Upload
The Atlantic

What Are Sound Weapons?

Attacks on Americans in Cuba are calling attention to how inaudible sound waves can alter moods and perceptions.
by James Hamblin Aug 23, 2017 2 minutes
Source: (Jupiterimages / Getty)

Earlier this month the U.S. State Department disclosed that several Havana-based diplomats have experienced “incidents which have caused a variety of physical symptoms.” Secretary Rex Tillerson said the incidents began last fall, calling them “health attacks.”

They were not the good kind of health attacks. Symptoms have included severe hearing loss, headaches, and problems with balance—forcing some diplomats to the United States. “We hold the Cuban authorities responsible for

You're reading a preview, sign up to read more.

More from The Atlantic

The Atlantic10 min read
What Pete Buttigieg Says He Did at McKinsey
In an exclusive interview, the presidential candidate reveals the clients he worked with, what he did for them, and how the experience shaped the way he solves problems.
The Atlantic8 min readPolitics
Why Nationalists Fail
This year, a graffiti slogan began to appear on walls across Wales. Typically spray-painted in white letters on a red background, it read Cofiwch Dryweryn—“Remember Tryweryn.” The phrase first appeared half a century ago, on a wall in a Welsh seaside
The Atlantic5 min readPolitics
What the Democrats Left Out
Instead of settling on charges that relate to statutory crimes, with clear, concrete criteria, the Democrats have instead released two articles of impeachment in which the misconduct exists largely in the eye of the beholder.