A study of the Earth's geomagnetic field between 1948 and 1997 has shown a correlation between its seasonal peaks and the incidence of depression and suicides.
Researchers have found a link between seasonal peaks in the Earth\'s magnetic field and suicide.Photo: Depression. Credit: Burning Image/Flickr
Oleg Shumilov of the Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems in Russia, told the New Scientist the Earth's magnetic field peaked in three cycles during the year; March to May, another in July with the last in October. Shumilov argues that many animals can sense the magnetic field, so why should this not be the case with humans?
Shumilov's study of the fifty-year data showed the geomagnetism peaks also coincided with the number of suicides in the northern Russian city of Kirovsk over the same period.
Though stressing such a correlation does not prove a causal link between the magnetic field and depression and suicide, he says there various other studies have found such a link.
"Others have found similar things [to Shumilov's results] in independent sets of data," says Michael Rycroft, formerly head of the European Geosciences Society, quoted by the New Scientist. "It suggests something may be linking the two factors."
Rycroft claims that around 10 to 15% of the population are affected by geomagnetic health problems.
Other research which backs up Shumilov's theory include a 2006 Australian study of 51,845 males and 16,327 females which found suicides of females increased significantly during autumn increases in the peak of geomagnetic activity.
"The intriguing correlation between geomagnetism and suicide justifies more research into its mechanism," said Rycroft.
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