We just learned something about the Moon that’s pretty hard to believe – BGR

• The effect of the Moon on humans has long been debated, but new research suggests that it definitely affects our sleep.
• A new study published in Science Advances suggests that the phase of the Moon has a real and measurable effect on how much sleep we get and when we feel tired.
• Study participants wore sleep trackers and their habits were tracked for as long as two months.

It is often said that a full moon causes people to act differently from any other night during a different phase of the moon. Ancient civilizations often placed great importance on the phases of the moon, and some believed that certain things only happened during specific moon phases, such as a full moon. Now science offers serious support for these theories.

In a new study published in Scientific advances, the researchers asked volunteers from indigenous communities in Argentina to wear sleep trackers for up to two months to track their sleep patterns. About 100 people from the region participated in the study. The data was also compared to sleep data collected from over 450 Seattle residents, and the similarities were incredible.

Top Deal of the day Amazon buyers can’t get enough of these best-selling black masks Price:$ 26.25 Available on Amazon, BGR may receive a commission Buy now Available on Amazon BGR may receive commission

The study attempted to determine the differences in sleep patterns based on moonlight, and since the full moon and the days leading up to it are the brightest nights, it makes sense that Indigenous peoples (some of whom had no or limited access to electricity) stayed late on nights with a bright moon and slept almost an hour less than the other nights of the month.

This finding, on its own, would be quite interesting if only for the fact that it offers us some insight into how our pre-industrial ancestors behaved due to the different phases of the Moon. However, the study takes an even more astonishing turn when the data from Seattle is included. It turns out that city dwellers, despite having access to artificial light in so many forms, also exhibited different patterns of sleep based on the moon phase.

“The fact that this modulation was present even in communities with full access to electric light suggests that these effects are mediated by something other than the moonlight itself,” said Leandro Casiraghi, lead author of the research. CNN.

But how could the Moon affect people if light isn’t the only factor? This part is not clear, but the researchers have their theories. One of these theories is that humans have internal clocks that are not limited to 24 hour a day and sleep / wake cycles. Many animals have instinctive responses to times of the year, although seasonal changes do not result in dramatic climate changes. It’s possible that humans have had a similar adaptation for a long time, and staying awake late when the moon is bright is being burned into our DNA. Of course, this is only a theory.

Mike Wehner has reported on technology and video games for the past decade, covering the latest news and trends in virtual reality, wearable devices, smartphones and future technologies. Most recently, Mike served as a technical writer for The Daily Dot and has been featured on USA Today, Time.com, and countless other websites and print. His love of reporting comes right after his gambling addiction.