Cyclones strengthen more often under a new moon than at any other time, according to a US study.

From fertility to suicide, most phenomena attributed to the moon are almost exclusively superstition.

But Associate Professor Peter Yaukey of the University of New Orleans has found what he thinks is real evidence that the phase of moon drives cyclone behaviour - known as hurricanes in North America and typhoons in Asia.

Storms that occurred in the Atlantic Ocean between 1950 and 2007 were more likely to form right after the new moon. They also intensified 49% more often after a new moon than at any other time in the 29.5-day lunar cycle.

Explanations for why this is are many, but nothing conclusive has been shown.

There are a range of possibilities. Just as the moon pulls on earth's oceans and creates the tides, it also tugs on the air above it.