FROM MOONBEAMS TO MOONWALKS

How the moon affects us and the possibilities it holds

-  STUART DANKER & ALISON LOH

IN THE MONTH OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR where families gather for reunion dinners and red packets exchange hands from person to person, it comes time to explore the main element that the celebration itself is based on: the moon.

Beyond its nightly presence and portrayal in occult tales or science fiction flicks lies its force that affects all life on Earth. It came into play long before the dawn of our recorded history, and it’ll continue orbiting our planet probably long after we’re gone.

For today, however, we’ll only be exploring the moon’s impact on our daily experiences, from the possible way it affects our mood to present-day biodynamic farming. We’ll also see if the moon offers more than a dark night’s company and look at what’s possible in the near future.

Some are scientifically plausible – for instance, it made sense that the full moon, functioning as the main source of light at night in centuries past would’ve contributed to our increased activities during this time of the month.

Other findings, while interesting – such as how the moon could affect those with bipolar disorder – just don’t have enough data points to prove its suggested power over us.

Regardless, our celestial partner is here to stay, so why not shed some light on it? It’s done the same for us, after all.

MOON PHASE WATCHES

This complication in many a wristwatch is often taken for granted today. But seeing as how timekeeping began with the use of the sundial, it is easy to appreciate the moon’s role in the field of horology.