PSA: Moonlight Causes Seizures: avoid at all costs

In 2008, doctors at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology UCL concluded a 341 day study that linked epileptic seizures to moonlight.  The doctors, in their blameless ignorance, erroneously attributed not only the light from the moon as being reflected off the sun (It's from moon-dwelling bioluminescent fungus/bacteria and possibly sonoluminescent shrimp-like creatures, which if true, would be the primary cause of the deleterious effects), but also a correlation between the intensity of the light produced and seizures incurred; when they moved their patients out of the moonlight, the seizures dropped in frequency and duration.

The obvious conclusion, overlooked by scientists locked in a rigid and credulous system geared to reinforcing their own ideas, is that the moon's rays are the direct cause of the observed seizures and not the extra, and notably negligible, addition of light by the moon in the night sky.  If this were the case, the test subjects would succumbing to seizures anytime they passed a soft-glowing light bulb or streetlamp.

Be warned, the moon's rays are proven to be harmful and everyone should avoid them at all costs.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDT-4T1X2HG-1&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1480274888&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c3bbe0a5e8946f2eeb34000147e5a1ea&searchtype=a#implicit0

 What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

In 2008, doctors at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology UCL concluded a 341 day study that linked epileptic seizures to moonlight.  The doctors, in their blameless ignorance, erroneously attributed not only the light from the moon as being reflected off the sun (It's from moon-dwelling bioluminescent fungus/bacteria and sonoluminescent shrimp-like creatures, the latter of which are the primary cause of the deleterious effects), but also a correlation between the intensity of the light produced and seizures incurred; when they moved their patients out of the moonlight, the seizures dropped in frequency and duration.

The obvious conclusion, overlooked by scientists locked in a rigid and credulous system geared to reinforcing their own ideas, is that the moon's rays are the direct cause of the observed seizures and not the extra, and notably negligible, addition of light by the moon in the night sky.  If this were the case, the test subjects would succumbing to seizures anytime they passed a soft-glowing light bulb or streetlamp.

Be warned, the moon's rays are proven to be harmful and everyone should avoid them at all costs.


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDT-4T1X2HG-1&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2008&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1480274888&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c3bbe0a5e8946f2eeb34000147e5a1ea&searchtype=a#implicit0

So you claim that scientists erred and that you know better. Obviously we know that anyone who knows that Australia doesn't exist and the M31 is 1mm wide does not know better than these scientists. Please don't bother to rely on your own credibility to win an argument here.

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.


@ClockTower
What does Australia have to do with my PSA?  Are you trolling again, like the time that you said a hydrogen atom was 1mm across?  We are all very worried about your general well being.  Have you spent lots of time under the moon during your life?

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.

Then how do you turn that possibility into the position claimed in this thread's title?

For those too lazy to click the link:

Abstract

Recent reports on the effects of the lunar cycle on seizure occurrence have yielded mixed results. If the moon phase is influential, we hypothesized that this would be due to the moon’s contribution to nocturnal illumination, rather than its waxing or waning state, and that significant correlations would not be apparent if local cloud cover were controlled for. We found a significant negative correlation between the mean number of seizures and the fraction of the moon illuminated by the sun (? = –0.09, P < 0.05) in 1571 seizures recorded in a dedicated epilepsy inpatient unit over 341 days. This correlation disappeared when we controlled for the local clarity of the night sky, suggesting that it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures.

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.

In short, seizures may be influenced by the bright nights whatever the cause of the brightness is. Nothing to do with the moonlight per se.

Quote from: Pongo on September 30, 2010, 11:08:45 AM

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.

In short, seizures may be influenced by the bright nights whatever the cause of the brightness is. Nothing to do with the moonlight per se.

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:24:40 AM

Quote from: Pongo on September 30, 2010, 11:08:45 AM

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.

In short, seizures may be influenced by the bright nights whatever the cause of the brightness is. Nothing to do with the moonlight per se.

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

I see that you've incorrectly concluded that correlation is causation. Please revisit your reasoning training, or lack thereof. Thanks.

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:24:40 AM

Quote from: Pongo on September 30, 2010, 11:08:45 AM

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.

In short, seizures may be influenced by the bright nights whatever the cause of the brightness is. Nothing to do with the moonlight per se.

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

I am not denying anything. I agree that the white nights can be the influence for the seizures as the doctors say. But as many times I read it there is nothing about moonlight causing seizures. You better learn to read, don't only skim casually.

I'd also like to conclude that when there is a full moon there is more crime. So obviously the moon makes people crazy!!!!!!

In retrospect, did you really pay the 40 bucks to read it, or did you just read the overview?

I'd also like to conclude that when there is a full moon there is more crime. So obviously the moon makes people crazy!!!!!!

In retrospect, did you really pay the 40 bucks to read it, or did you just read the overview?

As his precis of the article contained nothing except what was in the available article, including the lack of conclusion I am assuming he did not pay $40.00 for it - nor do I think he should since it probably would have little affect on any of our beliefs on moonlight.  That money would be better spend on - well whatever Pongo likes.

Now - since we can all pull out webpages from the ether of the net.
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/970103b.html
States no correlation of crime and phases of moon - you can read it.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lunacy-and-the-full-moon&page=2
And another one.

But I betcha for every URL I come up with debunking the myth, someone will come up with one supporting the myth.

Berny

Thanks Berny, I have one that supports it!!!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200502/full-moon-crazy

J/k actually, however I want to point this out to the FE'ers out there.

'Kelly also cites what psychologists call confirmation bias, selective thinking whereby we seek out information that confirms our beliefs and ignore evidence that challenges them. Says Kelly, "Some beliefs are just exciting to hold, whatever the evidence."'

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

I've never had a seizure in moonlight, or in any other kind of light.  As far as I know, my brother (who does have seizures every few years or so) has never had a seizure in moonlight either.

Quote from: Pongo on September 30, 2010, 11:31:10 AM

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

I've never had a seizure in moonlight, or in any other kind of light.  As far as I know, my brother (who does have seizures every few years or so) has never had a seizure in moonlight either.

Interesting claim.  Have you noticed any ill effects?  Irregular bowl movements, unusual headaches, or a change in menstrual cycles perhaps?

I spent all of last night staring at the moon, and I'm fine today.

Interesting claim.  Have you noticed any ill effects?  Irregular bowl movements, unusual headaches, or a change in menstrual cycles perhaps?

I just checked my cabinets, and by bowls are right where I left them.

I am declaring that I am immune to Moonlight.

Quote from: zork on September 30, 2010, 11:05:30 AM

What? There is nothing like you describe in the sentence - "it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures."

...

That quote clearly says that the seizures may be influenced by the contribution of the moon's brightness to nocturnal luminance.


@ClockTower
What does Australia have to do with my PSA?  Are you trolling again, like the time that you said a hydrogen atom was 1mm across?  We are all very worried about your general well being.  Have you spent lots of time under the moon during your life?

Your credibility has everything to do with this stupid PSA. I also challenge you to link to where I said that a hydrogen atom was 1 mm across.

Quote from: markjo on September 30, 2010, 02:55:23 PM

Quote from: Pongo on September 30, 2010, 11:31:10 AM

How much more proof do you need?  You are just denying for the sake of denying.  In moonlight people have seizures, inside they have less seizures.  It's painfully obvious that the doctors couldn't put two and two together and blamed the seizures on whatever they could think of, the negligible addition of a soft glowing moon to the night light.

I've never had a seizure in moonlight, or in any other kind of light.  As far as I know, my brother (who does have seizures every few years or so) has never had a seizure in moonlight either.

Interesting claim.  Have you noticed any ill effects?  Irregular bowl movements, unusual headaches, or a change in menstrual cycles perhaps?

Nope, nope, nope and nope.  Why, should I?

Your credibility has everything to do with this stupid PSA. I also challenge you to link to where I said that a hydrogen atom was 1 mm across.

Look at mister tough guy bragging after he edited a post.

This only confirms my deepest fears. Thank you for your warning, Pongo.

Fear mongering at its best/worst. It seems that its becoming a trend for certain members to type a title that is in opposition to the actual information that they link. This forum is getting more preposterous by the day.

This only confirms my deepest fears. Thank you for your warning, Pongo.

This only confirms my doubts, both of you can't understand what you read. Only the two word flash in the front of your eyes when you read the text, moonlight and dangerous. Even when the text is really about something else.

It rained here last night. I looked out my back window up towards the moon, there it was, a moonbow. They blow rainbows out of the water.

It rained here last night. I looked out my back window up towards the moon, there it was, a moonbow. They blow rainbows out of the water.

That wasn't a bow. You see bows with your back to the Sun. You see halos or dogs when you face the Sun or Moon. Just FYI

Pongo, you really need to learn how to read a scientific paper.  Correlation of lights to seizure episodes has been well documented for years.  This is why video games have warnings on them.  What this study has determined is that even moonlight can have a similar effect on those afflicted with epilepsy. This applies to all reasonably intense nocturnal light, including light pollution, a streetlight near the window, etc.  It has nothing to do with the moonlight itself, nor is moonlight harmful in any way.

Stop being so willfully obtuse in your reporting.

Pongo, you really need to learn how to read a scientific paper.  Correlation of lights to seizure episodes has been well documented for years.  This is why video games have warnings on them.  What this study has determined is that even moonlight can have a similar effect on those afflicted with epilepsy. This applies to all reasonably intense nocturnal light, including light pollution, a streetlight near the window, etc.  It has nothing to do with the moonlight itself, nor is moonlight harmful in any way.

Stop being so willfully obtuse in your reporting.

Have you really not figured out Pongo is a troll yet?

I spend a fair amount  of time exposed to moonlight (late evening Rugby, going out etc.) and I've not noticed any negative effects whatsoever. If moonlight is harmful, then I would be in a very bad way, would I not?

I spend a fair amount  of time exposed to moonlight (late evening Rugby, going out etc.) and I've not noticed any negative effects whatsoever. If moonlight is harmful, then I would be in a very bad way, would I not?

They don't even know what the moonlight does to you. They just contribute absolutely everything negative which happens in the moonlight to the the moonlight. You can start doing criminal activities, go crazy, get seizures, your stomach may start to hurt, blindness maybe when you look at the moon, rash, or some more several hundreds different effects and some illnesses which have the word "moon" in them. Even when the rock falls from the roof and hits you it is because of the moonlight.