The United States is investigating a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances of scientists involved in sensitive nuclear and aerospace research. At least 10 such specialists have died or gone missing in recent years, prompting the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate possible links between the cases.
CNN writes about this.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was coordinating efforts with other government agencies to determine whether the cases were connected. The U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy and NASA are also involved in the investigation.
The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee initiated a parallel investigation. Its representatives stated that the reports raised questions about a possible connection between the deaths and disappearances of people who had access to confidential scientific data.
According to the chairman of the committee, James Comer, the situation could pose a potential threat to national security. At the same time, the member of the committee, Democrat James Walkinshaw, noted that so far there is no evidence of a coordinated campaign against scientists.
One of the first cases occurred in July 2023, when scientist Michael David Hicks , who had worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for nearly 25 years, died. He was 59 years old, but the official cause of death has not been disclosed. The scientist's family said he had health problems and did not see a connection between his death and other events.
Other cases include the disappearance of aerospace engineer Monica Reza , who was last seen hiking in the woods near Los Angeles in 2025. Also missing is retired Air Force Major General William Neal McCasland , who previously headed the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Additionally, in December 2025, MIT professor Nuno Loureiro , who worked in the field of fusion research, was shot and killed near his home near Boston.
Another incident occurred in February, when astrophysicist Carl Grillmayr , associated with the California Institute of Technology and NASA programs, was fatally shot in his home.
Despite the outcry, law enforcement officials emphasize that the circumstances of each case vary. In some cases, no signs of foul play have been found, and the families of the deceased attribute the tragedies to health problems or personal difficulties.
US President Donald Trump said authorities are hoping the incidents are random, but vowed to thoroughly investigate the circumstances. According to White House officials, federal authorities are analyzing all cases together to determine possible commonalities or the involvement of foreign actors.