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PubMed2005

Influence of moonlight on the birth of male and female babies.

Effects of full moon and no moon on the birth of male and female offsprings were studied in Indian Couples of the age group 20 to 40 years. It was observed that 42 wives who were conceived within 24 hours of ovulation at full moon gave birth of 40 male and 2 female babies. On the other hand 40 women conceived on the day of ovulation 3 days prior to full moon gave birth of 13 male and 27 female babies. But only 5 women conceived on no moon, all of them gave birth of female babies. It was also observed that vaginal pH of the ovulated women during full moon was alkaline (pH 8.7 +/- 0.4) while pH was weak acidic in women ovulated 3 days prior to full moon and no moon (pH 6.4 +/- 0.5; 6.2 +/- 0.5). The basal body temperature (BBT) was increased 0.7 degrees F to 1.3 degrees F during the ovulation period when compared with women during the absence of ovulation. But there is an increase in temperature 0.5 degrees F more in women ovulated in full moon than no moon. Together, these results indicate that alkaline vaginal fluid medium and more rise of BBT during full moon favour conception of male [corrected] babies. This method gives the couple more chance of having male child if conception occurs in the day of ovulation in full moon and having female child if conception occurs in no moon.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[The effect of the semilunar phase on an increase in traffic accidents].

BACKGROUND: As far as the author is aware no statistics of traffic accidents were so far concerned with the problem of a possible correlation of their frequency with the position of the moon, i.e. the lunar phase. Sudden cardiovascular deaths and some meteorological parameters (mean precipitation, atmospheric pressure and temperature) have this correlation and in most instances it is highly significant. METHODS AND RESULTS: The authors processed data pertaining to a total of 60,142 traffic accidents in the former South Moravian region in 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991 and 1992. The number of accidents on every particular day was classified according to the lunar phase. It was revealed that the frequency of accidents increases twice in the course of the lunar cycle (i.e. in the semilunar stages). The first increase is on the second and third day following new moon (t = 1.89 < 1.96 which is closely beneath the 5% level of statistical significance, p > 0.05). The second increase is more prolonged and more marked and starts already on the first day before full moon and persists after full moon with a maximum on the second day after full moon (t = 1.32 < 1.96, which again is beneath the 5% level of statistical significance, p > 0.05). The curve of the frequency of traffic accidents follows practically the same course as the curve of changes of atmospheric precipitation except for the day before full moon and the day after full moon. CONCLUSIONS: The revealed semilunar increase of traffic accidents is probably associated with the bi-phasic change of atmospheric precipitations with their increase closely after new moon and after full moon. However, one day before full moon the atmospheric precipitation is low and the increase in the accident rate on these days might be explained by the effect on the human factor, i.e. psychosomatic changes during the period near the full moon.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Labor ward workload waxes and wanes with the lunar cycle, myth or reality?

Objective: To test the validity of the statement "We are busy because it is getting close to the full moon" often heard on labor ward, by analysis of birth statistics in relation to lunar cycles.Method: Data for births from spontaneous onset labors for 12 lunar cycles from January 1 to December 31, 1994 was analyzed. Births resulting from induced labors were excluded. Birthrate for each day of the lunar cycle from new moon to full moon (ascending lunar phase) and from full moon to new moon (descending lunar phase) were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Birthrate at full moon was compared to that at new moon and that at mid ascending lunar phase was compared with that at mid descending lunar phase using t test.Results: There were 3706 spontaneous births during the study period. The average daily birthrate was 10.58 with standard deviation (SD) of 1.27. There was no statistically significant difference in the daily birthrate between the ascending and the descending lunar phases, r = -0.21. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the number of births at full moon as compared to that at new moon, P =.44. No difference was found on comparison of number of births during the mid ascending phase to that at the mid descending lunar phase, P =.84.Conclusion: Scientific analysis of data does not support the belief that the number of births increases as the full moon approaches, therefore it is a myth not reality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

The influence of lunar phenomena on the incidence of emergency cases.

It is widely believed that the incidence of specific emergency cases shows clustering during long observation periods. Though there is no scientific proof, many physicians and other emergency staff believe in influences of the moon or the signs of the zodiac. The aim of our retrospective study over 6 years was to evaluate (a) if there are any statistically documented peaks of frequency of emergency cases at all, and (b) if they can be linked to lunar phenomena. We evaluated all three aspects of the moon: The 'synodic' moon (=lunar phases), the 'sideric' moon (=distance between moon and the earth) and the moon in her relation to the signs of the zodiac (=influence of the zodiac). A total of 11134 patients entered the study. We found highly significant clusters of emergency calls, mainly for lung disorders. However, neither aspect of the moon showed the slightest correlation with the frequency of emergency calls (sideric month (P=0.99), synodic month (P=0.85) and zodiac (P=0.85)). Trigonometric regression with the period of the anomalistic month (P=0.173) and with the synodic month (P=0.28) did not show any influence of the moon on emergency in either cases. Though our retrospective data analysis documented clustering of emergency cases, any influence of the moon and the signs of the zodiac can be definitely ruled out.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed2003

Effect of lunar cycle on temporal variation in cardiopulmonary arrest in seven emergency departments during 11 years.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the phase of the full and new moon on the variation in the number of daily cardiopulmonary resuscitations. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of a computerized billing database of emergency department visits in a cohort of seven northern New Jersey (USA) emergency departments. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive patients seen by emergency department physicians over an 11-year period (1 January 1988 to 31 December 1998). We determined the timing of full and new moon days from the National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration website. INTERVENTIONS: Time series regression estimated the independent effect of full and new moon days on the daily variation in cardiopulmonary resuscitations. Tests of statistical significance were made at alpha=0.05. RESULTS: A total of 2 370 233 emergency department visits were made during the 4018-day period of study. A total of 6827 had an emergency department diagnosis of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We found no significant difference in the occurrence of cardiopulmonary resuscitations during the full moon (P=0.97). On average there were 6.5% fewer cardiopulmonary resuscitations during new moon days (P=0.02; 95% confidence interval 1.3-11.7%). CONCLUSION: Contrary to the traditional belief that more cardiopulmonary resuscitations occur during the full moon, we were unable to identify a significant effect during full moon days. However, there were on average 6.5% fewer cardiopulmonary resuscitations during new moon days than other days.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1973

Biomechanics of locomotion in subgravity.

The speed of walking or running on the moon as compared with earth is appreciably reduced, in spite of mechanisms of compensation taking place such a forward leaning of the body and an increase of the horizontal component of the push of the foot on the ground. However on the moon the same speed of locomotion as on earth can be reached by shifting to a different mechanism of locomotion, i. e. progression by jumps, which becomes possible on the moon because of the reduction of the body weight. The energy cost of locomotion is certainly less on the moon than on earth, about 1/6. Were the subject not restrained by the space suit, progression by jumps at 20 km hr-1 on the moon would cost no more than 10 ml kg-1 min-1 of oxygen, the same as walking on earth at 6 km hr-1. Maximal acceleration of the body as in sprinting, or deceleration as in stopping, attains much higher values on earth than on the moon. While sprinting on earth may involve the maximal muscular power, sprinting or progressing at the highest speed on the moon involves only a fraction of the maximal power, mainly because of the reduced maximal frequency of the steps (or jumps). The maximal height of the jump on both feet on the moon could attain 4 m in the unrestricted subject. An analysis is wanted on the restriction of the movements brought about by the space suit and on the energy cost of progression.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

A novel trigger for acute coronary syndromes: the effect of lunar cycles on the incidence and in-hospital prognosis of acute coronary syndromes--a 3-year retrospective study.

Circadian variations in the incidence of hypertension and coronary events are well known with early morning surges. Effect of lunar cycles on various medical illnesses like seizures and psychiatric disturbances are documented. However, the effect of lunar cycles on coronary events has been sparsely documented. The authors studied the incidence of acute coronary events and admission patterns in the departments of emergency medicine and cardiology. Inclusion criteria included unstable angina, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) and ST elevation MI. Exclusion criteria included chest pain syndromes which were subsequently deemed non-cardiac by invasive or non-invasive investigations. Data from 1999 to 2001 were analysed. Admissions on full moon days were compared with those on new moon days. There were 30 full moon days and 30 new moon days and 223 admissions on full moon days and 266 on new moon days. This difference was statistically significant [p = .005]. Sixty-seven per cent were males and the rest were females. Subgroup analysis of mortality, postinfarction angina, effect on diabetics and hypertensives were done which showed an increased trend in new moon days. It is concluded that there is increased incidence of acute coronary events associated with new moon days.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Materials trade study for lunar/gateway missions.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) administrator has identified protection from radiation hazards as one of the two biggest problems of the agency with respect to human deep space missions. The intensity and strength of cosmic radiation in deep space makes this a 'must solve' problem for space missions. The Moon and two Earth-Moon Lagrange points near Moon are being proposed as hubs for deep space missions. The focus of this study is to identify approaches to protecting astronauts and habitats from adverse effects from space radiation both for single missions and multiple missions for career astronauts to these destinations. As the great cost of added radiation shielding is a potential limiting factor in deep space missions, reduction of mass, without compromising safety, is of paramount importance. The choice of material and selection of the crew profile play major roles in design and mission operations. Material trade studies in shield design over multi-segmented missions involving multiple work and living areas in the transport and duty phase of space mission's to two Earth-Moon co-linear Lagrange points (L1) between Earth and the Moon and (L2) on back side of the moon as seen from Earth, and to the Moon have been studied. It is found that, for single missions, current state-of-the-art knowledge of material provides adequate shielding. On the other hand, the choice of shield material is absolutely critical for career astronauts and revolutionary materials need to be developed for these missions. This study also provides a guide to the effectiveness of multifunctional materials in preparation for more detailed geometry studies in progress.

Astronauts↗
PubMed2003

Lunar phases are not related to the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death.

BACKGROUND: Mass media deliver pertinacious rumours that lunar phases influence the progress and long-term results in several medical procedures. Peer reviewed studies support this, e.g. in myocardial infarction, others do not. METHODS: We looked retrospectively at the dates of cardiac arrests (CA; n=368) of cardiac origin and of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) with consecutive thrombolytic therapy or acute PTCA (n=872) and at the lunar phases at the corresponding dates. Medical data had been collected prospectively on the patient's admission. The lunar phases were defined as full moon+/-1 day, new moon+/-1 day and the days in between as waning and waxing moon. The incidence of these cardiac events at each phase was calculated as days with a case divided by the total number of days of the specific moon phase in the observation period (1992-1998). Wilcoxon Rank Test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: AMI and CA occurred on equal percentages of days within each lunar phase: AMI on 35% of all days with new moon, on 38% of full moon days, on 39% waning, and on 41% of the waxing moon days; CA on 19, 17, 16 and 16% of all days of the respective lunar phase. This difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Lunar phases do not appear to correlate with acute coronary events leading to myocardial infarction or sudden cardiac death.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1993

Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXII. Barometric pressure, lunar cycle, and traffic accidents.

This study assessed relationships between traffic accidents and variables of the physical environment. Daily data on traffic accidents over a 4-year period were compared with daily records of barometric pressure and synodic lunar cycle. No significant variations in the number of accidents were found related to barometric height but a significant lunar periodicity was observed for one of the years considered. The number of accidents occurring during the full moon day was lowest; the highest occurred two days before the full moon. Accidents occurred more frequently during crescent moon than during waning moon, but no significant differences were noted when the lunar month was divided into four intervals of new moon, first quarter, full moon, and second quarter.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Tetrodotoxin and derivatives in several species of the gastropod Naticidae.

The organs of 195 specimens of 4 species of the gastropod Naticidae, collected from fish markets in Taiwan, were assayed for toxicity. The calf moon shell Natica vitellus contained weak toxicity (10-99 MU/g) in the muscle and digestive gland. The bladder moon shell Polinices didyma contained moderate (100-999 MU/g) and weak toxicity in the muscle and digestive gland, respectively. The digestive gland in 1 out of 20 specimens of the pear-shaped moon shell P. tumidus was toxic (4 MU/g). All tissues of the butterfly moon shell N. alapapilionis were non-toxic. The toxins were partially purified from the toxic specimens of the calf moon shell and the bladder moon shell, and identified to be tetrodotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Role of CD38 and its ligand in the regulation of MHC-nonrestricted cytotoxic T cells.

Human CD38 is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that regulates lymphocyte adhesion, proliferation, and cytokine production. The mAb Moon-1 recognizes a ligand for CD38 (CD38L) and specifically inhibits CD38-mediated cell adhesion. To analyze the role of CD38 and its ligand in MHC-nonrestricted T cell activation, we examined the effects of Moon-1 and the anti-CD38 mAb IB4 on the effector functions of the IL-2-dependent T cell line TALL-104 (CD3/TCR-alphabeta+, CD8+, CD56+) and of LAK cells (90% CD3+). TALL-104 cells were almost 100% reactive with both mAbs, whereas the reactivity of LAK cells for IB4 and Moon-1 ranged from 10 to 60% among different donors. From 78 to 94% of the cytotoxic CD8+/CD56+ LAK subset was CD38L+. Like mAb OKT3 (anti-CD3), and at variance with IB4, Moon-1 drastically enhanced the cytotoxicity of TALL-104 and CD8+ LAK cells against a resistant tumor target. Granule exocytosis did not appear to play a role in Moon-1-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, neither IB4 nor Moon-1 induced [Ca2+]i mobilization in LAK and TALL-104 cells. Whereas stimulation of CD3 and CD38 resulted in a dramatic induction of cytokine (granulocyte-macrophage-CSF, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and TNF-beta) release by both TALL-104 and LAK cells, ligation of CD38L was not followed by cytokine production in TALL-104 cells. Thus, cytotoxicity and cytokine release are independently regulated, at least in this system. These data demonstrate that CD38 and its ligand can regulate some T cell functions using signaling pathways distinct from those of CD3.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed2004

Perception and possible utilization of moonlight intensity for reproductive activities in a lunar-synchronized spawner, the golden rabbitfish.

Rabbitfishes are known to spawn synchronously around the species-specific lunar phase. It is considered that they perceive and utilize cues from the moon in order to be synchronized gonadal development and spawning with the lunar cycle. Using the golden rabbitfish, Siganus guttatus, which spawns synchronously around the first quarter moon during the reproductive season, we measured the fluctuation of melatonin levels and examined the response of the fish to moonlight intensity. Daily fluctuation of melatonin concentration in the blood of golden rabbitfish showed low levels during daytime and high levels during night-time, suggesting that melatonin functions in the perception and utilization of photoperiod. Plasma melatonin concentration at the new moon was higher than that at the full moon. When the fish were exposed to moonlight at midnight of the both moon phases, the melatonin concentrations decreased to the control levels. These results show that the fish possibly perceive moonlight intensity and plasma melatonin fluctuates according to 'lightness' at a point of night. At the first spawning period (experiment was started one month before the spawning), the fish reared under natural conditions spawned at the expected spawning dates, whereas the fish reared under the constant darkness and lightness of night did not spawn. At the second spawning period (experiment was started 2 weeks before the spawning), the fish reared under the conditions of natural and constant darkness of night spawned but not that of constant lightness of night. It is possible that night conditions are related to synchronous gonadal development and spawning in the golden rabbitfish.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Frequency of contact with community-based psychiatric services and the lunar cycle: a 10-year case-register study.

The relationship between the lunar cycle and the frequency of contact with community-based psychiatric services was assessed using the South Verona Psychiatric Case Register data. For each day of the study period (January 1982-December 1991) we recorded the number of contacts made by South Verona residents with psychiatric services and the corresponding day of the lunar cycle. First, the synodic month was divided into four interval phases (usually called new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter), and interphase differences in the mean number of contacts were tested using one-way analysis of variance. Second. the null hypothesis of no relationship between the lunar cycle and the frequency of contact with psychiatric services was tested against the alternative hypothesis of a sinusoidal distribution according to the lunar phase. The average number of contacts with psychiatric services on each day of the lunar cycle over the 10-year period was obtained and a sine-wave curve was fitted to the data. Both for total and drop-in contacts, no significant differences in mean number of contacts were found between the four interval phases of the synodic month (new moon, first quarter, full moon and third quarter). Similarly, no significant results were found by setting the expected surge in consultations at 1-3 days after the full moon and the period of the sine-wave curve equal to 30 days. When the period of the sine-wave curve was allowed to vary in order to fit the data best, none of the statistical tests reached the level of significance required to dismiss the possibility of false-positive results. These findings did not support the theory that a relationship exists between the lunar cycle and the frequency of contact with community-based psychiatric services.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMed2003

Hormonal changes in relation to lunar periodicity in the testis of the forktail rabbitfish, Siganus argenteus.

Correlation of hormonal changes in the testis and the lunar periodicity was studied using the forktail rabbitfish, Siganus argenteus, which spawns synchronously around the last quarter moon. Weekly change in sperm motility peaked around the last quarter moon. The pH and osmolality in the seminal fluid increased and decreased around the same lunar phase, respectively. These results suggest that the testis of this species develops toward the specific lunar phase. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated in vitro production of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in the testicular fragments around the full moon. When the testicular fragments and the sperm preparations were incubated, respectively, with testosterone (T) and 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17alpha-OHP), conversion of T to 11-KT in the testicular fragments decreased and, alternatively, that of 17alpha-OHP to 17alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) in the sperm preparations increased from the full moon to the last quarter moon. Administration of the fish with hCG or DHP prior to the predicted spawning lunar day resulted in increases in the sperm motility and the seminal fluid pH. Plasma level of DHP, but not T and 11-KT, increased after hCG injection. These results indicate that gonadotropin (GtH) and DHP are related to the final stage of testicular maturation, and that GtH acts through production of DHP in the testis. Moreover, the present study shows that use of the lunar cue(s) in the rabbitfish occurs in the higher part of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The future of human spaceflight.

After the Apollo Moon program, the international space station represents a further milestone of humankind in space, International follow-on programs like a manned return to the Moon and a first manned Mars Mission can be considered as the next logical step. More and more attention is also paid to the topic of future space tourism in Earth orbit, which is currently under investigation in the USA, Japan and Europe due to its multibillion dollar market potential and high acceptance in society. The wide variety of experience, gained within the space station program, should be used in order to achieve time and cost savings for future manned programs. Different strategies and roadmaps are investigated for space tourism and human missions to the Moon and Mars, based on a comprehensive systems analysis approach. By using DLR's software tool FAST (Fast Assessment of Space Technologies), different scenarios will be defined, optimised and finally evaluated with respect to mission architecture, required technologies, total costs and program duration. This includes trajectory analysis, spacecraft design on subsystem level, operations and life cycle cost analysis. For space tourism, an expected evolutionary roadmap will be described which is initiated by short suborbital tourism and ends with visionary designs like the Space Hotel Berlin and the Space Hotel Europe concept. Furthermore the potential space tourism market, its economic meaning as well as the expected range of the costs of a space ticket (e.g. $50,000 for a suborbital flight) will be analysed and quantified. For human missions to the Moon and Mars, an international 20 year program for the first decades of the next millennium is proposed, which requires about $2.5 Billion per year for a manned return to the Moon program and about $2.6 Billion per year for the first 3 manned Mars missions. This is about the annual budget, which is currently spend by the USA only for the operations of its Space Shuttle fleet which generally proofs the affordability of such ambitious programs after the build-up of the International Space Station, when corresponding budget might become again available.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2004

Lunar orientation in a beetle.

Many animals use the sun's polarization pattern to orientate, but the dung beetle Scarabaeus zambesianus is the only animal so far known to orientate using the million times dimmer polarization pattern of the moonlit sky. We demonstrate the relative roles of the moon and the nocturnal polarized-light pattern for orientation. We find that artificially changing the position of the moon, or hiding the moon's disc from the beetle's field of view, generally did not influence its orientation performance. We thus conclude that the moon does not serve as the primary cue for orientation. The effective cue is the polarization pattern formed around the moon, which is more reliable for orientation. Polarization sensitivity ratios in two photoreceptors in the dorsal eye were found to be 7.7 and 12.9, similar to values recorded in diurnal navigators. These results agree with earlier results suggesting that the detection and analysis of polarized skylight is similar in diurnal and nocturnal insects.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Influence of light-dark and lunar cycles on the ocular melatonin rhythms in the seagrass rabbitfish, a lunar-synchronized spawner.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of light-dark (LD) cycles and lunar phases on ocular melatonin rhythms in the seagrass rabbitfish, Siganus canaliculatus, a lunar-synchronized spawner. Under a natural 24-hr LD (12.00:12.00) cycle, ocular melatonin levels were low during daylight hours. The levels significantly elevated to peak during the mid-dark phase at 24.00 hr and then declined sharply in the early morning around 06.00 hr. These rhythms disappeared under either constant light (LL) or constant dark (DD) conditions. Melatonin levels remained low in LL compared with those in DD condition. These results suggest that ocular melatonin rhythms in the seagrass rabbitfish are suppressed in the presence of light. When fish were exposed to natural moon phases, ocular melatonin concentrations were higher around the new moon than both the first quarter and full moon phases. Exposure to experimental new moon conditions caused a significant increase in melatonin levels while those of the fish exposed to experimental full moon conditions were decreased. These results suggest that the seagrass rabbitfish perceives moonlight through the eye and that moonlight directly causes melatonin suppression.

Animals↗