Evidence shows that high temperatures lead to excess morbidity and mortality in adults, but less is known about how heat affects children. Our study, led by Dr. Aaron Bernstein in Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to evaluate the impacts of heat on children’s health in all major regions around the country.
The study looked at over three million child and adolescent emergency department (ED) visits in children’s hospitals in 27 states from May to September, 2016-2018.
It found that heat increases the number of children who visit the emergency department for any reason in the summer months and this underscores the need for more aggressive adaptation measures, especially given that climate change is anticipated to make summer heat more common and severe. Importantly, the study found that children present to the ED at higher temperatures for different reasons than adults, which underscores children’s unique vulnerabilities.
Key takeaways and insights for clinicians
- Hotter days were associated with higher risks of ED visits for any reason as well as for specific conditions, including heat-related illnesses, bacterial intestinal infections, ear infections, and nervous system diseases.
- 11.8% of all warm-season ED visits, 31.0% of ED visits for heat-related illnesses, and 25.2% of visits for bacterial intestinal infections were attributed to heat.
- Associations between high temperature days and ED visits were not confined to the hottest days, but rather were evident across a range of warm season temperatures. Pediatric care providers may not currently consider temperatures in this range as a risk to child health.
- ED visits for several conditions, including asthma, respiratory system diseases, and mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders, were not clearly associated with higher temperatures.
- Children with existing health conditions, genetic susceptibilities, or who face additional obstacles like housing insecurity or access to clean water may be at particular risk of heat exposure and the ensuing health effects
Aaron S. Bernstein MD MPH, Shengzhi Sun PhD, Kate R. Weinberger PhD, Keith R. Spangler PhD, Perry E. Sheffield MD MPH, Gregory A. Wellenius ScD


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Calming the COVID-19 storm
Our scientific teams with expertise in inflammation, infection and immunity hold vital clues to help tackle deadly virus outbreaks—like COVID-19.
Inflammation is a normal, protective reaction to infection—and a critical first step in activating the body’s full immune response. However, if uncontrolled, inflammation can lead to a range of debilitating and life-threatening conditions—acute respiratory syndromes, sepsis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, pneumonia, endometriosis, infertility and even cancer.
The life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe COVID-19 cases results from hyper-inflammation, similar to that seen during other SARS, MERS and avian influenza outbreaks. While most infections can be mild and cleared quickly, this is not true of all cases. The effect on our aged and immune-compromised communities has been devastating. Restricting this inflammation could help save lives before antiviral therapies and vaccines are developed and ready.
Several research teams at Hudson Institute are working on different approaches to curb this hyper-inflammation. In addition, we are investigating why some patients are affected more severely by COVID-19 than others—including the differences seen in adults and children.
When it comes to responding to a new infectious disease, there are many different pieces of the puzzle. In this issue, we look at some of the innovative approaches underway at Hudson Institute.
- The coronavirus pandemic will affect millions globally
- The life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in severe COVID-19 cases results from hyper-inflammation
- The infection is most severe in the aged and immune-compromised
- The SARS CoV-2 virus appears to have originated in bats and passed to humans via an intermediary mammal
- COVID-19 is the most severe global pandemic since ‘Spanish’ influenza in 1918–1919, which killed between 50-100 million people and infected about a third of the world’s population.
Inflammation and infectious diseases
Severe COVID-19 infection presents as excessive lung inflammation, involving the build-up of cells and fluid in the lungs. This phenomenon, known as ARDS, restricts breathing and causes damage to the lungs. Severely affected patients will need ventilator assistance in intensive care.
COVID-19 has similar characteristics to severe Influenza A virus (IAV) infections, including the damaging lung inflammation that causes ARDS. Associate Professor Ashley Mansell and Dr Michelle Tate are collectively using their knowledge of severe inflammation from IAV studies to repurpose and develop potential drugs to treat COVID-19. The team has been sought out by international biotech companies due to their specialist expertise.
How we are tackling acute inflammation
- Identifying the molecular mechanisms of SARS CoV-2 induced inflammation
- Examining how COVID-19 results in severe lung inflammation
- Developing and testing new, and repurposed, anti-inflammatory compounds to treat ARDS in COVID-19.
Why is research into inflammation caused by infectious diseases needed?
“At the moment there are no effective treatments to address the devastating effect of inflammation caused by COVID-19,” A/Prof Mansell said. “There is a desperate worldwide need to identify and develop new therapies as quickly as possible.”
Dr Michelle Tate added, “Inflammation is involved in nearly every disease known to humankind and yet we understand very little of how, why and where this occurs and what causes it. If we understand the how and why, we can try and target it to reduce disease.”
COVID-19 MAY NOT BE OUR BIGGEST WORRY
There’s still the threat of an avian influenza virus emerging which may make COVID-19 look like a bad cough.
The current pandemic highlights several concerning facts
- The world is poorly prepared for new and sudden emerging infectious diseases.
- While vaccines are highly effective, the timeframe to develop, test, make and distribute a new vaccine for an emerging disease like COVID-19 is at least 12-18 months.
- The world currently lacks approved and effective anti-inflammatory drugs to treat emerging inflammatory infectious diseases.
- It is impossible to contain an infectious disease in a global community without strict quarantine measures that severely damage the economy. We have to be prepared with strategies and treatments when pandemics arise. A range of measures is needed to tackle a new virus on the scale of COVID-19 and ‘buy’ time until a vaccine is ready.
A/Prof Ash Mansell
Research Group Head, Pattern Recognition Receptors and Inflammation Research group
Dr Michelle Tate
Research Group Head, Viral and Immunity and Immunopathology Research group
NHMRC, commercial partners
Further funding is needed for this team to pursue research into repurposing existing drugs and for the methods of delivery to patients, including inhalers and nebulisers.
Help our researchers discover new treatments to save the lives of the most vulnerable COVID-19 patients.
Using our immune system to fight COVID-19
There is something unusual about the initial—or innate— immune response to COVID-19 compared to usual influenza patterns.
The disease severity is surprisingly low in children, but high in older people. Our innate immune response provides early antiviral protection and shapes the immunity required later for vaccine responses. But, if uncontrolled, the resulting hyper-acute inflammation from excess cytokines can lead to potentially lethal ARDS.
A Hudson Institute and Monash Health collaboration between Professor Paul Hertzog, Dr Sam Forster, Professor Phil Bardin, Professor Marcel Nold and Professor Jim Buttery will study the innate immune response of COVID-19-infected patients admitted to Monash Health wards, comparing those who have mild disease and recover, with those who suffer severe disease requiring intensive care. The study will compare disease in adults and children.
This collaboration demonstrates the benefits of the Institute’s location onsite at Melbourne’s largest healthcare network, Monash Health—enabling this exciting translational project to occur.
How we are tackling acute inflammation
- Does the antiviral interferon response (inflammatory signalling proteins) align with disease severity?
- Which inflammatory cytokines influence development of severe lung disease?
- Does the immune cell response dictate protection, or drive long-term immunity?
- How does the lung microbiome influence the innate immune response including inflammation?
Why is research into the innate immune response needed?
“We don’t understand why some people have mild disease and recover, while others develop life-threatening illness,” Prof Paul Hertzog said. “This includes the apparent ‘resistance’ of young people and sensitivity of older patients.” This study aims to study everything from patient genetics, to the nature of their immune cells and the molecules they produce.
Understanding early immune responses to COVID-19 will help scientists design vaccines to optimise successful protection.
Prof Hertzog said the response to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the global scientific community’s ability to work at pace, thanks to the latest cutting-edge technology and highly skilled scientists. “We have seen remarkable advances in the ability of the international scientific community to respond to a crisis such as this pandemic. The virus was isolated and its whole genome sequenced in three days, enabling tests to be available quickly, and vaccine projects to begin at an unprecedented pace,” he said. “Nevertheless, a vaccine would take at least 12 to 18 months to develop.”
In the interim, he said there was much more work to be done around the potential to harness innate immunity to fight pandemic and/or drug-resistant infections or respond to health issues by developing better immune biomarkers for disease diagnosis and surveillance, or immunotherapeutics and vaccines for treatment and prevention.
The benefit of targeting the innate immune response is the existence of common elements regardless of the infection—COVID, SARS, EBOLA, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This complements approaches that do target specific infections, such as antiviral drugs, vaccines and antibiotics.
Professor Paul Hertzog
Centre Head, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases
Dr Sam Forster, Research Group Head, Microbiota and Systems Biology
Professor Phil Bardin, Research Group Head, Respiratory and Lung; Head of Unit, Respiratory and Sleep, Monash Health
Professor Marcel Nold, Research Group Head, Interventional Immunology in Early Life Diseases; paediatrician, Monash Health
Professor Jim Buttery, Head of Unit, Infection and Immunity, Monash Children’s Hospital
This project requires funding for analysis.
Hyper-acute inflammation in COVID-19
Sepsis is a hyper-acute inflammatory response leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction.
Sepsis is usually caused by bacterial infections; however, the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates that hyper-acute inflammation can also be part of viral infections. Many critical COVID-19 patients develop dangerous levels of hyper-acute inflammation, and this is associated with a high death rate.
The Nucleic Acids and Innate Immunity research group, headed by Dr Michael Gantier, is looking for treatments to help prevent chronic and hyper-acute inflammation.
Nucleic acids are the root cause of toxic inflammation in chronic diseases like lupus, or acute sepsis. This team is working with potential drugs targeting inflammation driven by nucleic acids, by validating the anti-inflammatory properties of these drugs in preclinical models of sepsis and chronic inflammation.
How we are tackling acute inflammation
- Selection of molecules that can be quickly repurposed as anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent chronic inflammation and sepsis
- Development of new treatments that build on ‘good’ inflammation to help the body’s immune system successfully fight pathogens and cancer
- Understanding how chronic inflammation driven by nucleic acids controls cancer development.
Why do we need to research life-threatening inflammation?
“It is clear that the world is not prepared to deal with the number of ARDS patients generated by COVID-19,” Dr Gantier said.
The body’s immune response to some infections can be toxic to patients, damaging major organs. This triggers a chain of responses that can ultimately result in organ failure and death.
“In critical COVID-19 patients, the progression from ARDS to death directly relates to out-of-control inflammation from damaged tissues,” Dr Gantier said. “This progression is slow (over a week), allowing a window of opportunity to prevent the inflammatory storm and protect these patients. This is a primary focus for us.”
Dr Michael Gantier
Research Group Head, Nucleic Acids and Innate Immunity
Further funding is needed to pursue research into validating the drugs identified by this lab, to treat diseases driven by chronic and acute inflammation.


When does Purim 2015 start?
Purim 2015 begins at sunset on Wednesday, March 4, and ends on Thursday evening, March 5.
The Background of Purim
However, Ahashuerus’ newly crowned queen, Esther–who replaced Vashti when she was thrown out of the kingdom–is secretly a Jew.
Due to her courage and her eventual role in saving the Jews, the story of Purim is known as “Megillat Esther,” or the Scroll of Esther.
What to Do on Purim
There are four common practices on Purim:
* We give gifts to poor people.
* We read the megillah, the Purim story.
* We eat a festive meal, or seudah.
* We give food gifts, called mishloah manot, to our friends.
Other Purim Activities
Many people dress up in costume, following the theme of Purim as a holiday of disguise where nothing is quite as it seems. Synagogues and communities hold plays and festivals specifically for the day. Traditionally, a noisemaker or grogger is sounded when Haman’s name is said aloud during the megillah reading; today some people have instituted a new practice of waving a celebratory flag when Esther’s name is recited.
How Much Do You Know?
Pronounced: muh-GILL-uh, Origin: Hebrew, meaning “scroll,” it is usually used to refer to the scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther, also known as the Book of Esther), a book of the Bible traditionally read twice during the holiday of Purim. Slang: a long and tedious story or explanation.
Pronounced: PUR-im, the Feast of Lots, Origin: Hebrew, a joyous holiday that recounts the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre during the Persian period.


IONS – December 2011
If the art of holiday giving is starting to feel a little more contrived this year, a little more commercial, then the science of giving has some news to bolster your holiday spirit: research suggests that not only is giving good for you—your health, your happiness, and your sense of purpose—but gift-giving activates the good things that people do to heal a wounded world. In our worldview transformation research, IONS has identified three gifts of giving—altruism, interconnectedness, and compassion—that catalyze positive human behaviors that improve communities, societies, and the planet. You may be thinking that’s a lot of glory attributed to a single pebble dropped into an ocean of need, but the work of IONS emphasizes that consciousness matters; in other words, it’s not the pebble in your hand but the ripple in your heart that ultimately creates the concentric waves of benevolence that brings warmth to those in need.
Consciousness research, which has been studying the science of giving for decades, has taught us that giving and receiving are among the most healing expressions that humans can make. They can help heal the separateness we often feel from ourselves, each other, the environment, and the sacred.
Love Knows No Bounds – Compassion
By cultivating compassion, people experience a greater connection with others that transcends the physical realm.
- Results of our Compassionate Intention Study (nicknamed “The Love Study”) suggest that loving or compassionate intention can influence a person’s physiology, ranging from brain activity measurements to skin conductance and gut feelings. (See also the case study.)
- Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson has shown how contemplative practices can activate the neural circuits of our brain that promote joy, fulfilling relationships, inner peace, and a sensitivity to the needs of others. (Dr. Hanson’s upcoming course, “Buddha’s Brain: Taking in the Good,” begins March 14, 2012. )
- Dacher Keltner’s work in the fields of biology and psychology has found that humans are born with a propensity toward goodness and altruistic feelings and actions.
Good Deeds, Good Health – Altruism
Altruism describes the act of giving without expecting anything in return; it is the ultimate expression of love. According to research IONS sponsored in the late 1990s, acts of altruism can elicit the immune system response:
- In his research on the relationship between love and health, Dr. Jeff Levin, an epidemiologist who also serves as a research consultant for the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love (IRUL), along with a colleague found that a correlation exists between almost every dimension of love and patients’ descriptions of better health, more positive emotional well-being, higher self-esteem, and a sense of personal control in their lives.
- A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine by Dr. Stephen Post, professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University and president of (IRUL), suggests a strong correlation between a person’s well-being, happiness, health, and longevity and their inclination toward altruistic acts—so long as they aren’t overwhelmed by helping too much!
Interconnectedness on Genes
An especially compelling study conducted by Dr. Dean Ornish demonstrated that feelings of increased interconnectedness with others can change gene expression, making relationships critical to health and well-being. In “Love and Survival: The Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy,” Ornish writes: “…love and intimacy are at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well…I am not aware of any factor in medicine—not diet, not smoking, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery—that has greater impact on our quality of life, incidence of illness, and premature death from all causes.”
I Heal, You Heal, We Heal
In IONS’ “I to We” study, compassion and altruism were found to arise as natural consequences of experiences of interconnection and oneness. These experiences appear to lead to shifts in perspective and changes both in one’s sense of self and their relationship to others. Based on these findings, the study suggests several mechanisms by which transformative experiences and practices might influence the development of compassion and altruism.
Give for Giving’s Sake
You’ve heard the expression, “give ’til it hurts.” Now science shows you can “give ‘til it heals” and do even more good. So give generously this year to the nonprofits you believe in, and we hope that IONS is among them. Your end-of-year donation will help us continue to conduct research and provide the educational programs that are helping to heal a world in need.


A study from England’s Loughborough University reveals that women need more sleep than men because their brains are more complex.
“For women, poor sleep is strongly associated with high levels of psychological distress and greater feelings of hostility, depression and anger,” said Jim Horne, director of the college’s Speech Research Center. The data from the sleep of men did not show the same levels of distress in sleep disruption.
According to the professor, women’s brains are needed to perform more complex tasks on a daily basis. They are wired differently and are more complex, so the need for sleep is greater. Women tend to multitask more than men, which requires their brain to overwork and need more recovery time.
The average woman, according to Horne, needs about 20 more minutes of sleep than men. The National Sleep Foundation recommends getting regular exercise, setting night and wake up times, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, and improving your overall sleep environment.


We’ve talked about the car, we also talked about money management, then what’s next? Today, the healthy topic will be our main topic. You have a nice car and much money, but if you’re sick, everything is zero, Am I right? 😀
Often we are asked how to start healthy eating habits, and we also meet a lot of people who misapplied healthy diet. Well, this time let’s discuss how to implement healthy eating in everyday life.
Healthy eating is definitely needed in our daily lives. Starting healthy eating earlier will help prevent any chronic diseases, such as diabetic, cancer, high blood pressure, and many other diseases.
So, it’s vital and important to start paying attention to what you eat and consume daily. Before starting with the 10 Simple and Best Ways To Start Healthy Eating, let’s understand our body first.
Our body has its own way to determine how much nutrition it needed, please read the nutrition fact first. Thus, not all food, nutrition, and diet are suitable for you. That’s why, before determining what kind of food or diet you are going to apply in your daily lives, you should listen to your body first.
Here are 10 Best Tips on How To Start A Healthy Diet:
1. Eat food that is rich in nutrition. Our body needs 40 kinds of nutrient to make our body healthy. One type of food can not be sufficient to fulfill all the nutrition that required for our body. Pick the right food for your daily diet. You’ll need carbohydrates and whole grains products, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish or other protein-containing foods. You need to have complete nutritional food.
2. Add more grains, fruits, and vegetables to your daily meals. Surveys show that most people do not consume enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-1 servings of rice or cereal? And is it 3 portion of the kind of food you eat contain whole grains? Do you eat food that consists of 2-4 fruit servings and 3-5 vegetable servings?
3. Set Weight Balanced. The weight that is appropriate for you depends on many factors, including gender, height, age and heredity. Excessive weight will increase your blood pressure, causing liver disease, stroke, diabetic, and some types of cancer or other diseases.
4. Right portion : If you maintain your portion sizes reasonable, it’s easier to eat the foods you want, and stay healthy. It’s recommended to have around 3 ounces of food you’re going to eat. Medium-size fruit is one serving, and a cup of pasta is balanced two servings, and 4 servings of ice cream.
5. Eat Regularly. Skipping meals will only make you starving. When you feel hungry, it means that you forget about the nutrients in your food.
6. Decrease, not limiting the portion of your food. Most people eat food to pleased themselves. If your favorite food loaded with fat, salt, or sugar, the key is to make it feasible. Check the ingredients and foods in your diet and change it if it is necessary.
7. Balance Your Food Choices Every Time. Not all food must be perfect. When you eat foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar, select the lowest level of fat, salt, or sugar of the foods. If you miss these food groups in a day, fix the next day.
8. Understand the difficulty of your diet program. If you are going to fix your eating habits, the first step you should take is to identify what is wrong with your previous eating pattern. Write down everything you eat for three days, then check the list and match with these tips.
9. Make changes gradually. You do not need to eat perfect food or super or super food. Starting healthy eating does not happen overnight. You have to do it gradually, step by step.
10. Remember, eat is not a bad habit. The bad part of eating is the unhealthy food that you consumed. Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not based on ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Do not feel wrong if you love foods, like pies, potato chips, chocolate or ice cream. Eat properly, and choose other foods that can balance your nutrition and good for your health.
A healthy diet is not only valid while you are a teenager or in a development phase. Maintaining a healthy diet is good. It’s for the sake your body.


Great talk by Steven Guyenet on the hypothesis that increased food palatability is an important factor in growing rates of obesity.
There is no doubt that increased calorie consumption is a proximate cause of increased levels of obesity. But that is not very useful information. The question is WHY are we eating so much more?
Guyenet provides details from a number of studies which suggest that food palatability is driving our consumption of calorie dense processed foods.
- Study found that rats ignored their rat show in favor of human “cafeteria” junk food diet and gained weight rapidly. Such tasty human food far exceeded any other rat chow diets in producing weight gains – Sclafani & Springer, 1976
- Overweight patients who were free to consume as many calories as they wanted from a bland diet consistently lost weight without reporting hunger despite, at times, consuming less than 300 calories per day. Lean patients on the same diet maintained their body weight. “This machine-feeding regimen was nearly as close as one can get to a diet with no rewarding properties whatsoever.” – New York Academy of Sciences, 1965
- These findings were replicated in a similar study in which “subjects reduced their calorie intake voluntarily and were always in good spirits” while consuming a bland diet. – Michel Cabanac, 1976
Guyenet has more detailed write-ups on these studies here.
Factors involved in the reward value of a diet:
- calorie density
- absense of bitterness
- free glutamate (MSG)
- textures (crunchy, soft, liquid(
- certain aromas
- consistency of flavour
The last point is worth noting: the more we can depend on a food tasting the same, the more we are likely to crave it for the certainty of the food reward. Think McDonalds.
He went on to compare two weight-loss diet studies, one low carb and another low fat, and showed that loss was comparable regardless of the preponderance of these two macronutrients. It suggests that, perhaps, whether you remove fat or carbohydrates, the common factor is a reduction in food palatability.
He also gave examples of a two native peoples who, despite having diets with widely different macronutrient contents, were both extremely lean:
- Kung San of Botswana: consumed mostly nuts, starchy tubers, fruit, assorted leaves, insects and, less often, large and small game. At times up to 58% of their diet came from a single food (Mongongo nuts). “Somewhat monotonous”. Overall their diet was 60% fat, 25% carbs, 15% protein.
- The people of Tukisenta, Papua New Guinea: Sweet potato accounted for 90% of food consumed. The rest included taro, sugarcane, pandanus, insects and, rarely during festivals, pork. Overall their diet was 95% carbs, 2% fat, 3% protein.
It seems that the low fat versus low carb wars may be a red herring.
So what has happened to our own tribe? Americans have changed where they eat, and therefor what they eat, quite significantly over the past 100 years with the presence of fast food really taking off since the late 60’s.
Guyenet points out that this graph understates the magnitude of the change in diet as much of the food now being consumed at home is also processed.
His next graph illustrated the massive increase in sugar consumption, another marker of this processed food intake:
A similar trend is seen in the consumption of fresh versus processed potatoes:
So what’s the bottom line? Return to simple food.
“Food that is professionally engineered to maximize palatability and reward value is uniquely fattening. The solution is to avoid it.”
The first step is to eliminate comfort aka “maximum reward” foods:
- Ice cream
- Potato/corn chips
- Fast food
If that thought is painful, he proposes a strategy for easing into a healthier diet. Each step requires increased effort so get comfortable with a stage before moving on to the next one:
- Eat three of fewer meals per day, but no snacks
- Cook food at home from simple ingredients
- Restrict palatability/reward factors that were absent in the ancestral environment
- Eat a few staple foods consistently, with no flavorings added
This sounds quite daunting but he claims that simple food becomes more satisfying after a 1-2 week period of withdrawal. He doesn’t actually say withdrawal but as you look at this list, you can feel the monkey on your back and he does NOT want off.
It’s a sensible plan. Should definitely work. Requires effort.
Isn’t there a pill I can take instead???
What I find interesting about his theory is how it somewhat overlaps but clashes with Seth Robert’s theory behind the Shangri-La diet. The diet involves taking a small serving of flavorless calories 1-2 times per day and that this on its own seems to cause the body to change its body fat set point. Food palatability IS a factor but you don’t have to completely eliminate modern foods from your diet. Roberts does not know how this works or what the mechanism is but many people claim to have successfully lost weight this way without any other changes to their diet or activity levels.
Is it possible that Guyenet is describing a much more arduous route to reach the same Shangri-La brain hack so to speak? The question is to what extent those people who claimed to have lost weight on the Shangri-La diet have continued to eat junk food. Maybe they spontaneously lost interest in junk food due to this protocol. Perhaps the actual hack of Shangri-La is to change one’s preference for highly palatable foods.
Certainly the Shangri-La route seems much easier. But try downing 100 calories of light olive oil and you will certainly question whether it is healthier, regardless of how easy it goes down.
Guyenet’s advice is undoubtedly no-nonsense and will work. But it may require massive changes to how you meet and socialise over food. It is likely that most people could adjust to the dietary changes required here. But in the long run, how many can maintain the social changes eating an ancestral diet may require? I doubt there are many.
So yes there are still no shortcuts. And maybe that’s the point. We have all the answers, just not ones we like.


It’s just cool, that’s all. Watch this 40-second video of an octopus squeezing through a tiny hole to escape a box.
Octopuses have an amazing ability to squeeze through tiny crevices, cracks and holes. This video was taken by Bermuda Institute of Ocean Studies student Raymond Deckel, who was investigating just how small a hole they can fit through as well as how long it takes them to squeeze through different sizes of holes.
Why are they so good at these kinds of escapes? Well, octopuses have no bones or outer shell. Plus they’re highly intelligent- likely more so than any other invertebrates. In laboratory experiments, octopuses can be trained to distinguish between different shapes and patterns. Octopuses have also been observed in what some have described as play -a sign of intelligence – for example, releasing toys into a circular current in their aquariums and then catching them. Octopuses often break out of their aquariums and sometimes into others in search of food. They have even boarded fishing boats and opened holds to eat crabs.
Bottom line: In this video, an octopus escapes from a plexiglass box by squeezing through a small hole.


Research in Social Sciences: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. How to Conduct an Effective Keywords Research?C. Focus Groups a group of respondents are put together to join one research. Conducting A Focus Group. aims to provide qualitative researchers in IS - and those wanting to know how to do qualitative research - with useful information what is focus group discussion in qualitative research on the conduct, evaluation and. Number of focus groups conducted - or sampling will depend on the segmentation or different stratifications (e.g. age, sex, socioeconomic status, health status) that the researcher(1997). Focus Groups as Qualitative Research. (2nd Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Qualitative Methods in Monitoring and Evaluation: How to Conduct Focus Groups for Qualitative Data Collection.The Focus Group Interview, in Qualitative Research Methods: Collecting Evidence, Crafting Analysis, Communicating Impact, San Francisco: Wiley, 2013, pp. 167-173. Why conduct Focus Group Research gay rights research paper topics rather than what is focus group discussion in qualitative research other types of research?What are Focus Groups? 43 May 2005 Participant Observation as a Data Collection Method. How to Run a Focus Group. Both it and the next chapter on how to conduct and analyze focus groups will have more emphasis on technical procedures. Such practicalities are an important aspect of any research technique, and focus groups do not differ greatly from other qualitative methods of data collection in this regard.
We start with a discussion of the rationale for conducting qualitative research in health services, and proceed to cover two data collection methods most used in qualitative studies: interviews and focus groups. In addition to providing practical tips on how to collect data using these two methods, the Numerous books and manuals on focus groups exist. Many discuss how to conduct focus groups for market research.This led a group in the World Health Organization to pioneer a new type of qualitative research manual on health with the following characteristics With a focus on general user trends, qualitative research attempts to explain how visitors view a website, its offering, and its competitors.Among the different methods of conducting qualitative research, you can find focus groups and user testing. Scholars regularly debate about what qualitative research is, how and why it should be conducted, how it should be analyzed, and in what form it should be presented.Its no accident that focus groups are so widely used in product design research.
When should Qualitative Research be Conducted?How is qualitative formative research conducted? Two of the most common approaches used in formative research are focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). What is a focus group and for what is it suitable? How to facilitate a focus group. Design issues of focus groups.Focus groups are a data gathering technique used in qualitative and ethnographic research, and as such they share many of the latters assumptions and call for many of its skills. Instead, samples in qualitative research are usually purposive. This means participants are selected because they are likely to generate useful data for the project.can help to identify common. bility of wife beating by conducting focus groups A focus group is a group comprised of individuals with certain characteristics who focus3. Conducting the Focus Group Starting the session with some transitional period is highly desirable.Fraenkel, J. R. Wallen, N. E. (2003). How to design and evaluate research in education. (5th ed.).Morgan, D.L. (1997). Focus groups as qualitative research. Newbury Park: Sage. In contrast, shifting data collection methods from face-to-face (F2F) to an (asynchronous) online qualitative research platform that has these functions will not only produce more data and cost less than focus groups How is qualitative formative research conducted? Two of the most common approaches used in formative research are focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). The special features what is focus group discussion in qualitative research of focus groups. How many Focus Groups should I do?Question: Abstract: A survey is typically and quicker and more precise way to conduct qualitative research than a focus group. A survey is typically and quicker and more precise way to conduct qualitative research than a focus group.Are you researching how your product is received among adolescents? What age range specifically? Do they have specific interests, hobbies, or spending habits? Week 1: Define qualitative research and how it differs from quantitative research.In this module, you will transition into applying what youve learned previously to conduct a focus group, from design to implementation. Keywords Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, How-to-Guide.As a human services practitioner and researcher, I became interested in learning how to conduct focus groups in order to apply these steps to my research and gain valuable insights about the human experience that the focus group Focus group: In a focus group, a researcher engages a small group of participants in a conversation designed to generateHow to Conduct an Interview in Sociology. What You Need to Know about the Case Study Research Method. Affordable Software that Can Help You Analyze Qualitative Data. How to conduct Focus Groups.Research process (Qualitative Research) and Focus Groups. Focus groups begin from an interface point of view and intend to show how an issue is constructed and changed while the group discusses this issue. Part of Oxfams Research Guidelines series, this guideline gives an overview of how to organize and conduct focus group discussions for qualitative research . A marketing research technique for qualitative data that in a discussion of to conduct focus groups good topics for annotated bibliography with the use of focus group. How what is focus group discussion in qualitative research much does Focus Group Research cost? As with any research study, the first stage in conducting a quality focus group is to define the study purpose. This is critical as it defines how all subsequent activities will proceed.2. The Focus Group Guidebook (Focus Group Kit) by David L. Morgan. 3. Focus Groups as Qualitative Research Home Blog Focus Groups How to Conduct Qualitative Research.Like baccarat and vaulting, qualitative research analysis is easy to learn and hard to perfect. Similarly, a qualitative researchers approach really depends on the subject and setting. Introduction This paper discusses how to conduct focus groups in family planning and reproductive research and follows a four-part series outlining the general principles of qualitative Instead, samples in qualitative research are usually purposive. This means participants are selected because they are likely to generate useful data for the project.can help to identify common. bility of wife beating by conducting focus groups A focus group is a common qualitative research technique used by companies for marketing purposes. A focus group typically consists of a small number of participants, usually around six to 12, from[Focus Group Discussion] | How to Conduct a Focus Group Discussion. Conducting a focus group discussion with a natural group may reveal discrepancies and similarities between what people say and how they act, and howParticipants are typically selected to participate in qualitative research based on transparent criteria, such as their knowledge, life-experience In many cases the term focus group is used for group discussions even though the discussions do not follow the common rules for conducting focus groups.Levels of data A great deal of qualitative research focuses on social processes, on how. A qualitative research project may require review of documents such asHow To Conduct a FGD.Duration of Sessions. A focus group session typically lasts up to an hour and a half. An earlier post to this blog discussed the idea that qualitative research, namely focus groups, shares many of the research-design issues or concerns associated with quantitative marketing research.How we conduct and interpret our qualitative research whether we (consciously or unconsciously) Key words: Qualitative research methods, focus group, in-depth interview, academic research.Both focus group and in-depth interviews were conducted in the same universityis considered to be low and how do you appreciate the relation between academic research and business environment. Preparing for Focus Groups: Qualitative Research Methods - Продолжительность: 4:42 ModU: Powerful Concepts in Social Science 4 818 просмотров.Conducting a Focus Group - Продолжительность: 5:37 UBC LEAP 133 310 просмотров. The strength of qualitative research is its ability to provide complex textual descriptions of how people experience a given research issue.Ideally, note-takers should have the versatility to conduct the focus group in the moderators stead should the need arise, but their expertise draws for the most Dig Deeper: How to Define Your Target Market. How to Conduct Qualitative Market Research: Understand What Methodology will be Used.But you dont have to have the traditional group of people closed in a room. You can do a webcam or online bulletin board focus group, in which You may want to know how to conduct a focus group in order to understand how buyers feel about your brand, which new product ideas to pursue, or who your buyers are.One thought on How to Conduct a Focus Group. Pingback: 7 Signs Its Time to Conduct Qualitative Marketing Research. Brainstorm. How to Conduct a Focus Group.Online Qualitative Research. Quantitative research is going beyond focus groups. o Bulletin boards. Real time chats. Keywords: Focus Group, qualitative research, group interview, data collection.4. FOCUS GROUP STAGES This section describes HOW to utilize Focus Groups and WHAT to do with the data that they produce.The three phases of a Focus Group are planning, conduct of the interviews, and analysis.
Focus groups, however, allow you. Question: Know the what is focus group discussion in qualitative research five major categories of bias in. Designing and Conducting computer research and response team Focus Group Interviews This resource includes a detailed discussion of how to Compare, contrast, and combine the focus group information with information gathered from other sources such as surveys, interviews, or secondary research sources. Sources: Judith Sharken Simon, How To Conduct A Focus Group http The paper examines each method in detail, focusing on how they work in practice when their use is appropriate and whatConducting qualitative interviews with school children in dental research .A focus group is a group discussion on a particular topic organized for research purposes. Much of what goes into conducting focus groups touches on the same issues that arise in any effort to collect qualitative data.The simplest test of whether focus groups are appropriate for a research project is to ask how actively and easily the participants would discuss the topic of interest. A Qualitative Framework for Collecting and Analyzing Data in Focus Group Research.Abstract Despite the abundance of published material on conducting focus groups, scant specific information exists on how to analyze focus group data in social science research. Ever wondered what a focus group discussion is or how to conduct it?A Focus Group Discussion (or FGD) is a qualitative research method in the social sciences, with a particular emphasis and application in the developmental program evaluation sphere. Depending on the skills of the researcher, it might be necessary to contract a facilitator to conduct the focus group.How do you best combine focus groups and individual interviews in qualitative research? 1 Qualitative research should be systematically and rigorously conducted.You might want to take this further by stimulating interaction of particular kinds through group or focus group interviews, where you guide group discus-sion through a particular set of topics so that you can observe how Further features of qualitative research and how it differs from quantitative research are listed below.Bearing in mind the cost of conducting a series of one to one interviews2. Several focus groups should be run in any research project. It would be wrong to rely on the views of just one group. How do we conduct Qualitative. Research? Tools in this module.Example: Focus Groups during the Baseline in Nepal: One aim of a focus group discussion would be to identify perceptions and the range of opinion about participating in national elections.


Galapagos Cruises, Tours and Vacations
How did the animals and the plants arrive?
The first species of the flora and fauna were carried here by the winds and ocean currents. The great majority came from the coasts of South and Central America.
Galapagos: paradise of reptiles
Vegetation rafts from the continent would take a minimum of two weeks to reach Galapagoes. Only those species capable of with standing the lack of water, such as reptiles, could survive this journey. In the absence of mammalian predators and competitors, reptiles such as the tortoises and land iguanas thrived and became the dominant land animals.
Amphibians, such as frogs, that have a moist and sensitive skin, live very little time without freshwater and shade. Amphibians do not occur in the Archipelagos; if one had been trapped on a natural raft it would have died long before reaching the islands.
After arrival, there were many difficulties.
The pioneer species had to find a place to live, find a mate and raise young. Very few were successful. Those able to adapt faced a new and fascinating process of natural selection.
Why are the plants and animals of Galapagos different from those on the mainland?
Evolution, or change in the form and behavior of species, obeys the necessity of adaptation to a new environment. Only those most fit can survive; the less fit are eliminated. This dramatic process is known as natural selection. The evolution of species, as a consequence of natural selection, makes it possible that, from generation to generation, favorable characteristics are transmitted that permits a better adaptation. For this reason, the organisms that now inhabit the islands are very different from their main land ancestors.


Malaria epidemic expected in MozambiqueBMJ 2000; 320 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7236.669 (Published 11 March 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:669
- Pat Sidley
Health experts fear epidemics of several infectious deseases in Mozambique as the flood waters recede and mosquitoes begin breeding.
According to Pierre Kahozi of the Maputo office of the World Health Organization, malaria is endemic in the region but there are fears that a much greater outbreak might occur in around a month. It is too early to tell if the situation has already worsened markedly, he said.
Scores of suspected cases of cholera have been reported and more are expected, along with cases of other diarrhoeal conditions. The Mozambican government has reported a “high degree” of cholera and malaria in camps. Cholera is endemic in Maputo and Beira, but numbers of cases are expected to …
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- How High Is Mount Damavand?
There is a difference between the exact height of Damavand Peak between experts and even climbers. Damavand height estimation from 18,400 feet (5,610 m) to 18,600 feet (5,671 m). NASA’s SRTM and ASTER data are both consistent with the official 5610 meters (We did not find a source for this yet!), but you can see that in most of the websites the elevation of Mount Damavand recorded 5671 meters. It seems that the 5671 m measured by mountaineers and has no strong sources.
However, we have no choice but to refer to the official sources. In September 2007, researchers of the Mapping Organization of Iran, during a multi-month study, completed the Damavand elevation points, measured the height of Damavand Peak, which was previously mentioned in books and geographic resources of 5671 meters, 5609 meters and 20 centimeters. The studies of this project were carried out in a profile with five stations in 2000 meters to 5,600 meters. Finally, with a difference of 61 meters and 80 cm, the height of the Damavand peaks of 5, 609 and 20 cm was measured. At all stations in the Damavand Peak, they conducted at least 12 hours of continuous GPS measurement, which can be achieved using the permanent GPS station of the same area with a precision of one centimeter.
So today, we must consider the official height of Damavand Peak at 5610 meters. Although modern and up-to-date GPS shows us a higher altitude. But we still have to wait for more accurate comments from the official authorities to measure the height of the summit.
Mount Damavand is the 12th most prominent peak in the world, and the second most prominent in Asia after Mount Everest. It is the highest volcanic mountain in Asia, and part of the Volcanic Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.
- The Sulfuric Band or Sulfuric Area in Mount Damavand
As it was said, Damavand is a semi-silent volcanic mountain. On the other hand, Damavand can be said Potentially Active volcano, because it has many powerful fumarolic sulfur vent near the summit in about 5400 m and upper, also Hot Springs around this mountain. Most of this vents which emitted SO2-rich gases at a temperature of about 50°C, are in the southern flank, but because of the wind, they turn around the summit and make difficult conditions for climbers. This pressure becomes more perceptible when you imagine that you are at an altitude of 5500 meters with a lack of oxygen and you should breathe Sulfuric air to continue climbing Damavand summit. Fortunately, this is not a permanent situation, and most of the time, with the prevailing wind blowing from the west, sulfur gases go to the northeast. Otherwise, and when sulfur dioxide is surrounded by peaks, our experienced guides know how to bypass the gas source and bring you easily to the summit.
Most of the time during year, even in winter, there is not too much snow because of the heat of the sulfuric band around Damavand summit.
Perhaps one of the most interesting and most famous features of Mt. Damavand is it Icefall that frozen whole the year. This amazing Icefall that placed on South Flank, is in the 5100 m altitude and can be seen from the Polour village or Haraz road in clear weather. The length of Icefall, depends on weather conditions, changes every years and is between 8 to 16 meters. To arrive and visit this icefall, you must turn right and exit the main route (200 meters) in height of about 5000 meters along the southern route of Damavand Peak.
Though some had ice climbing on Damavand Icefall, but because of its high and unstable ice, we do not recommend this to you.
- Facts & Figures of mount Damavand
|Complete Name||Mount Damavand, Damavand Peak, Damavand Summit|
|Location in Iran||Amol, Mazandaran, Iran|
|Elevation(Official record)||5,609.2 m (18,403 ft)|
|Prominence(height)||4,667 m (15,312 ft) 12th highest mountain in the world|
|Isolation||1,165 kilometers (724 mi)|
|Parent peak||Mount Elbrus|
|Parent range||Alborz – Mazandaran|
|Last eruption||~ 7300 Years ago (5350 BCE ± 200)|
|First ascent||905 by Abu Dolaf Kazraji|
|Easiest route||Hiking from Southern flank in summer|
Damavand’s edges & Routs
Damavand has 16 known edges and four main paths in South, North, Northeast and West, that are normal routes of Damavand.
Damavand climbing edges are:
|—||directions||Local Names||—||directions||Local Names|
|9||South of Southeast||Vezminchal Edge||10||North of Southeast||Mallard Edge|
|11||Souuth of Northeast||Yakhar Edge||12||North of Northeast|
|13||North of Northwest|
|14||South of Northwest||Vararoo Edge|
|15||North of Southwest||Chal Chal Edge||16||South of Southwest||Espirin Sar Edge|
- Damavand Vegetation and animals
At various altitudes of Mount Damavand, there are plenty of plants, some of which can be seen only at a certain height. Damavand Mountain is totally covered with Anemone at altitudes of 2000 to 3500 meters. This unique flower is known in the world and has been registered with the name of Shaghayegh-e-Lar in the world’s leading botanical books. Also, this area is very rich in pasture and pastures; even at high altitudes of Damavand (below 4,000 meters) there is not much poverty there. Due to its unique location, which extends from the north to the woods and to the south to the mountains bordered by the disert, this region hosts a variety of animals, including:
Foxes, jackals, dogs and wolves are scattered around Damavand. These animals are also seen up to 4000 meters above Mount Damavand. Bears are also present in this area, but they are mostly seen in the west and north, and they stay away from high altitudes.
Whole, ewe, deer, hog, rabbit. Except boars and rabbits, who live in the mountainous plains of Mount Damavand, other animals spend warmer seasons at altitudes and descend as the temperature cools down. These animals can go up to 5000 meters high in Damavand.
Hunting birds, golden eagles, owls and bats can be seen in Damavand. Other birds in this region are Teto, Coco, black chest and other birds.
Also Damavand is home to Brown Trout, Mountain Goats, and the Caspian Snowcock bird.
- Damavand Hot Springs (SPA)
Due to certain geological conditions in the Alborz slopes, especially around Damavand Mountains, there are mineral waters with various therapeutic properties, most notably in the Larijan village, which has created an attractive collection. The village is located on the slopes of Damavand Peak. The warm waters of the village are about 62 degrees saturated with sulfur content and therefore useful for the treatment of various skin diseases, bone pain, joints and rheumatism. There are plenty of hot water baths in the village that attracts a lot of people in different seasons. From Larijan spa springs, about 1000 liters of water is removed every minute, with a temperature of 65-70 degrees Celsius in main spring.
The taste of this water is unpleasant, smells sulfur hydrogen and its color is clear. It also has magnesium bicarbonate salts which is useful for skin diseases, old ulcers and neurological disorders.
- Damavand Best Climbing Season
Determining the best season of Damavand is directly related to the type and purpose of your trip to Mount Damavand. So, if your goal is mountain trekking and climb the summit, the best season for you, will be in the summer (July & August). If you want to enjoy the nature and flowers of the anemones, you must go to the slopes of Damavand in the spring (April & May). Certainly, for a professional and technical mountaineering, you should come to Damavand in the winter (January & February). The best season for Ski-Touring, Free-Riding, Back-Country (Off-Piste) skiing in Damavand area and mountains around it, is March, April and May. In the beautiful autumn season, you can come to Damavand for bird-watching and wildlife photography tours in the silence and tranquility. So depending on your trip and point of view, you can come to Damavand in all seasons and enjoying its beauty.
Regardless of the few meter difference on real height of Damavand, this is an alone and huge mountain with special weather conditions and more than 5600 meters altitude. Damavand has a remarkable rainfall during the winter due to its loneliness. So Damavand ascend in the summer and winter is completely difference and incomparable. In the summer, mountain trekkers go up to Goosfandsara (3000 m), by 4WD cars and start from there, but in the winter, you should walk by feet from Poulor village or Raineh (~2400 m) on asphalt road (10 to 15 km) that covered by more than 50 cm fresh snow to reach the beginning of mountain route. On the other hand, you have to carry all your luggage and stuff personally, because in the winter the mules or porters can’t carrying your loads. So Damavand winter ascend is a real expedition and heavy mountaineering. Because of this, most of the Iranian climbers who want to go himalian mountains, training on Damavand at winter.
Fortunately, Iran Exploration, due to its professional and strong guides, organizing many successful winter ascend on Damavand annually.
- Part of the Volcanic Seven Summits project
Every year, thousands of mountaineers are trying to climb to different summits of the world. Meanwhile, as many mountaineers try to climb 14 of the 8,000-meter peaks of the world, many of them are struggling to climb seven volcanic summits of seven continents. The Volcanic Seven Summits are the highest volcanoes on each of the seven continents, just as the Seven Summits are the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. Summiting all seven is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such in 1999. Proudly, Damavand is the highest volcanic summit of Asia (read more in “Highest Single and Cone Volcano of Asia”) and part of the Volcanic Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.
- Damavand in Literature, History & Mythical
Damavand has a special place in mythology in Iran. Its reputation more than anything else is that Fereydoun, from the mythological characters of Iran, dragged Zahak into a cave there, and Zahak was imprisoned there until the end of the world. Some local people near this mountain believe that Zahak is imprisoned in Damavand and believe that some voices heard from the mountains are his moaning.
At the time of the invasion of the Assyrians on the Iranian plateau, this mountain is part of the Median, and is also mentioned in the Assyrian texts. Sargon II had been a landowner to the Damavand Mountains in his squadron. At the time of Asrahodon, the Assyrians were also stationed at the foot of Mount Damavand. But they did not continue to advance because Damavand and their descendants saw the Lut desert as the end of the world.
Mount Damavand has a total of 7 shelters, bivouac and cottages with different facilities (basic facilities) on its main routes (north, south, northeast and west). The rest of the 12 other Damavand ridges do not have any accommodations or bivouac. In addition, there are three guesthouses in Polour village, Raineh town in the south, and Nandal village in the north side of Damavand.
Name and details of Shelters & Huts:
- Southern route
- Goosfandsara and Sahib Al-Zaman Mosque, built in 1992 at an altitude of 3000 meters southern edge.
- Old Bargah-e-Sevom metal Cabin (bivouac), built in 1967 and at an altitude of 4200 southern edge. The metal Cabin was destroyed by the avalanch in the winter of 1972, and after a year, the stone building was replaced. Around it there are places for camping.
- Old Bargah-e-Sevom shelter (cottage) was built in 2008 and about 50 meters above the old one, on the southern edge. The shelter includes a public storage room, a dining room, a kitchen, electrical energy, a management room, a common bedroom, a private bedroom and a public bathroom.
- The Simorgh shelter (cottage) was built in 1995 at a height of 4200 m on the western edge.
- Takht-e-Fereydon metal Cabin (bivouac), which was built in 1976 at an approximate elevation of 4,400 meters from the northeastern edge.
- Northern route
- The 4,000-meter metal Cabin (bivouac), built in 1981 at an altitude of 4,000 meters from the northern edge.
- The 5,000-meter metal Cabin (bivouac), built at a height of 4630 meters, on the northern edge, but is known as the 5,000-meter metal Cabin (bivouac).
- Damavand main Glaciers
Although Damavand with 5610 meters altitude is high mountain, but its glaciers are not too big, vertical and most of them (except Yakhar glacier) are not suitable for ice climbing.
- Sioleh glacier (Northern side)
- Dobicel glacier (Northern side)
- Arosakiha glacier (Northern side)
- Yakhar Valley glacier (Northeast side)
- Northwest glacier
- Western glacier
- Damavand Weather & Climate
Damavand is an alone and huge mountain with special weather conditions. The minimum temperature in the Damavand Highlands is – 60 degrees centigrade (in the winter) and to -1 or -2 degrees centigrade (in the summer). The speed of the wind in Damavand sometimes ranges from 150 km / h. Wind speed in the foothills reaches 70 kilometers per hour in bad weather condition. Most winds are from the west and northwest. The average rainfall in the Damavand Highlands is 1,400 mm per year, and rainfall in the highlands are usually snow. The air pressure at Damavand Peak is half the air pressure at sea level.
- Highest Single and Cone Volcano of Asia
There are many discussions about the highest volcanic peak in Asia. For many years, Mount Damavand was known as the highest volcano in Asia, as long as Chinese introduced the Kunlun Volcanic Group in Tibet and They claimed that these mountains are the highest volcano in Asia. There are several scattered volcanic centers located in Tibet and western China which lie at elevations of 17700-19000 ft (5400-5800 m), potentially placing some of them in contention for the honor of highest volcano in Asia over Iran’s Damavand. However, these very minor volcanic cones are unlikely to meet any reasonable mountaineering standard of prominence (such as 1000 ft / 305 m used here), and thus they have been excluded from this list of Seven Summits. This list seeks to include real volcanic mountains, not minor outpourings of lava that happened to leak to the Earth’s surface in high-elevation regions. Anyway, they are higher than Damavand, but certainly they are not mountain.
According to definitions of Base Camp, and with a little tolerance, it can be said that guesthouses in Polour village, Raineh town and Nandal village are base camps of Mount Damavand. You can book accommodation in this guest houses befor your trip and buying your requirement, foods, fruits in this villages shops, so you don’t need to carrying everything from your own country. Also if you didn’t book accommodation, you can rent a local house in this villages.
- Damavand Photo Gallery
- 5 Reasons to climb Damavand
- Damavand mount is the highest volcano of the Asia and part of Seven Summit Project
- Damavand peak is the highest point of Iran and you can see the Caspian Sea & Iran Central Desert from the summit
- Damavand Peak is a symbol of sustainability, a national symbol in the culture of Iran and has been registered as a national monument
- Mount Damavand is one of the most important and unique ecosystems in Iran and the world, where in the south is border by a dry desert and reaches the rain forests in the north
- Damavand peak is really easy reachable high mountain, and you can top its summit in few days
- How Much does it Cost to Climb Mount Damavand
The cost of climbing Damavand is directly related to your trip type. You can buy a high quality tour and reach Damavand summit easily and healthily with the help of experienced guides. Or try to organize your own plan, carrying all the stuff by yourself and climb without guide. Also pricing for tours in Damavand are difference as who want to organize your tour! An experience and businesslike tour operator or local guide!!!
Totally, you can climb Damavand peak by a cost up to 400,00 euros with full board and high quality services (depends on your itinerary, seasons, and your group numbers, the price changes).
- How long does it take to climb Mount Damavand?
Climbing Damavand are absolutely depends on your readiness, physical fitness, seasons, acclimatization and weather conditions. In the summer time, the best and guaranteed itinerary to climb Damavand peak takes 4 to 5 days. At winter climbing Damavand takes more than 7 days. Of course some strong and acclimatized climbers sky runners can top summit from the asphalt road in less than 24 hours.
The most important point in climbing Damavand is acclimatization process. If you acclimatize well, you don’t have any problems, climb Damavand summit easily and safe. The second key is using expert and professional mountain guide for climbing Damavand. They know everything about their mountain and has too much experience. If you have a guide, you don’t need anything except trust your guide. The last important point to be safe on Damavand trekking, is paying attention to the forecast. Damavand is a cone shape and alone mountain, so the weather are changes too fast and unexpected. As our experiences on Damavand trekking, we strongly recommend you to book your wishes tour in Iran Exploration website, then you can climb Damavand easily and safe, with no worries of booking accommodation, food supplies, weather conditions and anything more. Just rest and climb.
- Training to Climb Damavand
Training and exercises to reach the best fitness for trekking Damavand is relevant to your age, health and experience in mountaineering.
Suggested preparation; 1 hour of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week and extended periods of exercise during the weekend will accustom you to regular exercise. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions will be beneficial if you are taking part in a trekking Damavand. running or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.
- What Gear do I need to climb Damavand?
Duffel bag (Carrying by 4WD cars or leave in Hotel/Guesthouse), Daypack (to carry camera, water bottles, extra clothing, Lunch box), Luggage tags and locks
- Camping Gear: Sleeping bag and stuff sack (Fleece/Down sleeping bag liner), Mattress
- Outerwear: Goretex jacket with hood (waterproof and breathable), Goretex/wind stopper pants (side zippers are convenient), Insulated parka, down or synthetic filled, fleece or wool sweater, Fleece pants or tights, Mid-weight thermal underwear tops and bottom (synthetic or wool), Hiking pants, Long-sleeve shirts, T-shirts, synthetic are best, Underwear
- Clothing Accessories: Sun hat, Wool or fleece hat (over ears), Wool or fleece gloves, Thin liner gloves, Gaiters
- Footwear: Mountaineering boots (sturdy and ankle support, water-resistant), types of Socks, Camp shoes (trail shoes or running shoes)
- City Clothing: Bring a few lightweight, easily washable items for travel and daily wear, Comfortable shoes, (Woman should wear long sleeve shirt, Scarf, long Shirt in the cities)
- Travel Accessories: headlamp (lithium batteries are best for cold weather), Pocket knife or pocket tool, Ear plugs, Small quantity of favorite energy snacks, hiking staff or trekking poles, Small waterproof pack cover for daypack, Sunglasses with strap (side-shields or glacier glasses recommended), Sun block cream and lip balm, Personal hygiene supplies including biodegradable soap, Small quick-dry towel, Personal first aid kit, medicines, Hand sanitizer gel or hand wipes
- Optional Field Gear: Camera, memory cards, spare batteries, Battery charging station for cameras or personal electronics, Solar charger for batteries, Travel Adapter (UK to EU), Antibacterial wet wipes
- Nomad life on Damavand
Damavand with a total area of 2,950 hectares, is one the biggest and unique grassland for shepherds and nomad life. There are more than 500 nomadic families around Damavand. They breeding their sheeps in the summer and migrate to hot areas in the cold winter of Damavand. The Nomads of Damavand are very kind and hospitable, and in addition to breeding sheep, are beekeepers and produces high quality honey. Some of them are working by their mules in mountaineering routes to carrying mountaineer’s backpacks and luggage.
- Damavand Porters and Horse Riders
As mentioned above, some of the nomads and local people are working as a porters or mule/hours driver in mountaineering routes. Normally they carrying stuff and backpacks for mountaineers, from the end of gravel road (dirt road) to the huts or camping areas. They just working at summer time and good weather, not winter. Also the price of transportation is not too cheap (more than 40 euros for each backpack).
- Damavand marathon and speed Climbing Records on Damavand
Today sky running is one of the branches of mountain sports and has its fans. In the way, several ski running competition have been held in Damavand since 2002 with the name of Damavand Marathon. The best record ever reached is 3 hours and 3 minutes from asphalt road (~ 2600 m) to the summit.
- The Oldest & Youngest Summiteers
The oldest summiteer was an Iranian man with 83 years old and the youngest was a 7 years old girl. We do not endorse these reports, in addition that we believe that ascent to the summit of mount Damavand in childhood or old ages are not reasonable.
- Top 5 Dangers on Mount Damavand
The 5 dangers mistakes on Damavand that cause most of accidents and injured are:
- Altitude sickness
- Losing the way
- Changes of weather
- Lake of equipment
- Persist on climbing Damavand summit
- What is the best food to Eat on Mount Damavand
Everybody knows appreciate the importance of good foods on mountain programs specially on long trekking tours. So, as our policy in Iran Exploration, we strongly recommend you to use fresh vegetables and food instead of canned or long lasting foods. Don’t forget importance of fresh fruits on your foods plan. On the summer you can easily buy organic fruits from Polour or Raineh.
- Damavand Permit, Rules & etiquette
like most of the mountains around the world, climbing Damavand has its rules that should to be observed. For start your ascent on Damavand you should to introduce yourself to the IR.Mountain Federation guesthouse in Poulor or Rhineh, and get a 50 $ Permit license to climb Damavand. Otherwise, your climb will be prevented by police. Although, using Mountain Guide in Damavand is compulsory, but if you do not do this, there will not be a problem for you, except in case you need rescue! That you should pay for any supports and rescue operations. So we advise you to use mountain guides for climbing Damavand.
- Ski touring on Mount Damavand
Are you interested in mountaineering Damavand, but coming down from the mountain is annoying you??? Do you want to climb Damavand peak without walking in the heat of the summer and thirsty??? Do you hate of crowds of hikers and beginner climbers in Damavand summer trekking??? The best choice for you is Ski Turing Damavand. Every year, hundreds of skiers and mountain climbers who know Ski Touring or Ski Mountaineering, comes to climbing Damavand peak.
Damavand slope with angle about 20 to 35 degrees, with appropriate cover and favorable snow conditions, is one of the best and most desirable peaks for mountain skiers. The weather conditions in March, April and May provide you the best, most enjoyable and safest season for skiing on mount Damavand. Imagine, after climbing the summit, within a few hours, you will ski down from a height of 5610 meters to 2,400 meters, take a warm shower, share your photos with your friends and have a relax in the Polour (or Rineh) guesthouse.
On the other hand, quick and easy access to the starting point of ski touring at peaks above 4,000 meters (Doberar mountain ridge) is one of the best alternatives for acclatization process to ski-touring Damavand. Every day you can take a hot and delicious breakfast in the guest house and get out to the starting point of the ski-touring to a 4,000-meter peak in less than 20 minutes (in Doberar mountain ridge with more than 30 summits). Climb the summit, return to your bed at the evening and check your emails.
These attractions and facilities have made Damavand Ski Touring, one of the best options for those who like to climb highest volcano of Asia by Ski.
- Paragliding on Mount Damavand
Although jumping with paragliders from the summit like Damavand is not so common. But many athletes have done so hard, and they have fulfilled their ambition by jumping from the roof of Iran and the Middle East. In 2010 September, a group of athletes from Kordestan province of Iran, could fly from Damavand peak by paraglider. They had climb summit many times without a good window of weather conditions, but finally they did it.
- Mountain Biking on Mount Damavand
Thanks to Damavand’s non-technical route on the southern side as well as the dirt road up to 3000 meters high, every year a large number of mountain bikers come here for cycling around and even top the summit of Damavand by their bicycles. From a height of 3000 meters to the top, due to the Damavand slope, in some areas you can ride a bicycle. But on most part of the road, you should carry the bike with your hand or have a high stamina for a cycling. From a height of 4250 meters to the top, it is a sandy and gravel route and requires a lot of cycling skill. However, it’s not wise to climb a 5610-meter summit by bike and carrying it by hand, but many mountain bikers climb Damavand Mountains every year with their bicycles.
Although climbing Damavand peak is difficult and not very attractive with bikes, mountain biking around Mount Damavand (altitude below 3500 m) is very enjoyable and exciting. “Around Mount Damavand” Cycling Tour, “Lar National Park and Lar Dam Lake” Cycling Tour, “From Damavand to Caspian Sea” Cycling Tour are some of the beautiful Mountain Biking Tours in Damavand areas that Iran Exploration performs every year.
- Services on mount Damavand for mountaineers
Are you alone mountaineer? Are travel independently? Do you want to know which facilities and accommodations you can have in your trip to Damavand? So we can help you by sharing our experiences and knowledge about Damavand.
- On the cities
How to reach Damavand from Tehran? As you know mount Damavand paced between Alborz mountain range, and to reach to the foothills of Damavand, there is no way except Haraz mountain road. The easiest and cheapest way from Tehran to Polour village, or Raineh town (start points of Damavand peak), is to go to the “East Terminal” of Tehran by Taxi or Metro, then rent a private car to Polour or Raineh. Or buy a ticket of “Tehran-Amol” or “Tehran-Sari” buses and ask the bus driver to take you off in Polour or Raineh in the middle of the way.
There are three guesthouses of I.R Mountain Federation in Polour village, Raineh Town, and Nandal village (north side) in Damavand areas with sleeping rooms, dining room, kitchen, bathroom and etc (note that you should book your space before arrive, especially in high seasons). Also you can rent a private room in local houses of the area and enjoy their people hospitality.
- Damavand Permit fee and getting allowed to enter the area
For climbing Damavand, every foreign mountaineers should pay 50$ to I.R Mountain Federation of Iran. Also you should inform Federation agents from your group information (name, numbers, itinerary) then getting allowed to climb Damavand peak. If you don’t this, you force back by police and should pay a penalty.
- Buying foods and needs for climbing Damavand
You can find ever kind of foods and everything you may need for climbing Damavand on Polour or Raineh shops. So you don’t need to bring your heavy stuff and foods from your country.
You should rent a 4WD car from Polour or Raineh to bring you to the start point of Mount Damavand. In the south and north route you can rent a mules to carry your backpacks or luggage to the hut.
The best hut of mount Damavand is a new hut of southern route. It has a few 6 person rooms and public bedroom with mattress and pillow, dining hall, bathroom, and small shop. If you want to climb Damavand from south room and need accommodation, you book a room or beds (you can ask us for every kind of bookings).
- Mountain guide for Damavand
Climbing mountains with a mountain guide is necessary in our rules and every foreign mountaineers should climb with professional mountain guide. Although this rule, does not have a strong guarantee of execution, and you will not be fined for it, but in case of any accident or emergency needs, you should pay too much for the services and also there are no insurances coverage for you without mountain guide. So we strongly recommend you, for more safety and guaranteeing successful climbing to Damavand peak, for sure take a professional mountain guide (you can ask us to present you a skillful and professional mountain guide).
- Is oxygen needed in Damavand summit?
As most of high mountains, air pressure and oxygen content at Damavand Peak is lower than the Earth’s surface. The density of oxygen at the summit of Damavand is about half the sea surface. On the other hand, the presence of sulfur gas in the sulfuric band near the peak makes the breathing very difficult. However, climbing to Damavand in good condition and for healthy climbers does not needed for oxygen supplements.
Depend on your decision and purpose of your trip, Damavand Best Itinerary will be different. For example:
- Best itinerary for Damavand trekking in summer is;
Day 1: Goosfandsara (The Masque) 3000 m
Day 2: Bargah-e-Sevom 4250 m
Day 3: Acclimatization day
Day 4: Damavand Summit day
Day 5: Return back
- Best itinerary for Damavand Ski Touring in spring is;
Day 1: Arrive to Polour, rest
Day 2: ski touring to the hut 4250 m
Day 3: Acclimatization or bad weather reservation day
Day 4: Damavand summit day
Day 5: Descend Polour & Hot Spring (SPA)
- Best itinerary for Damavand winter ascent is;
Day 1: Arrive Polour, rest
Day 2: Start trekking to Goosfandsara 3000 m
Day 3: Continue climbing Damavand to Bargahe Sevom hut 4250m
Day 4: Acclimatization or bad weather reservation day
Day 5: Push summit of mount Damavand
Day 6: Bad weather reservation Day (last chance to push summit)
Day 7: Descend to Polour
- Best itinerary for Damavand Hiking in Spring is;
Day 1: Arrive Polour, rest
Day 2: Hiking to Gol-e-Zard (Yellow Flower) foothills
Day 3: Walking in Lar National Park
Day 4: Hiking to Goosfandsara 3000 m
Day 5: Larijan Hot Spring
- Best itinerary for Damavand Mountain Biking in Spring/Autumn is;
Day 1: Arrive Polour, rest
Day 2: Mountain Biking in Lar National Park/ Camping
Day 3: Mountain Biking to Vararou plateau in Damavand west side
Day 4: Mountain Biking to Goosfandsara 3000 m
Day 5: Mountain Biking to Larijan Hot Spring
Also we have many other interesting itineraries around mount Damavand, just tell us your wishes and desires, so our technical team will make a Tailor-Made itinerary for your trip.
- Family adventure on Damavand
As climbing science has proven, climbing high altitude for children is not recommended. Therefore, Mount Damavand is no exception to this rule, and if you have children less than 10 years of age in your family, we do not advise you to climb Damavand peak. This does not mean that we do not recommend families to come to Damavand area, on the contrary, it should be said that Damavand is not only a high and cold peak, but it has vast pastures, Lar Lake & National Park, beautiful valleys and hospitable nomads, that providing a pleasant environment for an adventure journey to families. So, we suggest you that never put Damavand aside from your list, if you want to have an adventure trip with your family.
Finding the difficulty of a mountain is a complex task, because climbing routes are often long and have many complications and hardships. Therefore, difficulty of Damavand mountains varies depending on its routes. On the other hand, there are several different ways to grading the difficulties of mountain paths. so Mountaineering (Alpine climbing) routes are usually graded according to all their different aspects, because they can be very diverse.
Considering all these cases, Damavand’s southern route (normal route) difficulty in summer season, can be as following details:
- International French adjectival system (IFAS): PD: peu difficile (slightly difficult).
- Alaskan: Alaska Grade 2: Either a moderate fifth-class one-day climb, or a straightforward multiday nontechnical climb.
- Russian (post USSR countries): Grade 1B: Easy ascent of a peak between 2000–5000 m over rocks, with sections of snow and ice or mixed ground.
- British: Moderate (M, or “Mod”)
- HIKING (Italian system): EE – skilled hikers – Trails are often marked but orienteering skills are actually required: routes usually encounter slippery grassy slopes, short sections of scree (small loose rocks on average angle slopes). Rock outcrops can usually be negotiated without the use of hands, but sometimes hikers could have to climb short rock bands requiring use of hands. Scrambling does not usually require specialized climbing equipment or skills, but hikers can meet with short and easy equipped stretches of trail. Alpine experience, firm and steady step are required. Hikers may also be exposed to heights and have to be trained for a whole day walk.
- Damavand Environmental concern
As already mentioned, Damavand is an alone and cone volcanic mountain, with unique weather conditions and a special sensitive ecosystem. In addition to its unique attractions, these conditions have made Damavand highly sensitive to changes in human interactions. Mount Damavand is a volcano, and there are many mineral resources around it that tempts people to harvest them. Mineral harvesting has led to high mountain roads in the Damavand slopes and changes in the environment of plants and animals. Fortunately, in recent years, with the local people’s awareness, they have been stopped by these rapes, and Damavand’s ecosystem is recovering. But as we face it all over the world, the most hostile and destructive of the environment is humanity.
- Rubbish on Mount Damavand
Humans climb mountains, take photos and go back down. But what are they left behind them self? Rubbish!!!
Fortunately, in recent years, with the advent of social networks and training, most of the climbers are focusing on the mountains’ environment and transferring their waste to cities. But there are still those who ignore environmental issues, and infecting the mountains. Iran Exploration is trying to provide a clear understanding of how to protect the mountains and prevent them from being destroyed by planning and continuing training and raising the level of knowledge of the beginner climbers.
- How to prepare a successful climb on Mount Damavand?
The answer is very simple. Use experienced guides to climb Mount Damavand. Iran Exploration, with experiences of decade in adventure and outdoor tourism, always uses the best guides, encourages them to learn new knowledge and equip them with new and up-to-date equipment, to provide a high quality services and safety trip for its customers in Iran.
So, the wisest way to make a safe and successful climb to Mount Damavand is to use Iran Exploration’s guides.
- Need more information about Damavand?
You can find everything about Damavand peak and climbing Damavand in our website. For more information about Mount Damavand and other mountains in Iran, further questions or Tailor-Made tours, please contact us.


Many cleaning products, such as soap and oven cleaner, are bases. Bases neutralize (cancel out) acids. Alkalis are bases that dissolve in water. Strong bases, such bleach, are corrosive and burn skin. Bases contain particles called hydroxide ions. The more hydroxide ions a base contains, the stronger it is.
Limestone is an important base that is dug from the earth in quarries. It comes from calcium carbonate, which formed millions of years ago from the compressed remains of sea-shells and other marine life. Once quarried, limestone is crushed and used to make cement, fertilizers, paints, and ceramics.


Here are 19 simple ways to reduce energy this summer:
Heating and Cooling
1. Add a few degrees to your home’s temperature. In your home, wear summer clothes designed for warmer temperatures.
2. When temperatures drop in the evening, consider using only a ceiling fan.
3. Every few years, inspect and repair caulking and/or weatherstripping around windows.
4. Clean your window-mounted air conditioner’s air filter.
A clogged air filter will result in significantly more energy consumption and can lead to costly air conditioner repairs.
Related info: How an air conditioner works
5. Close the drapes and shades.
Draw window shades and drapes closed in order to deter the fast-warming rays of sunlight from reaching your rooms. This may reduce the room temperature by at least a few degrees, taking a load off your AC.
6. Prevent a sudden central air conditioning breakdown.
Central air conditioner condensers should be cleaned annually to keep them operating properly. Use a garden hose and gently wash out leaves, grass, dirt and other debris from between the coils.
7. If you go on vacation, set your water heater to its “vacation” setting.
8. Lower your water heater’s regular temperature setting.
“Every water heater has an adjustable temperature setting,” said Dino Tatangelo, RepairClinic.com’s in-house water heater expert. “Most people keep water heaters at a much higher setting than is necessary for their needs. This means they are wasting energy keeping water exceptionally hot for most of every day – while they are sleeping, at work, walking their dogs, etcetera. A setting of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48 degrees Celsius) is generally sufficient for most households.”
9. Drain water from the water heater a few times per year.
This will remove natural sediment buildup that can reduce energy efficiency.
10. Turn off and unplug appliances that you don’t use regularly.
11. Find the appliances in your home that are energy hogs.
Find out what appliances are energy hogs by plugging in an energy usage meter. This will enable you to track consumption, discover inefficiencies and possible problems.
12. Clean off refrigerator condenser coils.
Condenser coils have the important job of removing heat from refrigerators and keeping the temperature cool.
Condenser coils are your refrigerator’s large, radiator-like coils located at the back or beneath the unit. Unfortunately, they’re dust and dirt magnets. Such build up on the coils makes it more difficult for refrigerators to function properly and the result is increased energy consumption.
Related post: 5 fast appliance fixes
These coils should be cleaned every 12 to 18 months; if you have pets, you may need to do this more frequently. A long-handled bristle brush and your vacuum cleaner will work best to remove dirt and fur from the coils.
On models with coils located beneath the unit, you can access this area by removing the bottom grill or kick-panel located at the front or an access panel at the back. A flashlight will be helpful in this dark area to prevent any damage to the fan.
13. Reduce cooking times by using lids on pans and pots.
Related post: Range cleaning 101
14. Use preset cooking times on your microwave oven.
Many people don’t bother using their microwave oven’s preset cooking features. This will heat food more effectively and conserve energy.
Related post: Seven ways to keep your microwave working well
15. Replace your refrigerator/freezer door gasket (the rubber seal).
Gaskets have the important job of sealing the door and preventing warm air from entering but they can get ripped or torn over time. Your refrigerator and freezer may be working overtime because of air flow between the door and the interior of the appliance.
16. Clean your dryer’s lint filter (lint screen) after every load. A clogged lint filter means it will take longer for your dryer to dry clothes. It’s also an extreme fire hazard.
17. Once per year, clean out your entire dryer venting system.
18. Remove clothing from your dryer when they’re still a bit damp.
Hang them up right away. This will save energy and prevent wrinkles.
Related post: How to reduce wrinkles and avoid ironing
19. In lieu of using hot water in your washing machine, warm or cold water is sufficient for cleaning clothes.
Add this infographic to your website or blog:
RepairClinic.com® makes fixing things easy for millions of people. Founded in 1999, it’s North America’s popular, trusted online store with replacement parts for outdoor power equipment, major household appliances and heating and cooling equipment. Free repair resources including more than 1,200 how-to videos empower people to fix stuff on their own. One million parts for 160 brands are stocked at its 86,000-square-foot facility in Canton, Michigan. Do-it-yourselfers also appreciate its generous, no-hassle 365 Days. Period.® return policy. In-stock parts are guaranteed to ship the same business day. Visit RepairClinic.com for more information. Contact Jody Lamb, Public Relations Manager, at JLamb [at] RepairClinic.com.