Bacteria Ride the Tide: Moon’s phases predict water quality at beaches

At many ocean beaches, full and new moons coincide with the greatest concentrations of bacteria in the water, researchers in California have determined. The new finding suggests that extreme tides, which occur fortnightly in synchrony with lunar phases, generate water conditions that could make swimmers sick.

To prevent waterborne microbes from causing diarrhea and other illnesses, authorities at U.S.