@article{ref1,
title="Relationship between lunar phases and serious crimes of battery: a population-based study",
journal="Comprehensive psychiatry",
year="2009",
author="Biermann, Teresa and Asemann, Rita and McAuliffe, Carmel and Strobel, Armin and Keller, Jochen and Sperling, Wolfgang and Bleich, S. and Kornhuber, Johannes and Reulbach, Udo",
volume="50",
number="6",
pages="573-577",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis of a lunar influence on human abnormal behavior is still widespread, although research has led to conflicting findings. Therefore, a population-based study to assess the influence of lunar phases on violent crimes was conducted. METHODS: The study included all serious crimes of battery (aggravated assaults) committed in Middle Franconia (Bavaria, Germany) between 1999 and 2005 (n = 23 142). Data were analyzed regarding lunar phase, sex, and place of crime scene (outdoor vs indoor). RESULTS: No significant associations between full, absent, and the moon's interphases and serious crimes of battery could be detected. Furthermore, a Fourier analysis was conducted that failed to produce an association between violence and the moon's phases. DISCUSSION: Several possible explanations for the presented results are discussed including biological and social mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: The present study fails to find a significant association between lunar phases and crimes of battery.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0010-440X",
doi="10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.01.002",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2009.01.002"
}