What’s a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn’t Sound?
- 7 years ago
What’s a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn’t Sound?
When the United States escalated the dispute by expelling 15 Cuban diplomats
on Tuesday, Michael decided he wanted to learn more about this strange idea.
I wound up perusing a massive 2009 book called " ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapons," with a chapter
summarizing research on using sound to incapacitate people at a distance.
There’s a lot of wild rumor about secret weapons that can make brains explode or make people think there’s a voice inside their head.
Consulting with Gardiner Harris, who covers international diplomacy for The Times
and has written several articles about this case, I learned there was not even an official medical report.
When I interviewed Dr. Leighton and others, I made clear I didn’t expect them to solve this
mystery; I just wanted them to reconcile the question with what we know through science.
If the United States government ever does release the results of a detailed investigation, I would love to report on the case again.
When the United States escalated the dispute by expelling 15 Cuban diplomats
on Tuesday, Michael decided he wanted to learn more about this strange idea.
I wound up perusing a massive 2009 book called " ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapons," with a chapter
summarizing research on using sound to incapacitate people at a distance.
There’s a lot of wild rumor about secret weapons that can make brains explode or make people think there’s a voice inside their head.
Consulting with Gardiner Harris, who covers international diplomacy for The Times
and has written several articles about this case, I learned there was not even an official medical report.
When I interviewed Dr. Leighton and others, I made clear I didn’t expect them to solve this
mystery; I just wanted them to reconcile the question with what we know through science.
If the United States government ever does release the results of a detailed investigation, I would love to report on the case again.