Flash: Converting Microwave Pulses into Sound and Light: Microwave Hearing, Thermoacoustics, Necessary but Not Sufficient for the Havana Syndrome

Perhaps this is my last recourse. The warning has been ignored for far too long (“forced retirement” assured that). Perhaps it is already too late. Let’s hope not.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”–Mother Teresa of Calcutt

This is my agony and ecstasy. This post provides the focus and end of my research, perhaps providing clarity to why I am now in the position I am in, excluded, “forgotten”, and out in the cold.

“When one has nothing more to lose, the heart is inaccessible to fear.”–St. Thodore Guri

The following defied the paradigm of classical microwave “hearing” and brought in the paradox of the quantum world.

Bw=weak magnetic field; Bs=strong magnetic field; RFR= Radiofrequency radiation; IR= infrared; E = electric field; S= singlet state; T= triplet state; D= doublet state, free radical

I suppose it was worth suppressing in spite of all the documentation (government reports, peer-reviewed publications, patents, GMO cells, bacterial, animal, and human, deposited at ATCC), independent verification, photographs and hours of video. “ I’ve seen (and heard) things you people wouldn’t believe—all those moments lost in time like tears in the rain.”

The above is a short video of sound and light generated by microwave pulsed radiation, but at a level of energy focusing that far exceeds that expected by direct thermoacoustic effects responsible for microwave hearing: can also be seen at https://youtu.be/8gQsXfQwkq0. Perhaps this should not be just called “lightning in a bottle” but “Sun in a bubble”?

To understand this phenomenon and why it is perceived as a dual use, nefarious, threat, I will summarize 30 years of research that illustrates the problems we intended to solve and solutions that emerged and how needs drove the applications, The first major problem was taking radiofrequency and microwave radiation (RFR and MWR) and focusing this dispersive energy down to the molecular or at least nano level. Classically, it is best absorbed in objects with dimensions from 1/4 to 1/2 the wavelength of the specific frequency of radiation. Also, as the wavelengths shorten (frequencies get higher) to gain absorption of energy into smaller and smaller objects, the penetration of the radiation becomes shallower and shallower. Impedance differences in most materials of this radiation leads (transfer of power from impedance mismatch of source to object) to heating and loss of movement of the electric field through the exposed objects.

DALM: diazoluminomelanin, poly-ortho-hydroxy-phenylene:

The primary amine groups are lost due to instability generated by the diazotization process. Decarboxylation may also spontaneously occur.

The altered dielectric properties of water in dilute aqueous solutions of DALM showed it had greater conductivity at lower frequencies of RFR. opposite of water, but had little effect on the real component of the dielectric constant of water (showing a decrease like that seen when water soluble organic polymers or miscible solvents are mixed with water). DALM solution had the property of an electric inductor and was responsive to the magnitude of the electric field. The response to the electric field was even observed in pulsed DC exposure:

Inductor compared to capacitor properties in an AC field

Dielectric measurements of biosynthetic DALM showing predominantly water values. The impedance effect of synthetic DALM disappeared either due to dilution or chemical alteration.

When we were considering DALM as an electric field indicator in a film badge; the peak declined and the baseline luminescence increased with each subsequent pulse, indicating storage of energy in activated states that are non-radiative, but can slowly revert to radiative ones, emitting visible light.

bles. The realization that the effects mediated by the polymer diazoluminomelanin (DALM) were not just from thermoacoustics or classic absorption of microwaves in an electrolyte solution: but the “summing” could still be due to the heat capacity of water?

Series of video frames showing DALM solution responding to pulsed microwaves; the building up of energy is evident in the periodic increase in intensity of the flashes. The sound of pulsing became louder just prior to the flashes and then receded, only to buildup again until the next flash. The luminescence followed the same pattern.

The flashing appeared to come from electrical discharge (“lightning in a bottle”) in gas above the DALM solution.

However, a closer look at individual frames of the video recording showed glowing bubbles (not just reflection). These were evidence of shock wave effects, and high electron temperature plasma formed in cavitation and collapse of the bubbles. Later videos showed pulsating bubble glow and sound preceding glowing bubbles and plasma discharge flashes. We even captured pulsating glowing bubbles in capillary tubes.

Microwaves pulses were generated by a FPS-7B radar transmitter operating at 1.25 GHz. The transmitter provided pulses of 5.73 microseconds in duration at 10.00 pulses/s with 2.07 MW forward power. Kiel et al, Bioelectromagnetics 20:216–223, 1999.

The uptake by a wide variety of cells, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, from bacteria to human cells, with demonstrated capability of genetic modification, if lethal RFR or microwave radiation is not applied, has raised the possibility of nefarious use. Further, the very genetic modification so these cells could produce biosynthetic DALM and transfer the genetic material to more naive cells, could amplify and spread susceptibility to more cells, tissues and organs. Some benefits of self-replicating synthetic nucleic nucleic acids are now being revealed in response to COVID: Bloom, K., van den Berg, F. & Arbuthnot, P. Self-amplifying RNA vaccines for infectious diseases. Gene Ther 28, 117–129 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-020-00204-y.; and Int Immunopharmacol. 2021 Dec; 101: 108231. Published online 2021 Oct 7. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108231. See “First self-copying mRNA vaccine proves itself in pandemic trial: Twist on current vaccines reduces dose, eases distribution by Jon Cohen, Science: page 446, 29 APRIL 2022, VOL 376 ISSUE 6592.

These data show that it was not just a physical thermoacoustic effect but the intensity and frequency of response could be altered by chemistry.

The intensity of this focused energy was not fully appreciated until the temperatures were spectrally measured. The sharp emission curves of the flashing DALM compared to the standard spectra generated by a pulsed laser in water showed the emissions were coming from gas (in the collapsing bubbles) not broadened by the surrounding aqueous solution.

This focusing of the electric field and discharged energy were thought to be a result of electric field focusing at the sharp tips of the DALM polymer ribbons shown here, but that was not to be the case.

Early on we had observed a very good correlation between luminescence of DALM and microwave heating:

But the following shows the departure from this classical behavior when the preparations were altered:

The temperature profile did not fit the luminescence profile.

DALM absorbs microwaves better than the luminol solution without it. The magnetite particles coated with DALM absorb the microwaves slightly better than just the DALM alone even though the DALM alone is more thermochemiluminscent

Could these effects still be the result of rapid rise deposition of pulsed microwave energy as thermal energy in an electrolyte solution? First, evidence that was not true was by the above rapid killing of bacterial spores in the presence of DALM by pulsed microwave radiation and the complete absence of effect from the same radiation exposure without DALM.

Even the possibility of the DALM fibers focusing the electric fields, and therefore, energy deposition, did not hold up to further examination; an even more effective form of the DALM polymer was in the form of spherical nanoparticles:

DALM nanoparticles attached to the surface of anthrax spores and vegetative forms

Water was still necessary but nothing else for the DALM nanoparticles to mediate pulsed microwave killing of bacterial spores

In our Counterproliferation mission, this result seemed a great advantage, in delivering nanoparticles that could kill bioagents on surfaces and perhaps even in the air, specifically, and controlled by the application of pulsed microwave radiation at levels normally not harmful that, in turn, could be turned on and off at will, reducing collateral damage.

Unfortunately, a countermeasure to biological warfare could be perceived as a bio or chemical weapon, because what can be used against difficult to kill microbial targets could be used most effectively against human “soft” targets. For instance, a halogen bomb (chlorine or fluorine) could be perceived as a chemical weapon to be used against people or a weapon to destroy highly pathogenic biological weapons,

“White Sands Missile Range test of the CrashPAD Weapon, the first Biological Agent Defeat Weapon made and deployed by the US” A large phosphorus incendiary penetrator bomb
— The Black Dragon Trilogy by JOHNATHAN KIEL
https://a.co/hPLJYfz

Such technology, as discussed here, could easily be employed as biotechnological weapons, even if intended to counter bioweapons, could have untoward effects or nefarious use. I presented a paper at the Twelfth Annual Directed Energy Symposium, 2-6 November 2009, San Antonio, Texas, titled “Biotechnological Nanowarfare: Directed Electromagnetic Energy Control” which warned: 1) Chinese and Russian researchers follow our (Brooks Team) research on genetic engineering of microbes and animal/ human cells and their interactions with directed energy. 2) The Chinese are hotly pursuing aptamer development, biotechnological manipulation and nanoparticle delivery systems, especially for the brain. 3) Even if we never make Nanobes, we will have to face them.

There are things apparently potentially worse than pandemic COVID, conventional bio and chemical warfare, GMO pathogens, or pathogenic microbes that escape high containment laboratories. The building of a synthetic anti-microbial nanoparticle that could adapt to and destroy these threats, led to a potentially greater threat in itself. Its further ability to biosynthetically replicate and be adapted to new targets under austere conditions (autonomously?) made it even more of a potential dual use threat. COVID has demonstrated why the Chinese, and perhaps the Russians, want to replace “natural” biological warfare agents with biotechnological ones—backfire.

Chinese military ambitions, were first described in Military Review, July-August 2005 by Guo Ji-wei and Xue-sen Yang. Paraphrasing what these goals are: (1) Crypticity: Biotechnological Warfare is convenient, easy to use, has a small logistics tail (very prone to Terrorist or Special Forces use); (2) Controllability and recoverability: Can be used to measured effect from kill to non-lethal with the option to offer “mercy” in exchange for surrender; and (3) Biotechnological vs. Biological Weapons: Biotechnological Warfare should not be considered Biological Warfare and side-steps any international law or treaty restrictions. Specific quotes from this article make the intent perfectly clear and, furthermore, its use to neutralize certain unruly elements within the borders of China: (1) “If we acquire a target’s genome and proteome information, including those of ethnic groups or individuals, we could design a vulnerating agent that attacks only key enemies without doing any harm to ordinary people. We could also confine the attack to a more precise level. Injuries might be limited to a specific gene sequence or a specific protein structure. Through gene manipulation, we can attack or injure one or more key human physiological functions (the ability to learn, memorize, keep one’s balance, or perform fine motor activities and even act aggressively) without a threat to life.” (2) “If we determine the relationship between the specific frequency, wavelength, or power of the ray or wave and the specific gene or locus, we can cause injury by remote, radiation-induced, genetic function changes.” (DALM Nanobes provide a range of available electromagnetic radiation to achieve this goal).

However, self-replicating translatable viral RNA has its dark side (the following data were collected by the Brooks AFRL Counterproliferation Team in 2000):

“The small and simple VEEV has one more trick which it shares with the plant Tobacco Mosaic Virus; it can resurrect itself from broken pieces. The nsP4 sequence in VEEV is very similar to the replicases of three plant viruses, including Tobacco Mosaic Virus. The Brooks Lab performed a critical experiment using the RetroXpress( TM) system of Clontech derived from a retrovirus which could transfer genes but could not infect and replicate, my group at Brooks constructed a new virus that contained the nsP4 sequence inserted into this platform and expected that the new virus could infect cells but not replicate. It not only infected (transfected) marker genes into the target mammalian cells but also formed plaques of transformed cells (those which resembled cancer cells and formed uninhibited growth mounds of cells). These grew and multiplied in the cell culture. A new complete infectious virus had formed. How? Tobacco Mosaic Virus has been shown to repair and reactivate after exposure to UV with the help of an unknown plant nucleic acid repair system. Since we inserted only the nsP4 protein into the host cells co-infected with the defective retrovirus, we proposed that the new virus used cellular RNA dependent RNA polymerase in conjunction with the expressed nsP4 to form a repair complex which constructed a chimera virus from the retroviral pieces and other unknown viral nucleic acid components inherently present. Perhaps, the infections by killed virus from killed vaccines previously reported were not just because of contamination with whole live virus but with components which survived the formalin damage and were reassembled into whole restored infectious virus, albeit at a less effective infectious dose of original broken pieces. Intact VEEV will produce a transmissible infection with as little as 12 PFU (plaque forming units equivalent to 10 virions for a multiplicity of infection of 1 but more likely 10X10 = 100 virions). I have speculated that these broken viruses, if reconstituted from broken virions or free RNA would require 10e6 units to make one intact virion.”—The Black Dragon Trilogy by JOHNATHAN KIEL
https://a.co/gLQ6en9

VEEV= Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus, a Select Agent zoonosis.

The diagnostic fluorescent tracer format was originally designed to be built on the high aspect nano conductor assumption that also acted as fluorescent quencher, especially of high quantum efficiency quantum dots. It was thought that carbon nanotubes would be required for this function but DALM proved it could do it alone without the apparent high aspect ratio mechanism in nanoparticles.

Quantum dots vary in fluorescent color based on size rather than chemical composition.

Genetically modified HeLa NR1 cells that biosynthesize DALM (HeLa NR1,
CRL-12510™, ATCC)

Thermochemiluminescence (microwave) in other human cells, HL60 cell line:

Bacillus anthracis, anthrax bacteria, the first bacteria to make DALM without genetic modification or killing of the bacteria before completing the biosynthesis (probably because it has a homolog of higher plant nitrate reductase, or a transferred gene of the same from plants, that makes DALM, but is functional under aerobic conditions without lethality unlike bacterial nitrate reductase); upper image, usual vegetative morphology on growth medium; lower and middle images: morphology of anthrax bacteria after cultivation on growth medium that induces DALM biosynthesis.

The coiling morphology induced in anthrax bacteria in medium that induces DALM biosynthesis:

Human (HeLa) cell transformed with pISV2neoNR1.1 plasmid and grown in 3AT/ luminol medium producing clusters (white) of DALM nanoparticles (upper image). DALM nanoparticles (white) produced by E. coli JM109/ pIC2ORNR1.1 after culturing in 3AT/ luminol medium (lower image).

John Alls, one of my technicians, discovered if the E. coli synthesized DALM preparations were frozen in a -80C degree freezer, the concentrated DALM and its associated water would separate out on the top of the ice as a liquid which would not freeze, unless the tube was hit gently, then it froze, and would then unfreeze even at subzero temperatures. The DALM was forming some disrupted phase with the water which allowed it to be super cooled and remain in the liquid state?

The second problem to solve was delivery. Nanoparticles can be and have been easily delivered by small nanosprayers. One gram of such particles can be distributed into a 10m X 10m X 1km volume, maintaining a concentration over 2 million particles per cubic centimeter. This is a formidable weapon easily transportable.

In field use of electrosprayer to apply fluorescent traceable nanoparticles to find and kill bioagents (simulated) on captured and released flies

Small handheld Nanosprayers made in China for “cosmetics” that could be used to deliver DALM nanoparticles

The third problem solved by the DALM nanoparticles was directing the effects to specific tissues and organs. Chinese investigators have demonstrated in animals nanoparticles can enter the brain through the nose and localize in specific parts of the brain (Wang J, Y Liu, F Jiao, F Lao, W Li, Y Gu, Y Li, C Ge, G Zhou, B Li , Y Zhao, Z Chai and C Chen. 2008. Time-dependent translocation and potential impairment of central nervous system by intranasally instilled TiO2 nanoparticles. Toxicology doi: 10.1016/ j.tox. 2008.09.014). They may also enter the auditory organs through the nose and Eustachian tubes or via the auditory nerves in the brain.

The Havana Syndrome (first observed in 2016 amongst US diplomats in Havana, Cuba) is manifested by a range of symptoms including dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, cognitive difficulties and memory loss of varying severity. In some cases, diplomats and intelligence officers have left active service due to complications from the condition. Was and is it caused by pulsed microwaves? The CIA reported there was no evidence linking Havana syndrome to a foreign country (January 20, 2022 · 9:43 AM ET NPR. Greg Myre National Security Correspondent). Really? That doesn’t say it wasn’t done by a foreign power. It means that they don’t know or won’t tell.

“The question remains: whether the auditory effect can be “weaponized,” i.e., used to harass or harm an individual. For reasons of effect size and practicality this appears unlikely, but the lack of publicly available information about existing high power RF technology and uncertainties about thresholds for adverse effects does not allow full resolution of the matter” (Foster KR, Garrett DC and Ziskin MC (2021) Can the Microwave Auditory Effect Be “Weaponized”? Front. Public Health 9:788613. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.788613). Hamlet: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’

The use of DALM nanoparticles clandestinely first delivered to targeted individuals then generalized exposure to a RF source would lower the threshold of bioeffects on selected individuals and spare the rest (unnoticed) who were RFR exposed. This enhancement would greatly reduce the required size of the transmitter and the limitations on the frequencies because of depth of penetration and power requirements. Once triggered these nanoparticles may trigger residual effects without additional RFR exposure, meeting Dr Foster’s et al requirements for “weaponization”. The Nanobe (DALM metallic nanoparticles)/pulsed microwave potential weapon is like a combination of Mission Impossible films 2 and 3, Chimera and the RFR exploding pellet in the brain, art follows science, fiction fact. Where is Bellerophon? In the Jurassic Park film Ian Malcolm says emphatically, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” Or perhaps who should be allowed to do it and for what reasons? Who should decide? It’s all about intent.

This post serves as a preview of my new book, Bionanotechnology, coming out soon from Springer Nature (to be completed 4 Sept 2024) that explains this technology in detail. The only commercial source of bionano-formulations of DALM at this time is the J&R Project (https://contest.techbriefs.com/2022/entries/medical/11693). These formulations are necessary to optimize the light and sound effects. Don’t lose heart, “Something wonderful” is about to happen.