Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine Sawbones: Second Update: Havana Syndrome
Mar 17, 2026
They dig into the mysterious Havana Syndrome and its strange history from early diplomat reports to recent twists. Listeners hear about bizarre symptoms like sounds and head pressure and the medical puzzles they caused. Theories are reviewed, from toxins and crickets to the startling possibility of a miniature microwave device. Coverage controversies and government responses round out the investigation.
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Diplomats Woke To Mysterious Head Pressure And Sounds
- A U.S. diplomat in Havana woke with severe head pressure, memory trouble, vertigo, and balance problems after hearing a strange buzzing sound.
- Several CIA officers and replacements in late 2016–2017 reported similar acute auditory-first then neurological symptoms, prompting evacuation and study at UPenn.
Imaging Showed Brain Network Changes Without Clear Cause
- The University of Pennsylvania team found imaging and functional changes consistent with brain injury but could not identify a definitive causative agent.
- They ruled out obvious toxins and contagions and described a brain network disorder labeled as a 'concussion without a concussion.'
Multiple Plausible Explanations Stayed In Play
- Multiple causal theories emerged: directed microwave beams, radiofrequency weapons, toxins, insect sounds, ultrasound, or mass psychogenic illness.
- Researchers even proposed the reported noise might be local crickets, complicating linking auditory reports to a physical weapon.