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Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

theguardian.com

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Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But generating that much energy requires a huge piece of equipment. For example, the unit used for the ablative technique you linked to is quite large and works only at very short distances. [image of device] https://www.israel21c.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/insight...

What about multiple devices where their respective waves converge at a specific point?

That makes more sense to me, but still, the energy requirements would be huge. Given Cuba's electricity infrastructure (and probably even without that) I think you would be looking at 3 or more big pieces of equipment that require very large, very heavy, batteries. It seems like that would have been very conspicuous.

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#52
post #14

I think it's interesting that this was immediately framed as an "attack," with of course the implication being that the Cuban government attacked American diplomats, since Cuba has so much to lose from attacking diplomats and literally nothing to gain.

Actually in this case, the US has been impressively measured in its response toward Cuba when it comes to framing it as an attack by the Cuban Government. The US Government has so far never said or implied that it was the Cuban Government. For at least two reasons: it's obvious they have a lot to lose, and it's questionable whether they have the capability to pull off that attack. It's very reasonable to frame it as…

I agree. Sometimes it's interesting to look at the difference between what the media is actually saying vs what people think the media is saying.

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#53
post #9

This is such a fascinating (and disturbing) situation. And quite mysterious. High frequency ultrasound is used routinely in medicine and has never been shown to change brain tissue. Infrasound has some effect on tissue but its probably overstated. (the infamous 'brown note' [1]. Other sonic weapons rely on volume/amplitude. None of this seems to be the case here. Another really interesting point is the description of…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_auditory_effect This is the best bet I've seen since this story broke.

If this is true there's a way we can block the effects...

> In 1962, Allan H. Frey discovered that the microwave auditory effect, i.e., the reception of the induced sounds by radio-frequency electromagnetic signals heard as clicks and buzzes, can be blocked by a patch of wire mesh (rather than foil) placed above the temporal lobe.

I'm ready http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/weirdalfoil_232...

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#54
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you mean America? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods

That was a rejected proposal. (There are probably all kinds of crazy military proposals that get rejected)

Going to war with Spain over the USS Maine's magazine detonation of unknown cause.

Though that outcome falls more on Hearst and Pulitzer.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Maine_(ACR-1)

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#56
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cuba seems to be cooperating with the US during the investigation. Perhaps it was a false flag attack?

Doesn't "false flag" in this scenario indicate the US did this to its own diplomats, in order to frame Cuba (to what end?). I think it's much more like that's it's a third party, either without Cuban knowledge or a don't-ask-don't-tell type of thing. Probably without Cuban knowledge. As others have said, Cuba has very, very little to gain from something like this and a lot to lose.

Well, it's not the first time the US tries something in those lines. [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#57

Note that the AP claims to have a recording of the sound believed by some to be the cause: https://apnews.com/88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84

> A closer examination of one recording reveals it’s not just a single sound. Roughly 20 or more different frequencies, or pitches, are embedded in it, the AP discovered using a spectrum analyzer, which measures a signal’s frequency and amplitude.

Did anyone try decoding it? GMSK, FSK, BPSK, ASK?

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But generating that much energy requires a huge piece of equipment. For example, the unit used for the ablative technique you linked to is quite large and works only at very short distances. [image of device] https://www.israel21c.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/insight...

What about multiple devices where their respective waves converge at a specific point?

Ultrasonic waves are attenuated at a rate of 3-180 dB/m[1] (100-1000 kHz waves). So at 10 m a 150 kHz wave will have decreased in amplitude by over 300x. There's no amount of transmitters that can make up for the attenuation at high frequencies. It's not even possible for devices operating above a couple hundred kHz or farther than 10-20 m. A 500 kHz wave will decrease 200 dB over 5 meters, taking it from a shockwave (ie the pressure between pulses is vacuum) to undetectable. You'd need a transmitter strong enough to disintegrate organic material[2] but even the best detectors on earth won't hear it from across a road.

[1]: http://www.ktu.lt/ultra/journal/pdf_50_1/50-2004-Vol.1_09-A....

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonication

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#59

Maybe CIA were testing their new weapon? Diplomats working in Cuba would be the perfect subjects of those tests. CIA would be able to question the victims about the experience and get access to medical records without raising suspicions.

That's absurd. Why would they target diplomats when they could use criminals in foreign countries, or Guantanamo Bay detainees? Why use useful diplomats?

Re: Brain abnormalities found in victims of US embassy attack in Cuba

#60
post #9

This is such a fascinating (and disturbing) situation. And quite mysterious. High frequency ultrasound is used routinely in medicine and has never been shown to change brain tissue. Infrasound has some effect on tissue but its probably overstated. (the infamous 'brown note' [1]. Other sonic weapons rely on volume/amplitude. None of this seems to be the case here. Another really interesting point is the description of…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_auditory_effect This is the best bet I've seen since this story broke.

White matter is the deep part of the brain. Microwaves wouldn't penetrate more than a couple cm.

Personally I think something much more benign is probably the answer. Maybe someone introduced drugs into their food/water? Sometimes a noise is just a noise.

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