Leaks Found in Earth's Protective Magnetic Field

Scientists have found two large leaks in Earth's magnetosphere, the region around our planet that shields us from severe solar storms.

The leaks are defying many of scientists' previous ideas on how the interaction between Earth's magnetosphere and solar wind occurs: The leaks are in an unexpected location, let in solar particles in faster than expected and the whole interaction works in a manner that is completely the opposite of what scientists had thought.

The findings have implications for how solar storms affect the our planet. Serious storms, which involved charged particles spewing from the sun, can disable satellites and even disrupt power grids on Earth.

The new observations "overturn the way that we understand how the sun's magnetic field interacts with the Earth's magnetic field," said David Sibeck of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., during a press conference today at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

The bottom line: When the next peak of solar activity comes, in about 4 years, electrical systems on Earth and satellites in space may be more vulnerable.

How it works

Earth's magnetic field carves out a cavity in the sun's onrushing field. The Earth's magnetosphere is thus "buffeted like a wind sock in gale force winds, fluttering back and forth in the" solar wind, Sibeck explained.

Both the sun's magnetic field and the Earth's magnetic field can be oriented northward or southward (Earth's magnetic field is often described as a giant bar magnet in space). The sun's magnetic field shifts its orientation frequently, sometimes becoming aligned with the Earth, sometime becoming anti-aligned.

Scientists had thought that more solar particles entered Earth's magnetosphere when the sun's field was oriented southward (anti-aligned to the Earth's), but the opposite turned out to be the case, the new research shows.

The work was sponsored by NASA and the National Science Foundation and based on observations by NASA's THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) satellite.

How many and where

Essentially, the Earth's magnetic shield is at its strongest when scientists had thought it would be at its weakest.

When the fields aren't aligned, "the shield is up and very few particles come in," said physicist Jimmy Raeder of the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Conversely, when the fields are aligned, it creates "a huge breach, and there's lots and lots of particles coming in," Raeder added, at the news conference.

As it orbited Earth, THEMIS's five spacecraft were able to estimate the thickness of the band of solar particles coming when the fields were aligned — it turned out to be about 20 times the number that got in when the fields were anti-aligned.

THEMIS was able to make these measurements as it moved through the band, with two spacecraft on different borders of the band; the band turned out to be one Earth radius thick, or about 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers). Measurements of the thickness taken later showed that the band was also rapidly growing.

"So this really changes our understanding of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling," said physicist Marit Oieroset of the University of California, Berkeley, also at the press conference.

And while the interaction of anti-aligned particles occurs at Earth's equator, those of aligned particles occur at higher latitudes both north and south of the equator. The interaction is "appending blobs of plasma onto the Earth's magnetic field," which is an easy way to get the solar particles in, said Sibeck, a THEMIS project scientist.

Next solar cycle

This finding not only has implications for scientists' understanding of the interaction between the sun and Earth's magnetosphere, but for predicting the effects to Earth during the next peak in the solar cycle.

The Sun operates on an 11-year cycle, alternating between active and quiet periods. We are currently in a quiet period, with few sunspots on the sun's surface and fewer solar flares, though the next cycle of activity has begun. It is expected to peak around 2012, bringing lots of sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). CMEs can interact with the Earth's magnetosphere, causing problems for satellites, communications, and power grids.

This upcoming active period now looks like it will be more intense than the previous one, which peaked around 2006, some scientists think. The reason is the changes in the sun's alignment.

During the last peak, solar fields hitting the Earth were first anti-aligned then aligned. Anti-aligned fields can energize particles, but in this case, the energy came before the particles themselves, which doesn't create much of a fuss in terms of geomagnetic storms and disruptions.

But the next cycle will see aligned, then anti-aligned fields, in theory amplifying the effects of the storms as they hit.

Raeder likens the difference to igniting a gas stove one of two ways: In the first way, the gas is turned on and the stove is lit and you get a flame. In the other way, you let the gas run for awhile, so that when you add the gas you get a much bigger boom.

"It should be that we're in for a tough time in the next 11 years," Sibeck said.

Efficient Terran Counter Units Strategy

What is Terran counter units strategy and how does it perform in a match? A quick overview of Terran counter units, will help you develop your strategy. Upgrade your units as much as possible.

Terran units we will discuss:

- tanks

- hellios

- vikings

- marines

- thor

Terran vs. Zerg:

Zerg units are efficient in swarming in the early stages of the match - zerglings attack. To counter this attack use hellion unit, as it is very useful against groups of ground units. To defend against roach and hydro the best unit would be tank and thor combo, which will have no problem with outstanding the attack and defending your base. Zerg players often use mutalisk which are very vulnerable to marines and vikings.

Terran vs. Protoss:

In a match against the Protoss your main weapon of choice to counter attack zealot and stalker combo would be again the tank and thor combo with a cover of few marines in front of the tanks. When dealing with colossus or immortals you should use, thors because colossus are very weak against large armored units. For the immortals use marines and hellios and keep your tanks as far away as possible as the immortals are designed to make maximum damage to the tanks. Protoss are also using their void rays, which are powerful but not if you have got vikings. Counter with them and defeat them.

Clearing all the units off the battlefield is mind-blowing for the opposing player. Use that advantage and counter attack his base. It should be an easy victory.

Starcraft 2 review
Starcraft 2 basics

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Douncan

Starcraft 2 Strategy - The Chosen Race

After reading this Starcraft 2 strategy article, you may surprise to find out which race best fits you. For those of you new to Starcraft, picking which race to play is probably the first thing you will do once you get into the multiplayer.

Do you pick the noble Protoss? The rag-tag Terrans? Or the relentless Zerg swarm?

Well, if you don't know their strengths and weaknesses, it will be hard to choose which race is right for you. Let's break down the 3 races with pro/con lists so you can figure out which one suits you best.

Protoss

Pros:

* Strong units with high health / damage for their costs.
* Regenerating shields.
* Tactical superiority with warp-in units.
* Powerful spell casters (both High Templar and Sentries).
* Chrono-Boost allows you to both power your economy and/or your army, allowing for versatile play.
* Decent army mobility.

Cons:

* Micromanagement of units is most important of all 3 races.
* Units are generally high-cost.
* Tech trees are extremely expensive gas wise, so you have to choose a single or at most two tech trees.
* No ability to repair/heal.
* Long tech time to tier 3 units.

The Protoss have a strong army out of their gateway alone, and because of this, they have opportunities for strong timing attacks with warp gates. They are the most straight-forward of the 3 races, and for that I call them the "easiest" to play of the 3 races.

Warp gates come with a built in hotkey- W, so newer players can't even forget to set their control groups. Also, nearly any amalgamation of stalkers, sentries, and zealots, can perform well in combat together early in the game, so exact army composition doesn't matter quite as much. In more advanced games, the ability for Protoss to warp units in wherever they have pylons allows for interesting tactical strikes, flanks, surrounds, and a myriad of other advanced tactics.

A player who likes Protoss generally likes their brute power and strong overall units, and will generally move their army as one powerful group. Micromanaging a Protoss army is extremely important, as protecting your high value units with cheap zealots will lead you to victory.

Terran

Pros:

* Extremely versatile base unit, the Marine
* Add-ons allow for quick tech-switches and versatile army composition
* Powerful harassing units (hellions, reapers)
* Specialist units hard counter specific races / unit compositions (ghosts vs. toss, thors vs. mutas)
* Mobile bases allow for interesting counter-attack strategies.
* Repair ability and supply depot lowering allows for strong defensive walls.
* Orbital command allows for strategic advantage.

Cons:

* Slow army production without reactor add-ons which take a long time to build.
* Slowest production of workers of the 3 races- (somewhat mitigated by MULES)
* Powerful army units move very slowly, and have low overall mobility
* Many units have energy, making them all vulnerable to high templar feedback.
* Many different unit upgrades and 3 different upgrade trees makes it difficult for late game army composition switches.

The Terran army has many faces, and as such allows for very versatile play. Players who like to innovate will like picking Terran, as they can attempt numerous kinds of drops, cloaked play, flying harass, ground harass... all while feeling generally safe behind your wall of buildings and siege tanks.

Terran players have many methods of both offense and defense, and this versatility makes defending against a multi-pronged Terran attack very difficult. Being able to control multiple small battles at once is a hallmark of a good Terran player, but microing individual units is less important than as a Protoss player.

Zerg Player

Pros:

* Unique production structure allows quick saturation of new bases and fast high-tier unit production.
* All units regenerate.
* Simple upgrade structure allows you to start upgrades early and know they will be used.
* Fast army units allow for lightning quick strikes and retreats, as well as many tactical maneuvers
* Overlords provide strategic scouting advantage.
* Late game units are VERY strong and hard to overcome once created.
* Fastest to expand, and best mobility of the three races.

Cons:

* Macromanagment is extremely difficult, and most important of all 3 races (Creep, Queens, Spawn Larvae, Drone to unit ratio)...
* Difficult to learn.
* Overall weakest units.
* Difficult to tech quickly.

The Zerg swarm is both difficult to master and difficult to learn. The payoff, however, is control over the 2 most powerful units in the game (Broodlord + Ultralisk).

A Zerg player must be able to constantly spawn larvae, constantly spread creep, constantly be positioning overlords, and on top of that making the right number of drones and the correct army composition. Any small break in these functions will generally cost a Zerg player the game, and playing as Zerg can be the least forgiving of the 3 races.

In addition, you need to be able to make more actions per minute as Zerg than the other 2 races just to perform your standard base duties. Zerg is not for the slackers out there, and requires a significant amount of time to master. Having read this Starcraft 2 strategy guide, let's take it to the next level.

Click here to see my free Starcraft 2 video tutorials for all three races: "Starcraft 2 Strategies"

Stephen Gophin is a Starcraft 2 coach at Dominate SC2 where he creates videos and articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Gophin

The Final Fantasy Review

After a long development phase the Final Fantasy 14 was revealed for the crowd on the 30th of September. This part turns another page in the history of the game. The promotion campaign had unseen since now scale. The game it self is quite addicting. It makes you change your routine so that you have more time to play the game. And the developers are still adding more and more advanced features.

The game is very customizable. The player is able to create and modify their characters the way they like it. They can adjust the physical aspects, the levels, the weapons and more and more which makes it almost unique. The game play allows the player to choose from a variety of tasks to clear the level in order to get to Realm of Eorzea. The interaction between the players is also allowed which helps them even more in the quest to clear the levels. All these qualities make the game even more irresistible and appealing.

To make the game even more unique the players are offered to decide from 17 different worlds in which to play in. Gysahl, Wutai, Trabia, Mysidia, Istory, Bodhum, Melmond,Cornelia, Kashuan, Figaro, Lindblum, Besaid, Selbina, Rabanastre, Palamecia, Saronia, and Fabul. As the developers announced that they also said that even more worlds will be added. That way if the previously existing worlds get over crowded the developers will start completely new worlds where the new players will be accommodated. By that the developers have entire control over the servers so they don't get over crowded.

As a soldier you can select from five different disciplines - Archer, Pugilist, Lancer, Gladiator, and Marauder. The division you are fighting in is determined by the weapon you have. So when you change your weapon this changes your class and level.

The archers, if someone doesn't know are those men with the bows and arrows. They can select from a wide range of arrows and every has its own speciality. The archers are not very strong but are truly efficient in long distance fighting. The pugilists are stronger. They are more suitable for hand to hand warfare. The lancers use long spears. They are not very efficient in hand to hand combat. But are strong in their own way. Gladiators are again a melee unit but unlike the pugilists they are equipped with swords and shields. Marauders use axe and are again a short distance unit.

As you see the five classes are divided mostly on the range between them and the opponent. So the most important thing in order to defeat the enemy is to pick the most suitable weapon for your division.

You can play 3D flash games online. Play free flash games at ArnesGames.Net.
flashgames
free flash games

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Konstantin_Ivanov

The SteelSeries SX: King of Gaming Accessories

The SteelSeries SX is without a doubt Steelseries' finest mouse pad. For those looking to find the best mouse pad on the market, you should start by examining the SX. The top surface is constructed by essentially soaking the metal inside of a container filled with acid while electrocuting it. I know this sounds barbaric, but it actual enjoys it.

The "adonization" process helps make the metal tougher and even purges most of the weaker parts inside the aluminum. The procedure also makes the SX mouse surface exceptionally sleek, resistant to scratches, and also very durable. The price causes it to be tough to advocate for every person, but it is hard not to having used it.

When you open the SteelSeries SX, you'll find the actual mouse surface itself, naturally, which is incredibly gleaming and appealing to just gaze upon. In addition, this package includes a handful of mouse gliders to help make your mouse movement very smooth. If you have an older mouse or maybe a bargain brand mouse, you will notice a huge difference simply by applying them at the base of the mouse.

The Steelseries SX is a unique mouse pad built mainly for the benefit of game enthusiasts. The surface is extremely smooth, enabling truly swift motions when desired. First person shooter gamers who like to run and gun will love the SX a lot. People that like a more slow movement will see that even though the top is undoubtedly sleek, it is far from unmanageable for low-sens gaming.

Mouse motion with the surface is certainly fantastic not to mention absolutely accurate. Our reviewers used many different gaming mice on the SX, such as the Microsoft SideWinder, and encountered absolutely no issues with any of the mice. The pad is perfect for both laser and optical engines, but it is definitely best suited for use with high-quality gaming mice.

If you want to buy the best product, it is a good idea to have a look at exactly what the true consumers say with regards to a product, particularly if they have been working with it for an extended time. The SteelSeries SX boasts some of the strongest evaluations with regard to effectiveness among consumers that have used it a long time. Over the several online sites selling it, the SX has got the best general performance ratings when compared to any other mouse surface.

In addition to extremely positive overall performance grades, resilience rankings are really fantastic. Many users used their SX mouse pads constantly for several years, and still the surface remains to be smooth and very usable. Compared with all kinds of other solid mouse pads, the top does not get worn down near the center of the pad.

The Steelseries SX is among the most cherished gaming and graphic artist mouse pads that you can buy, merely because it is comfortable for long-term use and also effective. The surface area is large enough to be played with among those that prefer to change the mouse cursor quickness down for more precision. It is additionally quick and also accurate to the right degree if you would like quickness above control.

The Steelseries SX is really comfortable to use, long lasting, plus accurate. The price tag is the only trouble with this particular mouse pad. Because it is a top-quality product manufactured to last a long time, the charge is fairly substantial. The actual final decision regarding whether it's truly worth will depend upon the customer.

For someone who plays a lot of games, the SX can be advisable without any uncertainty. As an alternative to obtaining 2 or 3 regular mouse pads over the years, the Steelseries SX will last long enough that you can just get one superb mouse pad. For anyone who just plans to play once in a while, the charge might not be worth the cost. One can find mouse pad reviews of less expensive surfaces. While they most likely are not equally good, they should serve adequate performance. If you're able to afford it, though, an SX is likely to make an incredible asset in the end.

How To Prepare For An Pre Employment Aptitude Test

1. Study alone: you will concentrate better when you work by yourself. Keep a list of questions that you cannot answer and points that you are unsure of to talk over with a friend who is preparing for the same exam. Plan to exchange ideas at a joint review session just before the test.

2. Don't be distracted: disturbances caused by the family and neighbor activities (telephone call, chatting, TV programs and so on) work to your disadvantage. Study in a quiet, private room.

3. Don't try to learn too much in one study period. If your mind starts to wander, take a short break and then return to your work.

4. Review what you have learned. When you have studied something thoroughly, be sure to review it the next day so that the information will be firmly fixed on your mind.

5. Answer the entire question in past aptitude test questions, and don't be satisfied merely with the correct answer to each question. Do additional research on the other choices that are given. You will broaden your background and be more adequately prepared for the actual exam. It is quite possible that a question on the exam that you are going to take may require you to be familiar with the other choices.

6. Tailor your study to the subject matter. Skim or scan. Don't study everything in the same manner. Obviously, certain areas are more important than others.

7. Organize yourself. Make sure that your notes are in good order. Valuable time is unnecessarily consumed when you can't find quickly what you are looking for.

8. Keep physical fitness. You cannot retain information well when you are uncomfortable, when you have headache, or when you are tensed. Physical health promotes mental efficiency.

9. Give special concentration to your areas of weakness; never look at answers until you have completed answering a series of question. Study answers explanations whenever they are supplied, this may give you extra insights, even into the question that you answered correctly.

10. On the evening before the exam, do something pleasant and go to bed early.

For latest Nigeria jobs vacancies search, fresh Graduate jobs posted daily, banking jobs search, career opportunities,
visit http://www.nairajobsforum.com

Living in a Competitive World - Work Advice For Fresh Graduates

As there is an increase in the number of graduates, it becomes harder and harder to find a job, especially in the Philippines. Nowadays, it is better to get a job anywhere than not have one at all. By anywhere, this means in the literal sense. Many people, when they encounter the first sign of a job opportunity, go to great lengths just to take them. Because of the competition, you will be considered lucky with just the fact that you have gotten hired.

In the past, Filipinos aim high and are after jobs in places such as the Makati and Ortigas City. These are some of the main business districts in the country. Here, top companies are located, which offer high salaries and great benefits. With this promises located in urban cities, these places are often overpopulated. Here, people are given the chance to pursue different kinds of career paths such as medicine, law and many others.

At present, there is a rising need for call center agents. Thanks to the boom of the information technology and telecommunications industry, more and more people are given employment opportunities. The requirements of these call centers are not as strict as other work. As long as you have reached college level and are proficient in a language, preferably English, then you have a shot at making it big in the business.

All in all, the Philippines, especially the urban areas, are a place where competition for jobs occurs. If you are a fresh graduate hoping to succeed in with regards to your career, you should work hard with your academics. Although majority of the things you learn from school are not directly applied with work, these will build your character and give you experience. These two will give you an edge in the mission of finding work in the Philippines.

Makati business district is a great place to work in the Philippines. If you are interested, you can check out this site on Makati Jobs and check out the openings within the area.

At the same time, students who would like to get a head start on their working career should check out this site on Philippine OJT and look for openings as well as career advice.