moon

[peter fraser]

if we didn't have a moon orbitting theEarth, what would be the most dramatic effect on the human population ?

[andy hughes]

The two most dramatic effects on the human population would be: the gradual decimation of all plant life on earth - the moon's gravity draws water into plant systems from root to leaves and fruits, and the eventual extinction of the human race - the moon's gravity regulates the menstrual cycle, and the development of the foetus, and scientists predict that without that gravity, normal foetal development would cease.

[Hamish]

Andy, have you any referances for this. Plants draw water up by capillary action, not some gravitational effect, The womans menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones, not the phases of the moon, nor does it affect foetal development.

[frostbitten]

Likely the most dramatic effect would be the absence of tides in oceans, and the resulting absence of certain marine currents... The climate would change, but not as catastrophically as you might think. Please ignore the pseudo-scientific Mr Hughes.

[incitatus]

Oh my, the hughester is in for it.... OK the plant thing: not capillary action so much as evaporative pumping. Transpiration powers it. The menstrual thing: the moons gravity is used by the female body to provide a timing effect, but women do get by without it, though with more irregular periods. Also great numbers of chicks in the west regulate their menses by the pill, not the moon. Frostbitten: without ocean currents no life at all. Circulation of nutrients essential. Many would run though, due to thermal effects. The biggest change would be atmospheric. The moons gravity effectively thins out the atmosphere of the earth. Without it we would probably be much more like venus (boiling sulphuric acid rain, anyone?). Consequently our kind of life would not be here. If it suddenly left: huge seasonal variations and massive climate damage. Probable thinning out of or extinction of humanity as a result. Many insect species unable to breed, many flowers and trees die off. unpleasant.

[andy hughes]

Thanks again to my learned friend for coming to my rescue. My response was not 'pseudo' (very wounding!) but the passing on of some info which I obtained from a website - I was looking for something else entirely, so as a result, cannot remember the site I found, but it was there - I'm not making it up!

[designr]

Songs with lyrics such as 'gimme the moonlight' would vanish forever