Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: nudephil on 16/10/2020 18:39:37

Title: Are we hardwired to be awake during a full moon?
Post by: nudephil on 16/10/2020 18:39:37

Andrew sent us this question:

I'm sure our ancestors took advantage of the extra light to catch animals they could not during the day due to primitive hunting techniques, so are we perhaps still hardwired to be awake and ready during a full moon?

Can anyone answer?

Title: Re: Are we hardwired to be awake during a full moon?
Post by: evan_au on 16/10/2020 21:57:05

The full moon is bright enough to move around safely (provided you aren't under a forest canopy).
- I am sure our ancestors used the few days of extra illumination around the full moon to get in additional activities, which would have given them a period of sleep deprivation.
- Perhaps this is the origin of the old term "Lunatic" - the idea that the Moon (Luna) caused madness around the full Moon

With modern bright street lighting, most city residents today would be less aware of the phases of the Moon, and so any affect on mental health would have less impact today.

But with electric light and computer screens able to provide 24 hour illumination, there is a suggestion that many people are becoming sleep-deprived
- Maybe we are all becoming Lunatics?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_effect

Title: Re: Are we hardwired to be awake during a full moon?
Post by: alancalverd on 16/10/2020 22:10:28

Annoyingly, the prey animals also took advantage of the full moon to better see their approaching predators.