11th May 1997

Astronomical moods

Does the moon affect your mood? Old wives’ tales have maintained for centuries that the full moon especially can have a substantial effect on us both physically and mentally and now many scientists have come to accept that there is some truth in this.

And after all, while it’s acknowledged that the moon’s gravitational power causes the tides of the great oceans, with the human body composed of 70 per cent water, why shouldn’t that also be affected by it? In particular, doctors suggest, people already under stress can be susceptible to the moon, sometimes leading to them being "tipped over the edge" into unnatural behaviour.

New York’s infamous murderer Son of Sam - David Berkowitz - killed eight times, five of the occasions during full moon.

Staff at psychiatric hospitals have long been aware that full moon often brings an atmosphere of tension in the wards, especially at night.

But it seems that it isn’t even necessary to actually have sight of the moon to be affected in this way. Rats kept in laboratories with no windows to enable them to see outside, were still found to be more irritable and aggressive towards each other on nights of full moon.

The influence of the moon can also, it seems, lead to depression. In a five year study at Edinburgh’s Regional Poisoning Treatment Centre, in England, it was recorded that 366 attempted suicides occurred around full moon compared with much lower figures for other periods.

In his book, ‘The Lunar Effect,’ American Dr Arnold Lieber maintains: "Police and Fire Departments are convinced there is a relationship between the moon and violence."

Even last century the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson was apparently aware of this. His renowned book, ‘Jekyz and Hyde’ published in 1886, is said to have been inspired by the true story of Charles Hyde, who committed a number of terrible murders at the time of full moons.

On the positive side, fishermen in various parts of the world have long put to good use their knowledge that certain fish are more active and likely to take bait at such times. In particular, off the coast of Miami, USA, shrimp fishermen always put to sea then.

At least one scientist has maintained that the moon may have caused the many mysterious disappearances of planes and ships in the Bermuda Triangle, off the coast of Florida, USA.

The Russian A.I. Yelkin, of the Moscow Institute of Building Engineers, has suggested that at certain times the moon’s influence disturbs the Earth’s magnetic field beneath the ocean, causing compasses to give false readings. Checking records of Bermuda Triangle disappearances, he claimed most happened during full moon, new moon or when the moon was at its closest to Earth.

- Gulf News, Tabloid

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