Science Daily

1. Breakthrough is a game changer in heart valve technology

   When a patient needs a new heart valve, the current mechanical and tissue replacements each have strengths and weaknesses. Now, a team of researchers believe they have found a way to harness the strengths of both technologies in a way that could be life-changing -- and life-saving -- for many.

2. Technique to study how proteins bind to DNA is easily misused; New study offers solution

   Spike-in normalization helps molecular biologists ensure the accuracy of their results, but the technique is easily misused. New study suggests new guidelines for use of this valuable technique.

3. Urban heating and cooling to play substantial role in future energy demand under climate change

   Existing global energy projections underestimate the impact of climate change on urban heating and cooling systems by roughly 50% by 2099 if greenhouse gas emissions remain high, researchers report. This disparity could profoundly affect critical sustainable energy planning for the future.

4. Flowers use adjustable 'paint by numbers' petal designs to attract pollinators

   Flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint established very early in petal formation that dictates the size of their bullseyes -- a crucial pre-pattern that can significantly impact their ability to attract pollinating bees.

5. Over two-million acres of floodplain development occurred in U.S. in last two decades, study finds

   A nationwide analysis of community-level floodplain development found that over two-million acres of floodplain were developed over the past two decades across the United States, with roughly half of all new floodplain housing built in Florida.