Dave Anderson wants to bust a myth.

I want to bust a myth about vernal equinox… For millennia, humans - like all animals - have measured daylight and responded to changes in day length. Exposure to natural light sets daily circadian rhythms of waking and sleep and influences production of hormones and serotonin that influence moods.

In the first week of February, we cross the ten-hours-of-daylight threshold. People comment how mornings and evenings are perceptibly brighter. People seem to emerge from an emotional darkness too.

In Nature, changes in light influence hormones that regulate animal behavior including the onset of fur-bearers breeding seasons and singing territorial songs by early breeding birds.

By now, I can also remove the light inside our chicken coop. After reaching ten hours of light, hens lay sufficient eggs without the artificial light regime. Back in November, I installed the light to extend "daylight" five hours beyond the 4 o'clock sunset. By vernal equinox on March 22, days and nights will even-up at twelve hours apiece.

Perhaps you've heard a myth about chicken eggs on vernal equinox?

Story goes that chicken eggs readily balance on the equinox, presumably due to the position of the Earth's axis relative to the sun. That’s a myth! Yes an egg will balance - try it yourself in March. Better yet, try it today!

An egg will balance at any time of year - if you are patient enough. All it takes is a steady hand. Shake an egg to break the yolk loose to lower the egg's center of gravity and it balances easily.

 Myth busted!