Photo: goinyk/Depositphotos

Global warming is having many disastrous effects on our planet, from more intense heat waves to hurricanes becoming stronger. Recently, scientists found yet another consequence of climate change: it's slowing down Earth's rotation, slightly extending the length of a day.

Just as the melting of glaciers endangers animals and coastal communities, it has also contributed to this lengthening of the day. As the meltwater from regions such as Greenland and Antarctica flows into the oceans, its mass is redistributed closer to the equator. This changes the shape of our planet by making it thicker around the middle, leading to the Earth’s full rotation to take more time than usual.

While the change is tiny and unnoticeable to humans—it's so small that it’s measured in milliseconds—it has effects on computer systems that control financial transactions, navigation, and power grids around the world.

“Everyday life is not sensitive at the one-second level,” Judah Levine, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, told NPR. “Technology may be, and people use technology and they don't quite realize the sensitivity.”

This finding was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and featured the work of scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ETH Zurich's Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, and the Department of Physics of the University of Alberta.

For millennia, the Moon has been the biggest influence on the length of days, exerting  a pull on Earth, causing the oceans to bulge towards it. However, climate change could become the new dominant factor, per Benedikt Soja, another author of the study. “We have to consider that we are now influencing Earth’s orientation in space so much that we are dominating effects that have been in action for billions of years,” he told CNN.

“This is a testament to the gravity of ongoing climate change,” Surendra Adhikari, another one of the authors of the study, concluded. Her reflection paints a worrying picture. “In barely 200 years,” she says, “we will have altered the Earth’s climate system so much that we are witnessing its impact on the very way Earth spins.”

Recently, scientists found yet another consequence of climate change: it's slowing down Earth's full rotation.

Photo: vladvitek/Depositphotos

As water that melts from glaciers is redistributed around the equator, the Earth becomes thicker around the middle, leading to the rotation taking more time than usual—in turn, this makes days longer.

Photo: alonesdj/Depositphotos

While the change is tiny and unnoticeable to humans, it has effects on computer systems that control financial transactions, navigation, and power grids around the world.

Photo: MichalBalada/Depositphotos

h/t: [NPR]

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Dubai is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Just in the first quarter of 2024, the city welcomed 25,700 new residents. Aware of the needs of a growing population, URB, an urban planning and development firm, recently unveiled the Dubai Green Spine project, which aims to turn one of the city's major arterial roads into a “multifunctional public realm” as a way to improve all city dwellers' quality of life.

Pitched as the “World’s Greenest Highway,” Dubai Green Spine will transform Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (E311) into a multimodal corridor. The plan envisions bike paths, walking trails, community amenities, commercial and recreational spaces, and, most notably, a line of 100% electric trams supported by 300 MW of clean solar energy, as well as space for 1 million trees in interconnected green areas along the urban corridor.

“The Dubai Green Spine isn’t just about transit; it’s about transforming how cities function, making them more livable and human-centric,” states Baharash Bagherian, CEO of URB. He adds, “It challenges conventional infrastructure norms, proving that our streets can do more than facilitate car traffic; they can significantly enhance quality of life. This project exemplifies the profound impact thoughtful, integrated urban planning can have on a city’s health and vibrancy.”

This massive infrastructure project doesn't aim to fix all the challenges posed by Dubai's growth, but rather alleviate many of them with a sustainable approach. The parks that frame and cover the 64-kilometer route are meant to mitigate the heat island effects by providing shade and air, while the walking and bike paths will connect neighborhoods to foster “20-minute cities” where every need can be fulfilled by a 20-minute walk. The plan also proposes the construction of cultural and commercial hubs.

The Dubai Green Spine aligns with the city's Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which anticipates the city’s growth to nearly 8 million residents. By providing infrastructure with people from all walks of life and many of Dubai's sprawling areas in mind, the plan marries urban development with an environmental endeavor to help a city with unique weather challenges due to its hot arid climate.

In the long run, the Dubai Green Spine could not only become the city's lush heart but also a model for other cities as they deal with their own issues. After all, this project goes to show that many realities can be true: infrastructure can be built without further damaging the ecosystem, communities can be brought closer together rather than torn apart by sweeping projects, and, above all, bringing nature in is not only a way to beautify our cities, but also make them more livable for years to come.

URB, an urban planning and development firm, recently unveiled the Dubai Green Spine project.

It aims to turn one of the city's arterial roads into a multimodal corridor.

The plan envisions bike paths, walking trails, and community amenities, as well as commercial and recreational spaces.

Most notably, it features a line of 100% electric trams supported by 300 MW of clean solar energy, as well as space for 1 million trees in interconnected green areas along the urban corridor.

URB: Website

All images via URB.

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Una publicación compartida por Vlada March (@vladamarch_realestate)

Yellowstone National Park is home to relaxing landscapes that will take your breath away. But once in a while, it also gets a few scenes of commotion. On the morning of July 23, a hydrothermal explosion took place at the park's Biscuit Basin, taking visitors by surprise. Video of the moment shows a violent and tall blast of rock, water, and steam emerging from the ground.

Vlada March, a real estate agent who was on a guided tour with her family, captured the nerve-wracking footage. “We saw more steam coming up and within seconds it became this huge thing,” March told AP. “It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun.”

While no injuries were reported, the National Park Service shared images on social media that show a boardwalk covered in debris, as well as a bench and portions of a fence that were destroyed by the explosion. They added that both their staff and staff from United States Geological Survey (USGS) will monitor conditions and reopen the area once deemed safe.

“Hydrothermal explosions occur when water suddenly flashes to steam underground, and they are relatively common in Yellowstone,” says the USGS. “For example, Porkchop Geyser, in Norris Geyser Basin, experienced an explosion in 1989, and a small event in Norris Geyser Basin was recorded by monitoring equipment on April 15, 2024. An explosion similar to that of today also occurred in Biscuit Basin on May 17, 2009.”

The USGS explains that explosions such as this are hard to predict, likening them eruptions to a pressure cooker, as “they may not give warning signs at all.” More so, they are more common that people think. “This was the sort of event that occurs 1-2 times per year (often in the backcountry, so it goes unnoticed). It's an underappreciated hazard that we've been emphasizing for years,” the agency says.

Both park authorities and the USGS say that volcanic activity remains “at normal background levels,” and that this event had nothing to do with sudden volcanic activity in the area. “If it did, there would be far more changes occurring (abundant seismicity, deformation, gas emissions, widespread changes in geyser activity, etc.,” they confirm.

To stay up to date with any new developments on this explosion, you can follow Yellowstone National Park on X (formerly Twitter).

A hydrothermal explosion took place at Yellowstone National Park's Biscuit Basin, taking visitors by surprise.

 

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Una publicación compartida por Vlada March (@vladamarch_realestate)

While no injuries were reported, Yellowstone National Park shared images on social media that show a boardwalk covered in debris.

(Heads Up!) Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park temporarily closed due to hydrothermal explosion. More info: https://t.co/tcDR8oRNSx pic.twitter.com/YP7CkwNrQR

— Yellowstone National Park (@YellowstoneNPS) July 23, 2024

h/t: [CBS News]

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Photo: Shnurochek13/Depositphotos

Nearly three years ago, MrBeast and TeamSeas started an initiative to raise $30 million to remove 30 million pounds of ocean trash. A few days ago, they announced that they had surpassed their goal, having pulled 34 million pounds of trash from the sea. It's a stunning achievement that shows the best side of content creation and pulling together online communities for the greater good.

With over 300 million subscribers to his YouTube channel, MrBeast has a lot of sway, which is evident in the results. The fundraiser started in 2021, with people encouraged to donate $1 to clean up one pound of trash. But people did much more than that. Not only did they donate, but they also got out, formed teams, and started cleaning local beaches and waterways.

And, thanks to MrBeast's online popularity, other content creators got involved, with over 400,000 contributing videos related to the cause. All the effort paid off, and according to TeamSeas, a third-party source verified the outcome.

This isn't MrBeast's first foray into philanthropy. The American YouTuber, who began posting videos when he was just 13, also runs the Beast Philanthropy channel, where he's done everything from helping those with sight issues receive surgery to adopting an orphanage.

He's also worked on environmental issues before. In October 2019, he teamed up with fellow YouTuber Mark Rober for TeamTrees and vowed to raise $20 million by January 1 to plant 20 million trees. That goal was surpassed before the self-imposed limit and, as of last month, over 24 million trees have been planted.

While some are critical of MrBeast's over-the-top videos and the motivations for his fundraising, there's no doubt that he's making an impact on the planet, one click at a time. And while the original TeamSeas goal is over, people are being encouraged to donate and support Ocean Conservancy and The Ocean Cleanup to keep the movement going.

International collaborative fundraising campaign TeamSeas has surpassed its original goal and cleaned up 34 million pounds of trash from the ocean.

The initiative was started in 2021 by popular American YouTuber MrBeast.

 

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A post shared by TeamSeas (@teamseas)

Over 400,00 content creators made videos to support the fundraiser, which asked for $1 to clean up one pound of trash.

Ordinary people formed teams and competed to see who could do the best cleanup.

The success of TeamSeas proves that online communities can come together for the greater good.

As of today all 34,000,000 pounds of trash from TeamSeas has been removed from the ocean and verified by a third party 😀https://t.co/SbN0HkyVlJ

— MrBeast (@MrBeast) July 16, 2024

MrBeast: YouTube | Twitter

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Photo: danaan/Depositphotos

Deforestation in Colombia continues to decline, with levels falling to a 23-year low in 2023. According to figures released by the government, there has been a 36% drop in environmental destruction. As one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, Colombia's environmental victory is a victory for the entire planet.

President Gustavo Petro has continued to make strides in protecting his country's natural resources. His leftist government has been vocal about investing funds to save the Amazon and pledging to restore land during his term.

The numbers are promising in terms of the Amazon, which is a driving factor in the national number. Deforestation fell 38% in the region, to about 171 square miles versus nearly 274 square miles in 2022. However, government officials caution that there is still work to do.

“It's really good news … but we definitely cannot say that the battle is won,” said Environment Minister Susana Muhamad during a press conference.

In fact, in April, Muhamad noted that 2024 numbers were up, but not for the reasons you might think. Strong El Niño weather has exacerbated dry weather conditions, which has translated to an increase in deforestation. And according to Reuters, the government's attempts to eliminate illegal roads in the Amazon have stalled.

Still, between this news and a huge decrease in Brazil's deforestation, there's cause for celebration.

h/t: [Reuters]

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Brazilian Amazon (Photo: gustavofrazao/Depositphotos)

In a victory for the planet, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has continued to plummet. According to data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, INPE, deforestation reached a six-year low in May 2024. This promising trend began in 2023 after deforestation peaked in 2022.

The INPE shared that 193 square miles of rainforest were cleared in May, bringing 2024's total deforested area down 54% over the same period last year. The yearly total will be capped on July 31, which marks the peak of Brazil's dry season and is the date used by the government to calculate annual deforestation.

The sharp decline in deforestation coincides with the term of Brazil's current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was sworn into office in January 2023. A key talking point of President Lula's campaign was the environment. In fact, he pledged to stop illegal logging and made a target of zero deforestation by 2030.

The Cerrado in Brazil (Photo: Angeladepaula via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

While great strides have been made in preserving the rainforest, there is concern for the adjacent region, the Cerrado. This vast tropical savanna has seen an increase in environmental destruction at the same time that the Brazilian Amazon has seen increased protection measures. This leads many to believe that illegal loggers have simply taken their activities elsewhere.

The Cerrado, which is home to 800 species of trees and a wealth of animals, is the second-largest biome in South America and the most biodiverse savanna in the world. It is also a major center of agriculture, with an enormous amount of livestock and grain production. Unfortunately, it is not constitutionally part of the country's National Heritage, and only 1.5% of its area falls under environmental protection. This makes it particularly vulnerable for those looking to exploit the environment without the government's watchful eye.

So, while we continue to have good news about the Brazilian Amazon, Brazil will need to move swiftly to also keep all of its ecosystems safe.

h/t: [Mongabay]

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Photo: luna123/Depositphotos

By nature, plants and trees are our best allies against carbon emissions. On top of “breathing out” oxygen, they capture CO2 during photosynthesis, keeping the world in balance. However, when they decay, the carbon they stored is released back into the atmosphere. Now, a startup called Graphyte has found an affordable and nearly permanent way to stop this process—sparing the world from tons of emissions through carbon casting.

“After decades of working in the climate change space, we were committed to finding a better way to remove carbon. We knew that energy was critical. That’s why we started with the power of nature,” reads the company's website. “Graphyte realized that the carbon captured in plant matter could be preserved by eliminating the causes of biomass decomposition—microbes and the water they depend on. Drying the biomass eliminates microbes, and impermeable barriers prevent water and gas from restarting the decomposition process.”

Graphyte's solution is a LEGO-like brick that can be buried underground and later tracked. The process is as follows; they first collect by-products of the timber and agriculture industries that would otherwise be left to decompose or be burned. The company then  dries it to eliminate microbes, stopping decomposition. The biomass is later compacted into dense blocks and protected by an environmentally safe, impermeable barrier that keeps microbes at bay. Once ready, they are equipped with a sensor and placed 10 feet underground.

According to the company, this method has leveled production costs at under $100 per ton of CO2 with minimal energy requirements. By comparison, other carbon removal processes cost anywhere from $600 to $1,200 per ton, according to The Washington Post. With the right monitoring, the shoebox-size blocks can remain there for a thousand years, offering a long-term option. The sites where their blocks are placed can be used as solar farms or working agricultural land.

Graphyte states that this is only a complement to aggressive emissions reductions, as gigatons of carbon removal are needed in the coming decades to achieve the targets set by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Graphyte is focused on working with partners responsibly to ensure our solution is not used as a replacement for direct emissions reduction strategies,” they write.

Still, Graphyte's carbon casting endeavor offers a glimpse of hope, as it speaks to the myriad of ways companies big and small can tackle global warming. By not only taking accountability but actively looking to reduce emissions at every step of the way, we all can contribute to protecting our future.

A startup called Graphyte has found an affordable and nearly permanent way to prevent decaying plants from releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Graphyte's solution is LEGO-like bricks that are buried underground and later tracked.

According to the company, this method has leveled production costs at under $100 per ton of CO2 with minimal energy requirements.

Graphyte: Website

All images via Graphyte except where noted.

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2024 Goldman Prize winner Alok Shukla (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)

The biodiverse Hasdeo Aranya forests are one of the largest intact forest areas in India. Spread over 657 square miles, the forest, which is popularly known as the Lungs of Chhattisgarh, provides crucial natural resources to the 15,000 Indigenous Adivasi people living there. The sprawling forest is also home to diverse wildlife including elephants and tigers, as well as thousands of unique reptiles and birds.

However, one of India's largest coal reserves is also located in the Hasdeo Aranya forest, and in a country where blackouts are common and widespread, there has been a great deal of focus on turning the forest into a mining hub. Even though the Hasdeo Aranya forests are considered a “no-go” zone by India's environmental ministry, the policy was never enacted into law and as a result, more than 21% of India's coal comes from the region.

Several years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's regime pushed for 21 new mines to be placed in the forest, but a local man named Alok Shukla refused to let that happen. Shukla, a 43-year-old environmental activist, grew up watching the effects of deforestation on his community. He stepped up and founded the Save Hasdeo Aranya Resistance Committee, a grassroots organization advocating for the preservation of the sweeping, lush forests in the region. The protest campaign relied on both in-person action and social media awareness, and included events such as sit-ins, tree-hugging campaigns, and advocating for couples to write #savehasdeo on their wedding invitations.

Shukla's efforts paid off as India's legislature voted unanimously that all new mining proposals in the forest should be canceled. His commitment to conservation has also earned him the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize, which “honors ordinary people who take extraordinary actions to protect our planet.” He is sharing the prize with five other winners from Brazil, the United States, South Africa, Australia, and Spain.

An environmental activist in India named Alok Shukla founded a grassroots organization to help preserve the lush forests of his country.

2024 Goldman Prize winner Alok Shukla and community members at Hasdeo Aranya (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)

Over the years, India has cut down forests to build coal mines, but Shukla took a stand against the environmentally harmful deforestation of places like the Hasdeo Aranya forests.

2024 Goldman Prize winner Alok Shukla at the edge of a mine (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)

Shukla's efforts paid off as India's legislature voted unanimously that all new mining proposals in the forest should be canceled.

Hasdeo Aranya (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)

And now, he's won the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work on conserving one of the largest forests in India.

Alok Shukla at the 2024 Goldman Prize ceremony in San Francisco (Photo: Goldman Environmental Prize)

Watch Shukla's acceptance speech:

Goldman Environmental Prize: Website | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Goldman Environmental Prize.

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READ: Environmental Activist Saves One of the Largest Forests in India From Harmful Coal Mining

The Kutuk River in Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. (Photo: Ken Hill / National Park Service)

Alaska is famous for its extensive, beautiful, and foreboding wilderness. Mountains, dense forests, and many miles of roaring rivers cover the state. Many areas are accessible only by helicopter or bush plane, particularly the more remote Arctic regions. While visiting one of the state's many remote rivers in 2018, scientist Jon O’Donnell was surprised to see the waters turned a murky, rusty orange. The great contrast to the crystal clear waters when he visited the year prior kicked off an investigation into why Alaska's rivers were turning orange. The findings, recently published in Nature Communications: Earth and Environment, suggest that the culprit is climate change. As the permafrost warms, metals and acids are polluting the rivers of the Arctic.

After noticing the one orange stream in 2018, scientists including O'Donnell and others from institutions such as the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of California, Davis, began surveying rivers and sampling their water's contents. Satellite imagery suggested the changing river colors began as far back as 2008 and were visible from space. “The more we flew around, we started noticing more and more orange rivers and streams,” lead author Jon O’Donnell says in a statement. “There are certain sites that look almost like a milky orange juice. Those orange streams can be problematic both in terms of being toxic but might also prevent migration of fish to spawning areas.”

Testing the waters revealed iron, zinc, nickel, copper, and cadmium. The waters were often highly acidic, with pH closer to 2.3 as opposed to the normal 8. According to PhD student Taylor Evinger who helped analyze the samples, “We see a lot of different types of metals in these waters. One of the most dominant metals is iron. That’s what is causing the color change.” Tributaries which turn orange as the iron oxidizes acquire their rust color. They then feed into larger rivers, mixing with waters which still remain clear. “There’s a lot of implications,” O’Donnell added. “As the climate continues to warm, we would expect permafrost to continue to thaw and so wherever there are these types of minerals, there’s potential for streams to be turning orange and becoming degraded in terms of water quality.”

Permafrost melting and changing river water may have scary implications for drinking water and wildlife. The salmon populations in Alaska may be particularly affected. Permafrost can also release other long trapped things, such as ancient plant DNA or frozen viruses.

Climate change threatens to affect human life and the Earth's ecosystems in many ways, as scientists rush to learn how the changing world will affect humans and animals.

As climate change causes long-frozen permafrost to melt, acids and metals are released into Alaska's rivers, literally rusting them.

The Kutuk River in Alaska's Gates of the Arctic National Park. (Photo: Ken Hill/National Park Service)

The Kugaroruk River showing contrasting waters. (Photo: Josh Koch, U.S. Geological Survey)

A tributary of the Kugororuk River. (Photo: Josh Koch, U.S. Geological Survey)

The Anaktok River where clear and orange waters mix. (Photo: Josh Koch, U.S. Geological Survey)

A tributary of the Kugororuk River. (Photo: Josh Koch, U.S. Geological Survey)

The orange waters of the Kugaroruk River tributary meet clear. (Photo: Josh Koch, U.S. Geological Survey)

The Akillik River in Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska turning orange. (Photo: fig. 4, O'Donnell et al.)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine, CNN]

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Photo: SergeyNivens/Depositphotos

Humans visiting Mars will likely happen within the next 15 years. However, it will be a nine-month-long journey one way. Finding a way to feed humans on Mars is, therefore, critical before anyone steps foot on the Red Planet. A recent study done by researchers in the Netherlands may have come up with a viable method for growing nutrient rich vegetables by drawing upon ancient farming techniques used by the Mayans. 

While dehydrated food has become a staple of space missions, it's not an ideal method of feeding humans long-term. It is less nutritious than fresh food,  and being able to pack enough for a Mars mission is unfeasible. Regular supply missions are not efficient economically, leaving agriculture as the best method to feed Mars-bound humans. Of course, with an atmosphere 100 times thinner, with more carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon than Earth's atmosphere, Mars isn't readily hospitable to our crops.

Building upon past studies, scientists at Wageningen University & Research are looking for ways to optimize plant growth. Centuries ago, Mayans started using a  method of farming which involved intercropping. Their descendants still use this method today, resulting in drought and disease resilient farms. Intercropping, as opposed to monocropping, consists of multiple plant types being grown together in the same plots of land.

Researchers compared three different crops in an approximation of dusty Martian soil called regolith, as well as soil and river sand, both by monocropping and intercropping. Tomatoes, carrots, and peas were grown for 105 days. These three vegetables are high in nutrients that are destroyed during food dehydration. Also the researchers believed they would be complementary to each other. Tomatoes provide climbing support to peas and shade to carrots that are heat-sensitive, while peas “fix” nitrogen in soil by turning it into ammonia which becomes food for plants. Carrots, in turn, help aerate soil, thus improving water and nutrient uptake.

There were 60 pots total of plants, in greenhouses similar to what would be built on Mars. The results were then measured in terms of yield and nutrient density. In all three soil types, all the crops grew. Tomatoes did especially well in the intercropping regolith pot. They were higher in biomass, and impressively they had the most potassium of any of the tomato plants in the experiment. However, the peas and carrots were not fans of sharing a pot with tomatoes in the regolith, and produced decreased yields. There are several possible reasons for this. Tomatoes are known as “heavy feeders” likely taking nutrients from the peas and carrots. Additionally, a bacteria, Rhizobia, was added to the peas' plots to symbiotically work together for nitrogen-fixing. In the higher pH regolith, the Rhizobia failed to survive, resulting in the peas not being able to turn nitrogen into ammonia for its neighboring crops.

This study, however, was still promising to researchers, as they now think they can come up with ways to adjust the regolith so that it will be welcoming to intercropped plants. For instance, after the first harvest, they will be able to compost the unused parts of the produce to increase the nutrient value of the regolith. The study also provided evidence that intercropping would be beneficial to agriculture on Earth as well. With a rapidly changing climate, farming conditions are shifting, and soil is becoming sandier in some places. The intercropped plants did better in the river sand iteration than the monocropped pots. Not just astronauts on Mars, but many communities on Earth have plenty to learn from the Mayans.

Using Mayan farming techniques of planting different crops closely together could be beneficial for agriculture on Mars, and also on an Earth with its changing climate.

Comparison between intercropping and monocropping treatments in Mars regolith simulant.
A: Intercropping treatment (left) and monocropped tomato (right). B: Intercropping treatment (left) and monocropped pea (right). C: Intercropping treatment (left) and monocropped carrot (right). Arrows point to the small carrot leaves from the intercropping treatment. Pictures were taken on the day of harvest (day 105). (Photo: Gonçalves et al. / Plos One, CC BY 4.0)

Researchers point out that farming will be the most time- and cost-efficient method of feeding Mars colonists, but also will be a mental-wellness supporting practice.

Comparison between intercropping treatment from the three soils.
A: Sand. B: Mars regolith simulant. C: Potting soil.(Photo: Gonçalves et al. / Plos One, CC BY 4.0)

Yield comparison between cropping treatments and between soils.
Labels in pictures indicating “Organic soil” refer to the potting soil treatment. A: Intercropped tomato. B: Monocropped tomato. C: Intercropped peas. D: Monocropped peas. E: Intercropped carrots. F: Intercropped carrots.  (Photo: Gonçalves et al. / Plos One, CC BY 4.0)

h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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READ: Agriculture on Mars Is Closer to Reality Thanks To Mayan Farming Practices