U.S. Diplomats in Cuba Were Injured by a ‘Sonic Weapon.’ What Is That?

Aug 11, 2017, 12:28 PM

A group of American diplomats in Havana, Cuba have suffered severe and unexplained hearing loss over the past year, which U.S. officials believe was caused by a covert and advanced sonic device.

The severity of some of the diplomats' symptoms has forced them to cancel their Cuba tours early and return to the U.S. for treatment, the Associated Press reports.

But what exactly is a sonic device, how common are they, and how much damage can they actually cause? Here's what to know.