"It's a historically proven technique, and it has multiple preventative safety measures in place to ensure that that burn area remains controlled, " Moorlag said.

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Another proven technique is to provide pregnant women with a couple of hefty doses of anti-malarial drugs when they visit antenatal clinics, whether the women show signs of the disease or not.

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It may be several years before liver specialists can tell whether the technique has proven benefits.

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For sure, during periods of extreme weather conditions, that technique has proven to be more reliable.

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If proven, the technology could rival the current favoured technique for initiating fusion which uses superconducting magnets to contain and fuse the hydrogen nuclei.

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Another technique for saving money will be to use proven technology already developed for other programs, such as the sensor suite on the new F-35 fighter or the landing gear on the B-2 bomber.

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