Is there anything to Jake Gyllenhaal's full moon theory?

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Jake Gyllenhaal has a theory about the moon that many find to be a bit kooky, but I know a few who happen to agree with him.

"I believe deeply in the unconscious," the 34-year-old star told Esquire UK. "That you literally accumulate the molecules of the space that you're in. We're like 90 per cent water, so naturally we are going to be affected by the moon when it's full: if the sea is, why wouldn't we be? That seems scientific to me."

"Seems scientific" doesn't get you too far with a lot of people, but this isn't the first time I've heard what Jake Gyllenhaal is talking about.  My mom, who is an elementary teacher, was actually the first person who introduced me to the idea a full moon means kids are going to be a little crazy.

I didn't notice it too much while I was growing up, but during the years that I taught at preschool I did start to wonder if there is something to it. One mom in particular would often talk about the moon and the weather and make predictions about her son's behavior or how he'd be feeling in the coming days. I was skeptical, but sure enough she could predict when he was going to get a cold pretty darn well -- but then again, it was a preschool. No matter how much you clean there's really no shortage of snot, saliva and germs going about. It could have all been a coincidence.

Our BabyCenter Community members have also been discussing if a full moon has anything to do with behavior and going into labor. One even shared, "My midwife swears by the moon: boys come around new moons and girls near full moons."

Sadly, actual science says there's no truth to the one about more babies being born when there's a full moon. The BabyCenter Experts explain:

Many maternity nurses and moms will swear that there's a surge in births during a full moon, but scientific studies disprove the notion. Statistics show there's no increase in births (or birth defects) during a full moon.

Studies in New York City in the 1950s showed a 1 percent increase in births in the two weeks after a full moon. The same research later found a 1 percent increase in the weeks before and after the full moon. And years later other researchers looked at births in the same area and found a 1 percent increase before the full moon.

So, pretty much anytime other than the full moon?

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Do you find you or your children are influenced that all by a full moon?

Photos: PR Photos

 

Jake Gyllenhaal isn't a dad himself, but he was chosen by two famous friends to be a godparent to their daughter. Do you remember who? Take a look: