An ongoing series at the University of Akron brings-in artists who are breaking down barriers between art and science. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair explores how the Synapse series is changing the way we view both disciplines.

You’re probably wearing one now. The zipper is a ubiquitous fashion accessory whose design has remained relatively unchanged since it was invented one hundred years ago. But in this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair meets a young entrepreneur who’s working on a new approach that could undo the zipper industry.

Depression affects around one in five Americans. And while most people respond to antidepressant medications, for the one third of those who don’t get better, the treatment options are pretty stark. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair looks at a new study that compares two therapies, both of which have their share of problems.

Researchers in Cleveland have come up with a new biosensor that’s a million times more sensitive than current technology. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair looks at how harnessing one of the unusual properties of gold has allowed for a quantum leap forward. First of all – a biosensor is a something that detects small amounts of a biological chemical – your nose is a good example. You inhale a molecule, it lands on a receptor inside your nose which sends a signal to your brain. For

For generations, fathers have felt that part of their job is to make men out of their sons. But a researcher at the University of Akron has found that a father’s expectations of manliness actually cause more harm than good. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair explores how a new understanding of masculinity’s role in parenting was discovered with help from a Broadway show about drag queens. The show is Kinky Boots . It’s based on the true story of a struggling shoe manufacturer in

Gene therapy was once viewed as a promising new way to treat many incurable diseases -- until a tragic death occurred during a clinical trial. It’s taken nearly two decades for the industry to recover, but now several Northeast Ohio researchers are once again developing DNA as medicine. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair looks at the science and business of gene therapy. We’re in the auditory lab at NEOMED with researcher Hui Li. He points to a computer image of colored dots lining

A once common falcon is getting a boost from local researchers who are hoping to rebuild its numbers. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair looks at efforts to improve living conditions for the tiny, but mighty kestrel.

After developing underground for 17-years, a swarm of buzzing cicadas will soon emerge across eastern Ohio. A lot has changed since they were last here in 1999, including the emergence of citizen scientists.

It’s no longer the headline- grabbing epidemic that swept through gay communities a generation ago. But today, 1.2 million Americans are still living with AIDS. In Cleveland, a pair of researchers launched their careers at the dawn of the AIDS era, and in this week’s Exploradio , WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair finds that 35 years later they’re still working to improve the lives of people with HIV.

Life today can be stressful. But researchers are finding that a simple version of an ancient practice can alleviate a long list of modern ailments. In this week’s Exploradio, WKSU’s Jeff St.Clair looks at how mindfulness affects your brain and your body. University Hospitals mindfulness trainer Suzanne Rusnak is giving me lesson in meditation at the public library where we decided to meet. Her voice is incredibly calming as, amid the bustle around us, she gently instructs me to focus on my