The Full Moon: Is It Messing With Us?

What It Covers

Science Versus examines whether full moons affect human behavior and biology, investigating emergency room activity, crime rates, sleep patterns, and menstrual cycles through peer-reviewed research and expert interviews with surprising findings.

Key Questions Answered

• •Emergency room activity: Multiple studies across countries show no increase in ER admissions, trauma severity, or deaths during full moons. Some research found slightly fewer severe traumas, possibly because brighter moonlight improves visibility for drivers and deters crime.
• •Sleep disruption pattern: Research tracking sleep in communities from rural Argentina to urban Seattle found people consistently sleep 45 minutes less in days leading up to full moons, following a sinusoidal wave pattern independent of artificial light pollution or brightness.
• •Magnetic field hypothesis: Scientists theorize the moon's effect on Earth's magnetic field may influence human cryptochrome proteins that sense magnetic changes. This remains unproven but represents the leading scientific explanation for lunar effects beyond simple brightness.
• •Menstrual synchronization: Initial study of 22 women showed slight correlation between periods and lunar phases, but follow-up analysis of 7.5 million cycles from period tracking apps found zero synchronization, demonstrating how small samples create misleading patterns.