There is no measurable full moon effect on births, crime, or emergency rooms. It has been checked many times.

A 1985 meta-analysis pooled dozens of studies and found essentially nothing. The persistent belief is a good example of confirmation bias: a chaotic night with a full moon gets remembered and retold, a chaotic night at first quarter doesn't. Hospital staff who track it prospectively stop believing it.

Source: Rotton & Kelly, Psychological Bulletin (1985) · checked Aug 2026

🔮 The folklore version: The full moon is the culmination

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There is no measurable full moon effect on births, crime, or emergency rooms. It has been checked many times.

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There is no measurable full moon effect on births, crime, or emergency rooms. It has been checked many times.

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