Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Could China be the first country to find aliens?
China has built the world’s largest radio dish to search for extraterrestrial life. This comes at a time when an earth-sized planet has been discovered about 11 light years away. Will China discover extraterrestrials before the rest of us?
By Madeleine Brand • • 48m ListenPhoto: This artist's concept shows a hypothetical planet covered in water around the binary star system of Kepler-35A and B (NASA/JPL-Caltech)
In this episode
5 storiesSen. Al Franken faces sexual assault allegations, calls to resign
Sportscaster and model Leeann Tweeden revealed that Minnesota Democratic Senator Al Franken aggressively kissed her in 2006. She also shared a picture of Franken grabbing her breasts while she was asleep. He was a comedian at the time. They were on a trip to entertain troops in the Middle East.
Read the story8 minAfter shoplifting in China, UCLA basketball players are suspended from the team
UCLA Bruins LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill, and Cody Riley are back from China. The university held a press conference yesterday in which the three freshmen apologized for shoplifting from stores near their hotel.
Read the story5 minChina on the hunt for ET
An earth-sized planet has been discovered about 11 light years away. Scientists say it could be warm enough to sustain life if it happens to have the right atmosphere. If there is life beyond our solar system, it seems China will probably be the first to communicate with it.
Read the story9 minWriting about young Latino men on the move
In his new book of short stories, Daniel Alarcón writes about men who are searching for an escape, for a new life, and for approval. But they don’t always find it.
Read the story14 minIs the $450 million Da Vinci painting a fake?
Last night, an unknown bidder paid the highest price ever recorded at an art auction for an apparent long-lost Leonardo da Vinci painting. It’s called “Salvator Mundi,” or “Savior of the World,” and shows Jesus raising his right hand and holding a crystal orb. It went for $450 million. But some people are questioning the painting’s authenticity.
Read the story9 min
