Do you think the moon affects you?

The tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon as it orbits, so saying that it “can” move an entire ocean is wrong – it does. And we know why. It’s called gravity. Some guy named Newton discovered it.

well, the only thing i notice, is that i can’t sleep well during a full moon….and when i wake up the next morning my clothes are torn etc.. (the first thing was serious)

No idea what physical effects it has if any, but it does affect me in that it stops me in my tracks and usually makes me stop, smile and stare for a moment :)

it makes me howl!

@soundedfury: But nobody actually knows WHY this happens and my question was whether or not you think it affects you. Thanks for the science lecture, though!

I think it makes me a little weirder than usual. Hard to tell tho!

I doubt you’ll ever get to the all-encompassing why of anything. But those clever gringos at Wikipedia might have a thing or two to say about tides.

Anyways, the full moon’s psychological effects are also pretty interesting, albeit more from an anecdotal, not scientific, perspective. A relative of mine used to work in the intensive care unit of a hospital, and on nights of a full moon, she’d see peculiar coincidental behaviors and goings-on. (No wolfman or anything, just unusual string of patient symptoms flareups and whatnot). Apparently, it’s a somewhat commonly known phenomenon in the medical industry… but anyone who knows more definitively should likely comment.

my moms a nurse and she says the emergency room does more business and more women spit out babies when the moon is full.

There were some British studies a few years back that showed larger admissions to emergency rooms and such, but came to no conclusions. There is a minor statistical correlation, but no really hard data that would explain it.

The thing is, the moon isn’t particularly closer during a full moon, it’s merely a phase of light reflection. The changes in gravitation attraction that cause the tides are daily cycles, not monthly cycles. If it was simply a light thing, you’d expect the same type of rise in hospital visits to occur as the days get longer in spring and summer, too, but there is not stats to back that up.

It’s kind of odd, probably just psychological.

Oh, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_effect claims that a Florida study showed no statistical correlation between full moons and increases in crime or injury.

It is not the phase of the moon, it is the 28 day cycle. Once you realize that half the population on the planet is on some kind of a 28 day cycle, you begin to realize the impact it has on all of us.

Speaking of 28 day cycles, PMS hits me harder when it comes with a full moon. My SO can testify to that .