[비즈한국] Recent reports claiming that a next-generation top-secret CIA technology called ‘Ghost Murmur’ played a pivotal role in the dramatic rescue of a downed U.S. F-15E pilot in Iran have captured the attention of the academic community. The technology is said to be capable of identifying a survivor's location by detecting human heartbeats from dozens of kilometers away, but the scientific community and experts are raising strong doubts about its physical feasibility. Some even analyze it as a sophisticated psychological operation designed to conceal the actual rescue method.
On the 7th (local time), the New York Post cited U.S. officials, reporting that ‘Ghost Murmur,’ a ‘long-range quantum magnetic measurement method,’ was deployed in the rescue operation. This technology reportedly captures the subtle electromagnetic signals generated by a human heartbeat and uses artificial intelligence software to isolate them from background noise.
At the time, the U.S. officer was hiding deep in the mountains to avoid pursuit by Iranian forces, making it difficult to pinpoint their exact location using traditional positioning signal devices. The core of the report is that the ‘Ghost Murmur’ technology was deployed and played a decisive role in identifying the officer's location by detecting their heartbeat from approximately 64km away. The technology was reportedly developed by ‘Skunk Works,’ the secret development division of U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Major domestic media outlets, including the Chosun Ilbo, also cited the New York Post to relay this behind-the-scenes story of the rescue.
However, skepticism is emerging within academia regarding whether this technology is physically possible. Quantum magnetometers are ultra-precise devices that utilize quantum mechanical properties to detect minute changes in magnetic fields. Generally, when measuring heartbeats, sensors are used in near-contact with the subject or at a distance of just a few centimeters. Oh Sang-won, a professor of physics at Ajou University, explained, “A heartbeat generates a magnetic field of about 100pT (picotesla) directly above the chest,” adding, “It is virtually impossible to measure it directly from 64km away because there is too much noise.”
The renowned American popular science magazine ‘Scientific American’ also directly refuted the report. This is because, under the laws of physics, the intensity of a magnetic field signal decreases rapidly in inverse proportion to the cube of the distance. John Wikswo, a professor of biomedical engineering and physics at Vanderbilt University, explained, “Even if you move just 10cm away from the measurement point, the signal drops to 1/1000th, and at a distance of 1km, it weakens to one-trillionth of the level.”
The issue of background noise is also being pointed out. Critics argue that using AI to filter out a specific human signal from 64km away falls outside the scope of modern scientific technology. Chad Orzel, a professor of physics at Union College, noted, “To detect a heartbeat, one would have to account for magnetic noise from the Earth's magnetic field and natural or artificial currents, as well as the heartbeats of every animal moving around in the vicinity.”
Consequently, there is growing weight behind the possibility that ‘Ghost Murmur’ is not an actual weapon, but part of a sophisticated U.S. information psychological operation. Experts believe that the U.S. may have leaked false information to protect the precise signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), or modified versions of existing equipment used to rescue the pilot from its adversary, Iran. Professor Orzel said, “It could be a strategic piece of disinformation intended to deceive someone, such as Iran, by making them believe the U.S. possesses such transcendental secret technology.”