Howling at the Moon

Myths, Madness, and the Science of Lunar Fascination

On July 20, 1969, we did something extraordinary. Humanity, for the first time, set foot on another world. Neil Armstrong’s quiet step onto the Moon wasn’t just a technological milestone — it shifted our collective imagination. The Moon, long a symbol of mystery, romance, and madness, became suddenly touchable… and yet, somehow, even more enigmatic.

After we reached it, we needed new reasons to look up at it. For some, it became poetic — a celestial candle flickering over midnight walks and whispered secrets. For scientists, it became more intriguing, more knowable. And for dreamers, children, and lovers of the supernatural? It remained what it had always been: a stage for transformations, madness, and mystery.

A Glowing Satellite and Its Strange Statistics

Before we dive into folklore and lunacy, here’s a quick reality check — some fascinating Moon facts that keep us tethered to the science:

• The Moon orbits Earth, while Earth orbits the Sun. Both spin counterclockwise in this cosmic choreography.

• It’s about ¼ Earth’s diameter, but only 1/80 its mass. The Moon’s surface area is just a little larger than Africa.

• On average, it’s about 30 Earth diameters away from us. If you could fly there at 1,000 mph, you’d arrive in around 16 days.

• Ever notice the Sun and Moon look about the same size in the sky? That’s because the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon and 400 times farther away — a cosmic coincidence that gives us perfect eclipses.

• The full Moon is nine times brighter than the half Moon. That extra glow makes all the difference.

Despite what many believe, the Moon doesn’t produce its own light. It reflects sunlight — and only the side facing the Sun gets lit. When we say “dark side of the Moon,” we’re really talking about the far side, which gets plenty of sunlight… just not when we can see it.

What the Moon Doesn’t Do

Let’s get one thing out of the way: the Moon doesn’t make people crazy. Not scientifically, anyway.

The idea that the full Moon sparks violence, insanity, or strange behavior has been around for centuries. The very word “lunatic” comes from luna, Latin for Moon. In 18th-century England, criminals could actually claim “lunacy” if their crimes occurred during a full Moon — and sometimes get a lighter sentence.

Ancient cultures like the Babylonians and Assyrians believed a woman’s fertility followed the Moon’s rhythm. That belief still lingers in modern myths about birth rates and menstruation cycles — though science has found little to no correlation between lunar phases and childbirth.

In fact, decades of studies have failed to link the full Moon to spikes in violence, psychiatric admissions, suicides, or even casino payouts (sorry, gamblers). No uptick in sleepwalking, epileptic seizures, or supernatural creatures either — not even werewolves.

But… Something Still Feels Different, Doesn’t It?

Even though science doesn’t support the wildest claims, the Moon may still affect us in more subtle ways.

Atmospheric ions, for example, shift during different lunar phases. Negative ions tend to calm us, while positive ions (more common during the full Moon) can make us edgy. Still, their influence is weak compared to what you’d get from, say, sitting next to an air conditioner.

Some believe that the full Moon’s unique light — different in color and intensity than sunlight — triggers emotional responses. And within our bodies, we harbor microscopic passengers: yeast, parasites, bacteria. Some theories suggest that lunar gravity may stir them into action, increasing their activity and creating stress on our systems. One common suspect is yeast overgrowth, which can impact digestion and mood.

Unfortunately, research into how the Moon affects hormones and neurochemistry — two huge players in our behavior — is surprisingly thin. Given how sensitive we are to both, it’s an area ripe for deeper exploration.

What About All That Water?

A popular idea is that, because we’re mostly water, the Moon must affect us like it does the tides. But here’s the catch: the Moon influences only unbounded bodies of water — like oceans, not your bloodstream. The human body does contain a lot of water, but it’s all tightly bound within cells and tissues. No tides here.

Also, it’s not true that the human body is 80% water — that’s a common myth. And while the Earth’s surface is 80% covered by water, the tidal pull from the Moon depends on distance, not lunar phase.

A Flicker of Earthlight

A small portion of the Moon’s glow comes from sunlight that reflects off Earth and onto the Moon’s surface — a ghostly echo called “Earthshine.” But compared to Earth, the Moon is a poor reflector. Its surface is made of dark, rocky minerals that absorb light rather than bounce it back. Earth, with its oceans and cloud cover, is far more radiant.

Superstitions and Lunar Cycles

Some traditions still assign mystical meaning to the Moon’s phases:

• Waxing Moon: As the light grows, so does energy. A time for intentions, growth, and “charging up.”

• Waning Moon: As the light fades, it’s seen as a time for letting go, release, and inner work.

Whether or not you believe in lunar magic, these rhythms offer a kind of spiritual calendar — a way to tune into natural cycles in a world increasingly disconnected from them.

The Bottom Line

Science may not support the wilder lunar myths, but the Moon still holds power — if not in physics, then in poetry. It shapes our dreams, colors our stories, and lights up the night sky like a reminder that the universe is vast, beautiful, and still full of mysteries.

So the next time you look up at that glowing orb, know this: whether you see a rock, a reflection, or a mirror of your own inner world… you’re not alone in howling at the Moon.