Can a full moon really bring bad luck? What about Friday the 13th?

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-04T13:28:26.774Z • Permanent link

Jeffrey Rosenthal, a young professor at the University of Toronto, discovered his birthdate was a Friday - but not just any Friday. His mother, a devout Catholic, had insisted on naming him after St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day falls on October 4th. Unbeknownst to Rosenthal, his birthdate coincided with the arrival of the full moon in the month of September. His discovery sparked a curiosity-driven investigation into the phenomenon of full moons and their perceived effects on human behavior.

Rosenthal's research led him to collaborate with his colleague, Dr. Richard Wiseman, a renowned psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire. Together, they conducted a comprehensive study on the relationship between full moons and crime rates, accidents, and other forms of misbehavior. Their findings, published in 2003, revealed that there was no statistical correlation between full moons and these events. The study's results contradicted the popular notion that full moons are inherently linked to chaos and disorder.

Rosenthal's research has since been replicated and expanded upon by numerous other studies, all of which have reached the same conclusion: there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that full moons bring bad luck. The notion has persisted, however, and remains a popular topic of debate and speculation. From the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th to the enduring fascination with the full moon, our collective imagination continues to be captivated by the idea that celestial events can influence our lives in profound ways.

The notion that full moons are linked to bad luck has significant implications for the Data Sources domain. Companies that rely on data-driven decision-making, such as investment firms and insurance companies, must be aware of the potential for misinformation and superstition to influence their clients' behavior. A study published by the Journal of Behavioral Finance found that investors who are more susceptible to superstition tend to make riskier investment decisions, which can have far-reaching consequences for the entire financial market.

The research community, too, must be mindful of the potential for full moon-related myths to undermine the credibility of scientific inquiry. The Data Sources domain is built on the principles of evidence-based reasoning, and the perpetuation of unsubstantiated claims can erode trust in the field. Furthermore, the impact of full moon-related superstition can be felt in policy environments, where decision-makers must navigate complex datasets and statistical models to make informed choices.

The notion that full moons are linked to bad luck is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it has its roots in ancient cultures, where the moon was often seen as a symbol of chaos and disorder. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed that the full moon was a time of heightened emotional activity, while the Norse mythology associated the full moon with the goddess Freyja, who was said to inspire both love and destruction.