The Sun is the closest star to
our planet and it would be logical to assume that all living beings here
are strongly affected by its activity. It seems that along with
determining Earth’s climate andbiological cycles in nature, our star also affects our behavior, mental health and even lifespan!
SUN AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Back in 19th century, Russian scientist A.L. Chizhevsky conducted a study aimed to find a link between the 11-year solar cycles and tendencies in human behavior and society.
Having compared different stages of solar cycles with mass human
movements, such as wars, revolutions, migrations, etc., he came up with
an “Index of Mass Human Excitability”, which covered human history from 500 B.C. to 1922 A.D.
Prof. Chizhevsky discovered that 80% of the most important historical events took place during periods of solar maximum,
i.e. periods when the solar activity reaches its peak. He assumed that
it was due to the fact that increased activity in the Sun altered the
nervous and psychic character of humanity, boosting people’s vital
energy and pushing them to make radical changes in society.
SUN AND MENTAL HEALTH
A 2006 Australian study found a link between peaks in suicide numbers and Earth’s geomagnetic activity, which is affected by the solar flares.
Another study, which analyzed South African data on suicides and
geomagnetic storms during a 13-year period, came to the same conclusion.
A British study published in 1994 showed a 36.2%
increase in the number of patients suffering from depression in the
second week after a geomagnetic storm.
Why do geomagnetic storms cause mental health problems? According to Dr. Kelly Posner of Columbia University, “the
most plausible explanation for the association between geomagnetic
activity and depression and suicide is that geomagnetic storms can
desynchronise circadian rhythms and melatonin production.”
These two factors, circadian rhythm and melatonin production, are regulated by the pineal gland,
which synchronizes our internal clocks with the solar day and is
sensitive to magnetic fields. Geomagnetic storms, which are caused by
large flares on the Sun, may disrupt our internal clocks, leading to a
number of mental disorders, including depression and suicide risk.
SUN AND HUMAN LIFESPAN
Norwegian scientists came to a surprising conclusion: it seems that solar activity at one’s birth may affect their lifespan. According to their study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, people born in periods of solar calm tend to live longer than those born during increased solar activity.
The research team from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology studieddemographic data obtained from church records between 1676 and 1878. The records…
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