The Lunar Effect
Phases of the Moon
The side of the moon that faces the sun is always illuminated. Because the moon is a sphere, this means that 50% of the moon is always light. However, since we view the moon from Earth, we see different pieces of the 50% illumination. When we see the lit portion of the moon increasing over time, it is considered waxing. This occurs from a new moon to a full moon. When we see the lit portion decreasing over time, it is considered waning. This occurs from a full moon to a new moon. The phases of the moon are cyclic and predictable.
The word lunacy, which means insanity, comes from the Latin word for moon. Can this mean that the moon and human behavior have a scientific relationship? We’re sure many of you have heard the expression “there must be a full moon” after something out of the ordinary occurs. There are two main ideas as to how the moon could affect behavior. The first is the fact that a full moon appears brighter than other moon phases because we view the whole illuminated part. Before modern lighting, the light of a full moon may have kept people up at night, leading to sleep deprivation. A lack of sleep could then lead to other psychological issues.
The second idea associated with the lunar effect is the gravitational force of the moon. This force is what causes the fluctuation of ocean tides. Some say the effect that the moon has on ocean tides also applies to the human body in that it affects fluid retention, which alters our judgment. This comes from the fact that the earth’s surface is approximately 70% water and there is also approximately 70% water in the human body. However, the moon only affects unbounded bodies of water, such as oceans, while the water in the human body is bounded. Even if the moon did have an effect on the water in a human, it would be insignificant. Astronomer George O. Abell claims that a mosquito would exert more gravitational pull on your arm than the moon would.
In order to prove that the moon does not in fact affect human behavior, Ivan Kelly, James Rotton, and Roger Culver examined over 100 studies done on the lunar effect. They concluded that the studies have failed to show a reliable and significant correlation between the full moon, or any other phases of the moon, and the behavior of humans. It is also important to keep in mind that correlation does not mean causation. Just because a person finds that stranger things happen on the night of a full moon opposed to another night, this does not mean that the moon is what caused the strange things to occur.
The second idea associated with the lunar effect is the gravitational force of the moon. This force is what causes the fluctuation of ocean tides. Some say the effect that the moon has on ocean tides also applies to the human body in that it affects fluid retention, which alters our judgment. This comes from the fact that the earth’s surface is approximately 70% water and there is also approximately 70% water in the human body. However, the moon only affects unbounded bodies of water, such as oceans, while the water in the human body is bounded. Even if the moon did have an effect on the water in a human, it would be insignificant. Astronomer George O. Abell claims that a mosquito would exert more gravitational pull on your arm than the moon would.
In order to prove that the moon does not in fact affect human behavior, Ivan Kelly, James Rotton, and Roger Culver examined over 100 studies done on the lunar effect. They concluded that the studies have failed to show a reliable and significant correlation between the full moon, or any other phases of the moon, and the behavior of humans. It is also important to keep in mind that correlation does not mean causation. Just because a person finds that stranger things happen on the night of a full moon opposed to another night, this does not mean that the moon is what caused the strange things to occur.