In a world where computers rule our lives, we can not ignore the new trends in document creation. Where once we only had microsoft office, there are now a ton of alternatives.

As a photographer, we have to use a plethora of computer programs and the services they offer to get our work done. One of the essential professional programs has always been Microsoft Office, which contains a document creation program called Word. In the past, it was expensive, but now there are a lot of new programs you could use.

While it can be daunting to explore options and find a suitable replacement, the market does offer us some great free alternatives to Microsoft Office. If you’re searching for a great alternative to MS Word to get the job done, you’re in luck because we’ve compiled a list of the best MS Word replacement options on the market.

Use this list to find the best Microsoft Office alternative for you!

Google Docs

Google Docs is generally ranked as the best Microsoft Office alternative because of how similar it is to MS Word. Most people believe that Google Docs based their format upon Microsoft Office itself, which is great because it can then serve as an excellent replacement. This service offers the option to edit and save your papers and documents online. 

It has many useful features and can be further improved with custom add-ons. You can also invite a new writer to join and co-author your papers on Google Docs. This proves to be a useful feature for college students because it helps them get the work done in a group or team with minimal hassle. 

However, some students simply don’t have the time to write their research paper because of the severe demands of college life, which is why they may find an online research paper writer service instead. They can use Google Docs to regularly check up on how the writer is doing and edit the work if necessary.

If you are a photographer, pay attention to this MS alternative. Being in a hurry, you can forget about scheduled photoshoots or a sequence of orders. This tool has the function of setting notifications about the event date, which is very convenient for busy people.

WPS Office

WPS Office (Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet Office) is another one of the best free alternatives to Microsoft Office. WPS Office is a product of Chinese company Kingsoft and is available on Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux in multiple languages, including English, French, and Russian. In fact, the stable launch for the Windows version was in late 2019. However, the application has been around much longer on Android and showed more than enough positive reviews for the company and developers to create a Windows version of the app. 

While the basic service is free, users can pay for access to “premium” services, too. This costs $29.99 a year–not bad for a powerful software like this. A bonus that comes with using the paid version of this app to write your papers is that you can permanently get rid of the annoying advertisements that tend to pop-up on the free version.

The application is more common in its home country, China, than in other parts of the world because of the general availability of MS Word, but still makes for an excellent MS Office replacement option, nonetheless. Students and learners often use it because of its accessible user interface that is fast and easy to use. For those who are new to the application, you can use several paper writing tips available online to help you. These tips will help you with research paper writing as well as other types of literature. 

iWork

For all the MacBook users, out there who don’t have access to Microsoft Office, iWork is perfect. The application was developed by none other than Apple itself and is the company’s alternative to MS Word. However, it is only available for Apple users. Still, there are lite versions that can be used on an online cloud by non-Mac users. iWork is free across Apple devices, unlike Microsoft Word, and can be downloaded from the App Store.

A lot of photographers use it to make notes when they are going on a trip. As a professional photo maker, you can use PhotoPills app that goes for iOS devices, which is a great fit for iWork. It helps you to find out when the sunset is coming. Symbiosis of PhotoPills and iWork will save you when you need a fresh look and new locations for taking pictures.

Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a smart, convenient way to get your work done, which is why it is also ranked as an excellent MS Office replacement service. It is free to use and saves documents online in a virtual cloud. You will need to create a Dropbox account to use it, but once you do, you will gain full access to the variety of tools, options, and services the platform has to offer. 

The app also allows you to embed handy additions like Trello cards, SlideShare decks, and YouTube videos, which is brilliant. Apart from creating a purely textual document filled with writing, you can add audio, video, and image files into the document. 

Furthermore, you can create checklists and share direct editing links with the writer(s) you want to collaborate with when working on your papers, allowing them to work on the document and keep you up-to-date with what’s going on.

Zoho

Another free alternative to Microsoft Office is Zoho. Zoho, too, is an online, cloud-sharing network that can be used to edit and share documents with a format remarkably similar to Microsoft Word. Zoho Writer is the alternative for Word, but there are around 20 other free applications you can use for other MS Office-related work, too. 

Your Zoho account can be linked to your Google and Yahoo accounts, too, allowing access to your online written papers. The interface is relatively simple but advanced enough to provide excellence in service. Zoho automatically backs up your documents online, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing it due to a hardware malfunction. 

It also has some brilliant new tools like two-way desktop sync, encryption, large file transfer, in-app chat, and two-step authentication, which is especially useful for college students and those who write for professional clients. A lot of photographers use it for their notes – it is easy to use and understand, especially when you have a lack of time to write down some important information and reminders. These custom extensions offer for one of the best writing experiences out there.

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All in all, there is an impressive number of free alternatives to Microsoft Office, making MS Office replacement easier than you initially thought. Now you can access free or paid versions of all these apps on most devices and can use their custom services to work the way you want!

CBD or Cannabidiol has been trending in natural product industries. It is believed and studied to influence health issues, including pain, anxiety, or stress. In this article, let us find out how it has undergone a manufacturing process for the benefit of a growing number of people.

Stage 1: Organic Farming

CBD products usually start in natural strains of hemp or a strain named Indica. The hemp is grown in soil rich in nutrients. There are strict guidelines for the farming stage and use organic procedures.

This stage aims to produce quality and natural strain of hemp. It also moves with the purpose of providing safe, regulated, potent, and consistent products.

Plant harvest is under control because:

• Certified seeds are only approved under low-THC hemp and used for cultivation and extraction of CBD.
• Only contract farmers can undertake the job. They must comply with the regulations and protocols of the Agricultural administrators.
• Farmers should have a permit from authorities before cultivating hemp.
• Hemp must be pesticide-free.
• Verification must be done to assure the hemp is registered.
• Only the best quality of cannabis must be used for production.
• Quality control of harvest must be carried out.
• Proper storage must always be considered.

The harvest can be done through labor and machinery.

By hand labor:

• Base cutting of stem and hauling of plants is done out of the field. It requires time and physical effort.
• It can grow a good number of plants but can be lost because of inadequate time of harvest. Labor is not always enough for more significant transactions.
• Sharp tool maintenance will help to save effort and time in case of the need for labor.

By machinery:

• Use of debudders or buckers.
• Wet or dry stems are fed into the machine.
• The holes are the size of a plate for the allowance of stems passing through.
• Stems are pulled by rollers and stripping the leaves or buds.

Stage 2: Hemp Processing

Dried plants are stored in a warehouse after being harvested. In production, plants turn into coarse powder through milling. The procedure follows the standards of the industry. It is transferred to the manufacturing and processing facility.

Stage 3: Extracting and Separating

The products undergo extraction and purification. This stage ensures the guarantee of organic preservation. It removes unwanted compounds and stops the degrading of natural molecules. Its result is the high quality of hemp oil.

It can use: 

• CO2 pressure and heat in controlled degree
• Ethanol as an additional extraction substance
• The production of flavorful extract through carbon dioxide extraction
• Olive oil but should be stored in a cool and dim place

Stage 4: Distilling

By nature, a cannabis plant has unpredictable and inconsistent qualities. The smell, taste, and potency of CBD may significantly vary. These contradictory attributes flow in the end product causing unwanted variations.

To be able to have a consistent result, the components shall be isolated, separated, and infused into the item. It must be done and possible through distillation.

The isolation can be done and infused to various products like vape, pills, pen, and topical solutions. A controlled measure can create flavor separately, making replicable, predictable, and consumable end-product.

A distillate contains typically approximately 80% of CBD. It also consists of cannabinoids, terpenes, and some other plant oil, crude, and extract. Because of the presence of minor cannabinoids and terpenes, it is still assumed as a wide spectrum product.

Stage 5: Isolating

THC is the compound that gives the “high” in association with Cannabis. An essential step in the procedure is to get rid of even the tiniest trace of THC.

Isolation can be made through the use of technology that removes the unnecessary compound and still extract the oil. Washing and polishing are required to get out the best quality with zero trace THC. Because of this, it can be shipped across different states and most countries in the world.

The appearance of a further refined substance from the distillation process is comprised of 99.5% CBD. It has purified, crystal, and white cannabidiol.

Stage 6: Internal and External Laboratory Testing

Every product must be tested for quality and potency. It is an assurance for consistent and pure results. Every batch undergoes in-house or internal lab testing. After passing it, it acquires Analysis and Quality Assurance Certificate that makes it available for customers. After that, there has to be third-party or external laboratory testing done monthly for verification of the certificate.

Some additional testing includes:

• Analysis of Heavy Metals like Arsenic, Lead, or Mercury
• Aflatoxins, Mycotoxins, and Pesticides
• Terpenes 
• Microbial Testing of Cannabis

Stage 7: Nano-emulsifying

Some processors do this procedure to make CBD fully bioavailable in the industry. This process can make formulas three times more available than oil-based results and water-based hemp oils.

Final Notes

Following procedure is always relevant in any methodologies. The steps are crucial for better outcomes. But also, complying with the standards will lead you to the achievement of your desired goals or purpose in using CBD and any product of good value. 

This is a guest post by Alan Wood

People always talk about how dangerous sharks are, but we should probably stop for a second and remember that there are some 350-440 sharks (depending how you count). All of them have teeth, but only a few are known to be aggressive towards, let alone be somewhat dangerous to, humans.

Why do sharks bite humans?

No, we’re not on the menu for sharks – generally. But just like we don’t normally eat cockroaches, we could if we wanted to. So, we’re going to pretend we’re a cockroach and make sure we’re doing what we can, not to get chomped. 

Put yourself into the brain of a shark quickly. You are now a shark. You have a different brain than a human, so (as far as we can tell), you’re probably roaming the ocean with a skill set that keeps you alive. You eat, you mate and you survive.

Each shark species has become really good at eating a particular prey item. They evolve to do that. That also means that almost no shark has ever had the ability to evolve a taste for humans – we just don’t go into the ocean enough. But, if we look like one of the prey the shark normally eats, there is a high chance we could get attacked. So, here is a short video about how to survive a shark attack:

Everyone can have anxiety and stress, and it is becoming a big problem for the younger generation. Anxiety is a reaction of the body to stress that accumulates throughout the day. 

As people become more conscious of mental health issues, symptoms related to stress and anxiety are now given focus to combat its symptoms and find solutions to address disorders arising from it.

Here are some common symptoms of anxiety and stress 

• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Chest pains
• Heart palpitations
• Skin rashes
• Loss of sleep 
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Frequent urination
• Diarrhea
• Shaking
• Stomach ache

Theoretically, anxiety and stress are not always bad things to have or feel. These responses are there to help the human body conquer different challenges when it thinks that it’s in a dangerous situation. However, being exposed to long hours of stress and anxiety can produce symptoms that are not comfortable for the person and can lead to serious mental problems.  

If you think that you might have an anxiety disorder and it is becoming an issue, then maybe it’s time to ask for help from a trusted doctor and get treated. 

Here is a list of different kinds of stress and anxiety disorders.

GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GAD is a prevalent anxiety disorder and shows how a person worries about things that may happen to them or their family. It could be described as unmanageable worry without any valid reason.

Panic Disorder

This disorder causes a person to have panic attacks. It is described as a moment of utmost fear with shortness of breath, a pounding heart, and fear of impending disaster. This kind of anxiety attack can be very uncomfortable for the person experiencing it since symptoms can be a bit similar when you have a heart attack.

Post-traumatic stress disorder 

PTSD is a kind of anxiety disorder that occurs when a person gets flashbacks or anxiety because of a traumatic experience that happened to them. 

Social Phobia

Social Phobia is a distress or fear when a person associates with another person. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A disorder characterized when a person feels a compulsion to make or complete certain things repetitively. 

Possible Treatment For Anxiety And Stress

There are different kinds of medicine prescribed to treat anxiety, but it might have some side effects. This problem makes people find alternatives to cure their mental illness. One of the options that they have is CBD or cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is one of the components of cannabinoid that can be found in the cannabis plant. 

Due to their potent effect as a stimulant, research has shown that some CBD capsules can be a potential treatment to relieve patients from the symptoms and effects of anxiety and its related mental disorder.

Here are some studies that claim the effects of cannabidiol in treating anxiety and stress.

• A 2010 a study showed that cannabidiol could help with anxiety. After the patients underwent a brain scan, it appears that there are some changes in blood flow in the brain. These areas with changes are involved in creating anxiety. 
• A study in 2011 showed that patients with social anxiety disorder manifest fewer problems and discomfort in public speaking. 
• In 2012, some studies about animals showed that animals with anxiety could be reduced after consuming cannabidiol. It is the result when they put a predator before and after getting a dose of CBD.
• In 2014, some research presented that that CBD oil had anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.
• An analysis in 2015 shows different studies verified that CBD oil could be used in treating several anxieties and stress disorders like panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
• 2016, researchers check the effect of cannabidiol on a PTSD patient who tried traditional medication but somewhat effect and has side effects on the patients. The patient was able to manage the anxiety and have a better sleep after getting CBD daily dosage.

Does Medical Cannabis Work?

The human body actually has different receptors that receive signals from outside stimuli. CBD interacts with these receptors and can initiate changes in the serotonin level. Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter in the body that has many functions and also affects the mood, especially the body’s “happy feelings.”

When the serotonin level is low, it can be related to a higher risk of depression and anxiety. CBD appears to lessen the feedback provided by the receptors and makes serotonin to produce more at a faster rate, which reduces stress.

CBD also has some side effects including:

1. Drowsiness
2. Diarrhea
3. Dry mouth
4. Change in weight.
5. Low blood pressure
6. Nausea

It’s essential to communicate with your doctor before using CBD. Make sure that CBD will not have any adverse effect on your prescribed medicine. Also, it is essential to know that some states did not legalize Cannabis for medical use. 

Guest article written by Alan Wood

The secret to success is not always putting in long hours of hard work. At times you have to be smart about completing a task, even for studying. So if, as students, you have been cramming and all-nighters to jumpstart your GPA, then you might want to continue reading this article. 

Students’ performance is determined by numerous factors other than learning hours. This research on academic achievement indicates that the peers, social interactions, type of learning all contribute to one’s grades. However, students are often unaware of many effective learning techniques.

In this article, we are going to discuss a few of the research-supported and evidence-based learning methods that can help you transform the learning activity. 

Less Time, More Focus 

In our fast-paced world, where anyone is continuously bombarded with notifications, multitasking is the habit that needs cultivating the most.

Over the years, many pieces of research looked into the effect of how multitasking undermines productivity. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance emphasizes how multitasking could lead to less efficiency. If you entertain or even enjoy the activity, try to focus solely on one task. It could reduce the distractions and allow you to focus on high intensity for shorter times, leading to more efficiency and quality at the same time. 

Space Out Study Sessions 

Students often tend to procrastinate studying, only to end up having to cram or miss deadlines. Nowadays, there are several ways for one to get extraordinary help with academic essays to complete assignments asap. However, cramming only for a day might not work well if you are preparing for some tests. 

In a 2009 study by Nate Kornell, the author discusses how spaced study sessions can be more effective than cramming. 

Spacing out study sessions has proved to have more satisfactory results and improve long-term memory. Researcher claims that coming back to a subject could help one jog the mind to boost the process of cementing the knowledge. 

Revise Current Techniques

Many studies support the idea that the more students are looking to understanding concepts, the better they will succeed in learning it. To be more precise, the right term is metacognition, which is now a commonly used phrase in educational circles. 

The concept is categorized into two phases. The first is knowledge, where a student becomes aware of one’s cognitive abilities, and the next step is categorizing it. 

Metacognition is an approach that students can apply in the very first stages of studying any subject. It is often similar to asking questions to yourself, such as why you do not understand a particular material and what to do to make it more comprehensible. The notion would help one grasp concepts better than memorizing data for no reason. 

Mix the Subjects

While multitasking might not always prove beneficial, studies show that switching between different subjects can increase productivity. At least, it will do more good than spending too much time on mastering one particular topic. 

In the research on interleaving subjects, it was observed that mixing them up is much similar to the spacing technique. The key is learning, forgetting, and relearning to reinforce memory. 

It is recommended to choose different topics on the same subject or at least some related fields. This way, the brain will find some connections allowing you to notice the similarities and differences among the various aspects you try to learn. This will further promote a more in-depth understanding of the material. 

Teach Your Peers

Peer teaching is considered a learning strategy by many in the academic circles. Expecting to teach others or your fellow students encourages one to study the material and reinforce it to be able to convey the information to another person effectively. 

This research on the impact of peer tutoring on learning of students discusses the different methods students can implement while tutoring. It could be reciprocal, class-wide, or cross-age tacts, each with its own opportunities. 

It might not be a surprise that students are already practicing all the approaches in one way or the other in terms of group study sessions. 

Paraphrasing

These days, paraphrasing is associated with writing alone. Nevertheless, it is a learning technique that could be used to get the hang of different concepts. It is an essential skill, especially for language learning, to develop communication and increase the existing knowledge. 

Judy Alden, an experienced teacher, notes that paraphrasing should be a core strategy of language teachers. 

If you apply the same thought to studying other subjects, it is easy to circle back to the first point where cognitive psychology has established students to teach themselves better. 

Paraphrasing can help a student to perform better in exams and strengthen their vocabularies. 

Opt for Mind Mapping

There are numerous learning tools available on the web with a focus on mind mapping. Essentially, it is a graphic way of representing information that helps to structure, analyze, and comprehend better. 

Nobel prize winner Roger Sperry’s research on mind mapping claims that visual forms of learning are superior to traditional note-taking. 

Though not a fairly new idea, when it comes to individual learning activities, visual forms are not always students’ favorites. According to Sperry, visual learning can boost the coordination of skills processed by two different hemispheres of the brain, helping to perform complex tasks faster. 

Test Yourself 

There is a reason why taking sample tests help a student perform better in exams. The retrieval practices of learning encourage learners to create test questions by themselves to comprehend a new concept better.

With the help of such self-quizzes, students familiarize themselves with the test style and prepare more efficiently. 

Wrapping Up

Many of these techniques might seem like a hard route for students. However, if you find yourself tired after a study session, it might be time to revisit the method. 

You may choose something else on the list and decide what is suitable for you to achieve better results.

There are many big snakes in the world. There is no way to define what a giant snake is except that it’s bigger than most snakes. Most snakes are no larger than 1.25 meters.

We quickly look at some of the record holders in various categories of snake ‘gigantism’.

What is the longest snake ever recorded?
The longest snake ever recorded was a 11.5 meter green anaconda from South America (Oliver 1958 and Gilmore and Murphy 1993). Some biologists dispute this and consider the maximum length to be only 9 to 9.5 meters.

The longest Python?
The longest python on record was a reticulated python that reached a length of 10.1 meters. While it was common to find individuals with lengths up to 8 meters in the wild only a few decades ago, few wild creatures today exceed 5 to 6 meters.

Longest snake in Africa?
The African Rock Python is the longest African snake. One individual reached a length of 9.75 meters.

Longest pet snake?
The most popular ‘giant’ snake is the Indian Python (Python molurus). The longest pet snake on record reached a length of 5.8 meters. A subspecies of this python is the Burmese Python.

Longest Australian snake?
The longest Australian snake is the Scrub Python (Morelia amethystina) which reached a length of 8.5 meters.

Longest Venomous snake?
The longest venomous snake is the King Cobra.

What determines the world’s deadliest snake is different than what determines the world’s most venomous snake. Venom is a complex subject (see Snake Venom), and snake venom works differently on different creatures. But for the purposes of this page, we’ve listed the most toxic venom based on the lethal dose to mice, called the LD50.

The list of the most venomous snakes according to a compilation by Ernst and Zug (1996).

Species	LD 50 mg/kg	mg Venom yield
Hook-nosed sea snake (Enhydrina schistosa)	0.02	7.0 – 79.0
Russel’s Viper (Vipera russelii)	0.03	130.0 – 250.0
Inland taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus)	0.03	44.0 – 110.0
Dubois’s reef sea snake (Aipysurus duboisii)	0.04	0.7
Eastern brownsnake (Pseudechis textilis)	0.05	2.0 – 67.0
Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)	0.05	50.0 – 100.0
Tiger rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris)	0.06	6.0 – 11.0
Boomslang (Dispholidus typus)	0.07	1.6 – 8.0
Yellow-bellied seasnake (Pelamis platurus)	0.07	1.0 – 4.0
Common Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus)	0.09	8.0 – 20.0
Desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes)	0.1	20.0 – 45.0
Common taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus)	0.1	120 – 400
Common European viper (Vipera berus)	0.11	10.0 – 18.0
Tigersnake (Notechis scutatus)	0.12	35.0 – 189.0
Forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca)	0.12	?
Puffadder (Bitis arietans)	0.14	100.0 – 350.0
Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica)	0.14	350.0 – 600.0
Seakrait (Laticauda laticaudata)	0.16	?
Neotropical rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus)	0.17	20.0 -100.0
Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus)	0.18	50.0 – 150.0
Egyptian cobra (Naja haje)	0.19	175.0 – 300.0
Harlequin coralsnake (Micrurus fulvius)	0.2	3.0 – 5.0
Ottoman viper (Vipera xanthina)	0.2	8.0 – 18.0
Erabu seakrait (Laticauda semifasciata)	0.21	2.0 – 14.0
African birdsnake (Thelotornis kirtlandii)	0.21	?
Ringhal (Hemachatus haemachatus)	0.22	80.0 – 120.0
Olive seasnake (Aipysurus laevis)	0.22	10.0 – 33.0
Black-necked cobra (Naja nigricollis)	0.23	150.0 – 350.0
Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)	0.24	5.0 – 48.0
Common mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps)	0.26	60.0 – 95.0
Bar-bellied seasnake (Hydrophis elegans)	0.27	9.0 – 24.0
Spectacled cobra (Naja naja)	0.28	150.0 – 600.0
Annulated seasnake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus)	0.35	5.0 – 8.0
Fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox)	0.35	100.0 – 200.0
White-lipped tree pitviper (Trimeresurus albolabris)	0.37	8.0 – 15.0
Hundred-pace pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus)	0.38	?
Central American coralsnake (Micrurus nigrocinctus)	0.4	5.0 – 8.0
Northern moleviper (Atractaspis microlepidota)	?	5.0 – 10.0
Yellow-lipped seakrait (Laticauda colubrina)	0.4	?
Jararacussu (Bothrops jararacussu)	0.46	200.0 – 321.0
Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes)	0.48	?
Common blacksnake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)	0.5	30.0 – 50.0
Deathadder (Acanthophis antarcticus)	0.6	70.0 – 236.0
Hardwicke’s seasnake (Lapemis curtus)	0.62	2.4 – 15.0
Southern coralsnake (Micrurus frontalis)	0.63	20.0 – 30.0
Blunt-nosed viper (Vipera lebetina)	0.64	12.0 – 150.0
Wagler’s pitviper (Tropidolaemus wagleri)	0.75	65.0 – 90.0
Cantil (Agkistrodon bilineatus)	0.8	50.0 – 95.0
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)	0.9	350.0 – 500
Twin-spotted rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei)	0.95	4.0 – 8.0
European asp (Vipera aspis)	1	9.0 – 10.0
Western rattlesnake (Croatalus viridis)	1.01	35.0 – 250.0
Terciopelo (Bothrops aspera)	1.1	100 – 310
Jararaca (Bothrops jararaca)	1.1	40.0 – 70.0
Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus)	1.2	20.0 – 114.0
Mamushi (Agkistrodon blomhoffii)	1.2	1.0 – 7.0
Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)	1.2	200.0 – 850.0
Malayan pitviper (Calloselasma rhodostoma)	1.24	40.0 – 60.0
Picados pitviper (Porthidium picadoi)	1.33	5.0 – 70.0
Eyelash palm pitviper (Bothriechis schlegelii)	1.6	10.0 – 20.0
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)	1.64	75.0 – 210.0
Common nightadder (Causus rhombeatus)	1.85	20.0 – 30.0
Lowland copperhead (Austrelaps superbus)	2	?
Urutu (Bothrops alternatus)	2	60.0 – 100.0
Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)	2.04	80.0 – 170.0
Orsini’s viper (Vipera ursinii)	2.17	1.0 – 4.0
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)	2.2	175.0 – 600.0
Jumping pitviper (Porthidium nummifer)	2.4	40.0 – 60.0
Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes)	2.6	18.0 – 50.0
Pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)	2.8	12.0 – 35.0
Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus)	2.9	15.0 – 45.0
Okinawa habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis)	3.05	?
Red diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus ruber)	3.7	120 – 450
Speckled palm pitviper (Bothriechis lateralis)	4	10.0 – 20.0
Bushmaster (Lachesis muta)	4.5	200 – 500
Rainforest hognosed pitviper (Porthidium nasutum)	4.6	12.0 – 25.0
Side-striped palm pitviper (Bothriechis lateralis)	4.84	10.0 – 20.0
Slender hognosed pitviper (Porthidium ophryomegas)	6.3	10.0 – 20.0
Godman’s pitviper (Porthidium godmani)	7.6	10.0 – 20.0
Rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus)	9	129
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)	10.9	40.0 – 75.0

 

Online slots are fun to play and are among the most popular games at online casinos. You place your bets and hit the Spin button. The reels spin away and stop at a point in time. You win if you hit a winning combination. Simple, right? Yes, and no.

The entire process is simple for a player, but there is a huge amount of science involved in creating the entire experience: right from the way a slot looks and feels to the way you are guaranteed a completely random outcome for every spin with the random number generator (RNG) and, even further, the psychological aspect that makes slots so successful.

On this page we take a look at the science behind online slots and how it all works. We will first discuss about the RNG and then move on to the science behind the visual aesthetics.

The Random Number Generator (RNG)

Especially because of the remote nature of online casino gambling, one critical requirement is fair gaming. Online casinos fulfill this requirement for online slots by using a random number generator (RNG). The random number generator is an algorithm generated by a computer that online casinos use to randomize the results of a spin. It does this by generating a sequence of numbers, each number corresponding to a symbol on the reels, which one cannot predict by any means other than by chance.

There are typically 2 types of RNGs:

• Hardware Random Number Generator (HRNG): This type of RNG genuinely generates random numbers. They are not even computed values that are obtained from an algorithm that executes repeatedly. They are truly random because you don’t even have a repeated set of numbers or a set algorithm to crack them. That is why they are also called True Random Number Generators (TRNG).
• Pseudo Random Number Generator (PRNG): This type of RNG generates numbers that only look random. This is what it means: if you know the state of the PRNG you can reproduce the random number sequence generated.

How the RNG Works

How the RNG Works: The software sets up the algorithm with a seed value. This is only natural because for something to execute repeatedly there has to be a beginning: that is the seed value. The seed value is derived from any one of a number of repetitive actions or operations happening in the computer. It could be processes that are running, the specific pattern to a mouse click, a specific set of keystrokes, or even the computer’s clock.

What this means for Slots: Each symbol on a reel has a specific value assigned to it. When you spin the reels the RNG algorithm throws up unique numbers, at the speed of hundreds per second. The set of numbers that are thrown up when the reels stop spinning determine the symbols that appear on your computer screen at that point in time. The arrangement of the symbols on the reels, determined by the numbers they are represented by, determine whether you won, and by how much. That is how random the whole exercise is. There is another factor to consider: each symbol is weighted uniquely. This means in a game with 24 symbols per reel the chances of a symbol landing on a particular reel are effectively 1 in 24 and completely random.

Usually lower symbols are more heavily weighted. The probability of you landing a lower weighted symbol is far higher than the probability of landing a more heavily weighted symbol, like a bonus symbol or, to take it to an even higher level of randomness, the probability of landing a set of bonus symbols to trigger a bonus round. While the process itself is random, players need to be assured of that fact. That is why every reputable online casino gets its RNG audited by an independent third party that is known for its neutrality. Some of the most popular testing agencies that the online casino industry uses are:

• Technical Systems Testing (TST)
• Gaming Labs International (GLI)
• iTech Labs
• NMi

The Return to Player (RTP) Value

Another bit of science that plays out when it comes to online slots is the return to player (RTP) value. The RTP value tells you how much, over a period of time, a slot pays you back. This value is usually calculated and represented as a percentage value; so a slot with a RTP value of 96% literally means that for every $100 you wager the machine will pay you back $96 over a period of time. One thing to remember: this is a theoretical value and a statistical calculation.

In the above example, the RTP value is the 96%, and the 4% is the house edge. So on every $100 you wager, the house stands to make $4. While the RTP does tell you how much you can expect to win back out of the $100 you wagered, in the earlier example, it does NOT tell you how often or how soon you can expect to win it back.

All of it is driven by the use of the RNG, at the end of it. That is what determines the fairness quotient and levels the playing field: your chances of winning on a particular spin are exactly the same as your chances of losing.

Slots and the Price Associated with Them

Each slot has a price, for both the player and the operator. For the player, the price is the cost per spin. So for a 50 cent spin, the price he sees is the 50 cents he pays. For the operator, on the other hand, the price would incorporate not just the cost per spin but other factors like the house edge. So, for a game with a 5% house edge, the price for the operator would primarily be the 5% they collect on each spin over a period of time. CasinoShortList has done extensive research to only offer the best online casinos offering these high RTP slots for you. These are slots with the best RTPs.

Slots and Human Psychology

There is another level of science involved when it comes to playing slots: psychology. There have been numerous studies conducted on this, mainly focusing on human behavior. It is as simple as the results of an experiment Skinner conducted in the 1970s: pigeons were caged and rewarded with food when they pressed a lever. The reward was random, and this made the pigeons hit the lever frequently, not knowing when they would win reward and hoping to win it every single time.

Another scientist, Natasha Dow Schull, a cultural anthropologist, has actually identified some of the features – called the trigger features – land-based casinos use to grab the attention of players and keep them hooked. Here are a few that we have always known about but never associated with the scientific aspect:

• Screen type: Screens with soft color patterns and an inclination of 38 degrees ensure you don’t hurt your eyes and help preserve energy.
• Sound: Most of the sounds in a slot machine are sweet music to the ears. There is a science to this, which most of us aren’t aware of: the sounds are generated in the C key, which has a pleasant ‘sound’ to it.
• Location: The location and setting of a slot machine are designed to ensure privacy and give you a shot at playing some long sessions
• Button usage: The button gives you a sense of control, of executing a task on your own, as does a lever. When you score a win you feel validated, and when you don’t, you feel the need to score one on the next spin.
• Near misses: Near misses are a big factor in getting you to place the next bet. They give you the feeling of having lost out narrowly and therefore the need to correct that the next time around.
• Low bets: The first thought when you see a penny slot is that you can have some fun here because it just costs well, a penny!

The Psychology of Winning

The great thing about slots is that there are thousands of games to play, and even more ways to win. No studies are needed to prove the obvious psychological fact that everyone loves winning.

As we know, science is the most reliable source of knowledge and the involvement and use of diverse methods and practices can prove useful for this phenomenon.

When someone mentions a science program, you are bound to think of a group of scientists cohesively working in a laboratory. But what if science wasn’t only limited to the scientists alone, but also the general public or the ‘non-scientific’ people as well? With the best iptv service usa you will be able to get more done easily.

The result of such collaborative projects is what is now termed ‘Citizen Science’.

What is Citizen Science?

Citizen Science is the product of the collaborative efforts undertaken by professional as well as amateur scientists in several scientific projects. Several such endeavors are recognized in the form of Higgs Hunters, Gravity Spy, and Steelpan Vibrations to name a few.

What does Citizen Science do?

Citizen Science efforts allow individuals, or the participants, to learn from the scientific practices besides advanced scientific understanding. Although, as determined by Rajul Pandya and his 12-member committee at Thriving Earth Exchange, the institutes offering such diverse citizen science projects must be well equipped and educated.

Features of Citizen Science

1. The first and the most important aspect of this approach is that anyone (literally) can participate in the scientific program.
2. All the data that is available to the general ‘scientists’ is what the real scientists also refer to, which means that the combined data can be of premium quality.
3. This data then helps the scientists to come to real conclusions for the project.
4. Scientists and large communities volunteer data which can be accessed by all the citizen scientists along with the actual scientists related to the project.

Benefits of Citizen Science

•        Availability of fresh knowledge

With the additional help, scientific projects include research done from different views and aspects, scientific as well as general. This leads to better results overall.

•        Scientific Awareness among masses

Most of the time, the general public is not included in the programs that are conducted which formidably leads to very little scientific awareness. But with Citizen Science projects, the general public is included throughout the process allowing them to learn and understand the phenomenon of science better.

How else can a Science Project be Diverse?

Besides Citizen Science, there are several assorted areas which result in extensive scientific discoveries. Researches say that it takes a team of scientists with both the genders to come up with the most successful endeavors.

The best example of this is since the women are part of medical research teams, more attention is now being paid to the female health problems like breast cancer.

Is it Effective?

Scientific teams which are more diverse in nature, gender, and practice generate better outcomes than traditional scientific projects. This is due to the presence of mix perspectives under a single roof, which allows them to think beyond the natural horizon.

Scientific research becomes borderless with the recruitment of diverse researchers to the group, every individual brings something new to the table which makes the project even more progressive.