The FAA's role in suborbital spaceflight safety was a key sticking point: Under the terms of the legislation, the FAA would regulate the industry over the next eight years primarily to protect the uninvolved public and the public interest.

MSN: Private-spaceflight bill signed into law

While the patient is still on the operating table, a lead disc is slipped behind the breast tissue to protect the chest cavity, and an eight inch wide electron beam focused directly on the area surrounding the tumour.

BBC: 'One stop shop' for cancer

Nina, a single parent whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said she discovered her eight-year-old daughter was being abused by her neighbour and friend in one of Bradford's inner city areas.

BBC: South Asian girls 'silent over sex abuse'

Here are eight steps ordinary investors can take to protect their sanity and their finances while this all plays out.

FORBES: Eight Ways To Protect Your Finances From Washington's Craziness

Others saw it as an effort to protect banks in Cyprus, where the banking sector is eight times the size of the economy.

WSJ: Cyprus Parliament Rejects Bank Deposit Tax

In the last game between these teams, the Patriots at times played eight men in the box with only a single safety to protect against deep throws.

WSJ: NFL: How Tim Tebow Beat the Steelers

The spice is warehoused for up to eight years before reaching grocery shelves, so producers and distributors are eager to protect the value of their stores.

ECONOMIST: The spiciest futures of all