INFLUENCE OF THE MOON ON PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND HUMAN PHENOMENA - SCIENCE - 2024

The influence of the moon on physical, biological and human phenomena is a subject that has always caused much controversy. There are some popular beliefs that really have no scientific or medical basis. However, there are some facts that have been shown to be caused by the influence of the moon.

The Moon is the only satellite that Earth has. It has a diameter of approximately 3,475 kilometers, this makes it larger than Pluto. You always see the same face because it takes 27.3 days to rotate on itself, the same time it takes to rotate around the Earth, it is what is called synchronous rotation.

The latest research determines that it was formed after the collision of a planet the same size as the planet Mars, with the Earth more than 4.5 billion years ago.

The remains of the Earth that were produced after the collision merged and gave rise years later to the formation of the Moon. It has a great effect on the planet and it is believed that without it life on Earth would not be possible.

What are the influences of the Moon?

1- Physical phenomena

Moon phases

They are caused by consequences of the movements that the Moon makes around the Earth. The Moon does not have its own light, but its light comes from the sunlight reflected on its surface.

As the moon orbits the Earth, the Sun illuminates the face in front of it. Viewed from Earth, it is observed from the center of its orbit. These different perspectives make different parts light up. What gives rise to the different lunar phases:

• New Moon: it is almost aligned between the Earth and the Sun and the illuminated part is not visible. You can't see the moon.
• First quarter: the Moon together with the Earth and the Sun form a right angle and only one half of the moon is seen growing.
• Full moon: in this case it is the Earth who is between the Sun and the Moon, giving rise to seeing the entire face of the moon illuminated.
• Last quarter: as in the first quarter, the Earth and the Sun form a right angle and you can see the other half of the Moon, which is decreasing.

Attraction of the moon

The Moon exerts an attraction on the Earth causing the slowdown in its rotation, this causes the day to lengthen about 2.3 milliseconds per century.

The energy that the Earth gives off is absorbed by the Moon, making its distance from the Earth increasingly greater, it moves away about 3.8 centimeters per year.

2- Biological phenomena

lunar eclipse

Plant growth

In the same way that its force of attraction affects the tides, it also affects the sap of plants. It produces a cyclical movement in it, causing a stimulus in the roots that encourages growth.

Plants are sensitive to the light reflected by the moon, so the closer they are to the full moon, the more their growth is activated.

The weather

The Moon is the one who helps to keep the Earth's axis in position. If it did not exist, the Earth would not have a fixed axis and the poles could either face the Sun or remain in the shadow.

This fact would give rise to very hot places and others very cold, making night and day in some parts of the Earth eternal, which would make life practically impossible.

The Moon makes planet Earth more habitable, keeping it oscillating on its axis and thereby causing it to have a stable climate.

The tides

It is an effect caused by the force of attraction that the Moon exerts on the Earth. The Moon tries to attract the water that is closest to it, as the water is always in continuous movement, the Earth cannot grasp it.

Every day there are two high tides and two low tides, it is a periodic increase in the great masses of water. This phenomenon is visible on the coast, where you can see how the sea water recedes and returns.

The tides vary with the different lunar phases, being the most intense when there is a new moon. This is because the gravity of the Moon and the sun pull in the same direction, adding their attraction.

Eclipses

Eclipses of the Sun are those in which a darkening of the sun is seen, this is due to the projection of the shadow of the Moon that intervenes between the Earth and the Sun. Its shadow is projected in an area of ​​the Earth, remaining It is in absolute darkness, because the moon covers the sun, eclipses it.

Lunar eclipses are those in which a darkening of the Moon is seen, because it is located in the area of ​​the Earth's shadow. This causes it to disappear from view.

Aurora borealis

It is believed that the full moon interferes with the northern lights causing a decrease in them. This is mainly due to the fact that the light it reflects makes the sky not so dark and the necessary contrast is not produced, making the auroras less visible.

3- Human phenomena

The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.

In fertility

The cycles of the moon last 28 days, exactly the same as the menstrual cycle in women. This fact has led to a relationship between the moon and fertility.

The moon can affect fertility by causing ovulation to occur at any time, regardless of biological ovulation. In other words, a woman can ovulate twice in the same cycle, which is known as double lunar ovulation.

In childbirth

It is believed that the moon causes an effect on pregnant women, leading to early labor on the days when it is in its full moon phase.

However, this fact has been proven by numerous medical and scientific studies and has been shown to be untrue.

On the quality of sleep

A recent research, published in March 2016, analyzed 5,800 children and found that on full moon nights, children slept an average of 5 minutes less.

This fact does not cause any health problems, but it is an interesting scientific fact. It seems that the brightness of the full moon could be one of the reasons.

In states of madness or suicide

After numerous studies and analyzes, no relationship has been found between the lunar cycle and human behavior that causes insanity. What has been shown is that it affects moods, these being more intense during the full moon.

References

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