The word 'lunatic ' itself was derived from the Latin word for moon 'luna , ' as many were convinced that the celestial body could cause disease and strange behaviour . And it 's a theory that persists today , with many people believing that a full moon is more likely to coincide with hectic periods in hospitals or in birth wards . But Dr Jean-Luc Margot , a professor of planetary astronomy at the University of California , has carried out a study that proves that the concept is essentially rubbish . A researcher from the University of California says that claims the moon causes illnesses are rubbish . Dr Margot said that when life is hectic on the day of a full moon , many people remember the association because it confirms their belief - but they do not remember when nothing in particular happens on such a day . His research was carried out to illustrate how intelligent and otherwise reasonable people develop strong beliefs that are not aligned with reality . 'The absence of a lunar influence on human affairs has been demonstrated in the areas of automobile accidents , hospital admissions , surgery outcomes , cancer survival rates , menstruation , births , birth complications , depression , violent behaviour , and even criminal activity ' , Dr Margot writes . Even though a 40-year-old UCLA study demonstrated that the timing of births does not correlate in any way with the lunar cycle , the belief in a lunar effect has persisted . A full moon is when it is on the opposite side of Earth from the sun . This means its entire surface is lit up by the sun , making it especially bright . A new moon is when it is in the same direction as the sun , so its 'far side ' is lit , and it can barely be seen in Earth 's sky . On average , the moon is 239,000 miles ( 384,000km ) from Earth and takes 27 days , seven hours , 43 minutes and 11.6 seconds to complete one orbit . A 2004 study in a nursing journal , for example , suggested that the full moon influenced the number of hospital admissions in a medical unit in Barcelona , Spain . But Dr Margot identified multiple flaws in the data collection and analysis of the 2004 research . By re-analysing the data , he showed that the number of admissions was unrelated to the lunar cycle . 'The moon is innocent , ' Dr Margot said . Dr Margot cited what scientists refer to as the 'confirmation bias ' - people 's tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms their beliefs and ignore data that contradict them . When life is hectic on the day of a full moon , many people remember the association because it confirms their belief . But hectic days that do not correspond with a full moon are promptly ignored and forgotten because they do not reinforce the belief . The moon is even blamed when things get crazy at hospital emergency rooms ( stock image shown ) or birth wards . 'Some nurses ascribe the apparent chaos to the moon , but dozens of studies show that the belief is unfounded , ' said Dr Jean-Luc Margot , a UCLA professor of planetary astronomy . Dr Margot said the societal costs of flawed beliefs can be enormous . In just one current example , the recent measles outbreak appears to have been triggered by parents ' questionable beliefs about the safety of the measles vaccine . 'Vaccines are widely and correctly regarded as one of the greatest public health achievements , yet vaccine-preventable diseases are killing people because of beliefs that are out of step with scientific facts , ' Dr Margot said . A willingness to engage in evidence-based reasoning and admit that one 's beliefs may be incorrect will produce a more accurate view of the world and result in better decision-making , he said . 'Perhaps we can start by correcting our delusions about the moon , and work from there , ' Dr Margot added . The study was published online by the journal Nursing Research .
Scientist at the University of California studied lunar myths . He found that full moons do not correlate with illnesses or 'hectic ' periods . People just thought they did because they remembered those days . 'The moon is innocent , ' Dr Jean-Luc Margot said .