHN: Their goal was to
interfere with communications
867
00:37:09,042 --> 00:37:10,500
{\an1}inside the U.S. embassy.
868
00:37:10,583 --> 00:37:13,667
{\an1}Intelligence officials
called it the Moscow Signal.
869
00:37:13,833 --> 00:37:16,375
{\an1}Although they detected it
early on during routine checks,
870
00:37:16,542 --> 00:37:18,958
{\an1}American officials
kept it quiet.
871
00:37:19,042 --> 00:37:21,333
{\an1}It's only when the American
ambassador to Russia,
872
00:37:21,458 --> 00:37:24,167
{\an1}Walter Stoessel,
threatens to resign in 1975,
873
00:37:24,292 --> 00:37:26,208
{\an1}that members of his staff
are informed.
874
00:37:26,333 --> 00:37:28,750
{\an1}SASHA: The embassy officials
get tested,
875
00:37:28,875 --> 00:37:33,000
{\an1}and many of them have elevated
white blood cell counts.
876
00:37:33,083 --> 00:37:37,250
{\an1}And Walter Stoessel, like two
of three ambassadors before him,
877
00:37:37,375 --> 00:37:39,333
{\an1}dies of cancer.
878
00:37:39,458 --> 00:37:42,750
{\an1}And Stoessel had a severe form
of leukemia
879
00:37:42,875 --> 00:37:46,125
{\an1}that reportedly caused
his eyes to bleed.
880
00:37:46,250 --> 00:37:48,958
{\an1}JOHN: Over 100 employees
file for damages
881
00:37:49,042 --> 00:37:52,125
{\an1}against the U.S. for exposure
to the Moscow Signal,
882
00:37:52,250 --> 00:37:54,000
{\an1}but a State Department study
883
00:37:54,167 --> 00:37:55,542
{\an1}found there was
no convincing evidence
884
00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:58,292
{\an1}of adverse health effects.
885
00:37:58,375 --> 00:38:00,000
{\an1}SASHA: Now, the lawsuits
are dropped,
886
00:38:00,125 --> 00:38:03,333
{\an1}and it basically
fades from public view
887
00:38:03,458 --> 00:38:06,875
{\an1}until these afflictions,
these mysterious cases
888
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:08,417
{\an1}arise in Havana.
889
00:38:10,042 --> 00:38:13,208
{\an1}LAURENCE: Could Havana syndrome
be the next phase
890
00:38:13,333 --> 00:38:16,333
{\an1}of a decades-old
covert operation?
891
00:38:16,458 --> 00:38:18,500
{\an1}In my view, what happened to,
you know, my colleagues
892
00:38:18,583 --> 00:38:20,292
{\an1}at the U.S. embassy
in Havana, Cuba,
893
00:38:20,375 --> 00:38:22,667
{\an1}and what's happened
to myself and some others
894
00:38:22,792 --> 00:38:25,167
{\an1}is absolutely a continuation
of what the Soviets
895
00:38:25,292 --> 00:38:27,542
{\an1}were doing to us
at the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
896
00:38:27,708 --> 00:38:30,125
{\an1}That said, you know, we do have
another adversaries.
897
00:38:30,250 --> 00:38:32,375
{\an1}We have the Chinese,
we have the Iranians.
898
00:38:32,500 --> 00:38:33,583
{\an1}And it is entirely possible
899
00:38:33,708 --> 00:38:35,417
{\an1}that more than one country
is doing it.
900
00:38:35,542 --> 00:38:38,708
{\an1}Polymeropoulos isn't
the only spy who believes this.
901
00:38:38,875 --> 00:38:43,417
{\an1}There's actually another account
that is more shocking than his.
902
00:38:43,542 --> 00:38:47,833
{\an1}LAURENCE: In 1996,
NSA Officer Mike Beck
903
00:38:47,917 --> 00:38:51,875
{\an1}suffers sudden severe fatigue
while on assignment
904
00:38:52,042 --> 00:38:54,250
{\an1}in a classified foreign country.
905
00:38:54,375 --> 00:38:55,833
{\an1}JASON: This predates
Polymeropoulos
906
00:38:55,958 --> 00:38:58,375
{\an1}and the Havana syndrome cases
by about 20 years,
907
00:38:58,542 --> 00:39:01,000
{\an1}but Beck and his attorney
believe it's all related.
908
00:39:01,125 --> 00:39:03,917
{\an1}JOHN: Beck cannot reveal
what country he was in,
909
00:39:04,042 --> 00:39:06,958
{\an1}but his attorney stated
it was a hostile nation
910
00:39:07,083 --> 00:39:09,292
{\an1}that was not China or Cuba.
911
00:39:09,417 --> 00:39:12,750
{\an1}SASHA: Beck's job was to go
to a diplomatic building
912
00:39:12,875 --> 00:39:15,000
{\an1}and make sure that
it wasn't being bugged.
913
00:39:15,125 --> 00:39:17,167
{\an1}And while there
with his partner,
914
00:39:17,292 --> 00:39:19,833
{\an1}he does find
a suspicious device.
915
00:39:19,958 --> 00:39:22,667
{\an1}JOHN: The very next day,
they both get symptoms
916
00:39:22,833 --> 00:39:25,417
{\an1}that are now associated
with the Havana syndrome.
917
00:39:25,542 --> 00:39:29,667
{\an1}LAURENCE: Beck fully recovers,
but 10 years later,
918
00:39:29,792 --> 00:39:34,083
{\an1}both he and his partner
develop the same form
919
00:39:34,208 --> 00:39:36,542
{\an1}of Parkinson's disease.
920
00:39:36,667 --> 00:39:38,833
{\an1}SASHA: Beck is certain
this isn't a coincidence,
921
00:39:38,958 --> 00:39:42,292
{\an1}so he files a claim
for workers' compensation,
922
00:39:42,417 --> 00:39:44,542
{\an1}something that people do
every day.
923
00:39:44,667 --> 00:39:47,542
{\an1}Only, Beck's employer
is the NSA,
924
00:39:47,667 --> 00:39:50,875
{\an1}and his claim relies
on top-secret information.
925
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:52,917
{\an1}JASON: Incredibly,
as part of his claim,
926
00:39:53,042 --> 00:39:56,375
{\an1}the NSA actually provides Beck
with a declassified document
927
00:39:56,542 --> 00:39:57,917
{\an1}which may finally prove
what happened to him.
928
00:39:59,458 --> 00:40:02,000
{\an1}SASHA: The memo
Beck was given states,
929
00:40:02,125 --> 00:40:05,208
{\an1}"there is intelligence
information from 2012
930
00:40:05,375 --> 00:40:07,333
{\an1}"associating the hostile country
931
00:40:07,458 --> 00:40:10,625
{\an1}"to which Mr. Beck traveled
in the late 1990s
932
00:40:10,750 --> 00:40:13,833
{\an1}"with a high-powered
microwave system weapon
933
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,500
{\an1}"that may have the ability
to weaken, intimidate,
934
00:40:17,667 --> 00:40:21,625
{\an1}or kill an enemy over time,
and without leaving evidence."
935
00:40:21,708 --> 00:40:23,625
{\an1}It goes on to say this:
936
00:40:23,708 --> 00:40:27,125
{\an1}"...intelligence information
indicated this weapon
937
00:40:27,208 --> 00:40:30,792
{\an1}"is designed to bathe a target's
living quarters in microwaves,
938
00:40:30,875 --> 00:40:33,583
{\an1}"causing numerous
physical effects,
939
00:40:33,708 --> 00:40:36,333
{\an1}including a damaged
nervous system."
940
00:40:36,458 --> 00:40:38,083
{\an1}Is this proof
of the Havana syndrome?
941
00:40:38,208 --> 00:40:39,500
{\an1}Well, no.
942
00:40:39,625 --> 00:40:41,500
{\an1}But it does prove
what happened to Beck
943
00:40:41,625 --> 00:40:43,625
{\an1}may be the same thing
that happened in Havana.
944
00:40:43,750 --> 00:40:46,250
{\an1}But at the very least,
we now have confirmation
945
00:40:46,375 --> 00:40:47,833
{\an1}that such a weapon exists.
946
00:40:47,958 --> 00:40:50,750
{\an1}And if we ever find evidence
that that weapon is in Cuba
947
00:40:50,875 --> 00:40:53,542
{\an1}or some other country,
it may explain everything.
948
00:40:53,708 --> 00:40:55,542
{\an1}Meanwhile, though we can't say
why it's happening,
949
00:40:55,667 --> 00:40:57,167
{\an1}we know this illness is real.
950
00:40:57,292 --> 00:41:00,792
{\an1}And on October 8th, 2021,
Congress passes the Havana Act
951
00:41:00,875 --> 00:41:02,375
{\an1}to compensate
government officials
952
00:41:02,542 --> 00:41:03,708
{\an1}who've experienced
brain injuries
953
00:41:03,875 --> 00:41:05,000
{\an1}as a result of Havana syndrome.
954
00:41:09,250 --> 00:41:11,333
{\an1}So far, 1,000 people
955
00:41:11,458 --> 00:41:12,667
{\an1}have come forward
956
00:41:12,792 --> 00:41:14,167
{\an1}claiming injuries related to
957
00:41:14,292 --> 00:41:16,500
{\an1}the so-called Havana syndrome.
958
00:41:16,583 --> 00:41:19,292
{\an1}And while the investigation
remains active,
959
00:41:19,375 --> 00:41:21,750
{\an1}no concrete evidence
has been found
960
00:41:21,875 --> 00:41:24,500
{\an1}that a U.S. adversary
is responsible.
961
00:41:24,583 --> 00:41:26,167
{\an1}I'm Laurence Fishburne.
962
00:41:26,333 --> 00:41:27,583
{\an1}Thank you for watching
963
00:41:27,708 --> 00:41:30,083
{\an1}"History's Greatest Mysteries."
105352
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