Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Stillborn Legal Fight, March Madness and Brains on Music
"Fetal harm" prosecutions, March Madness, unvaccinated children, and your brain on music.
By Madeleine Brand • • 51m ListenA woman in Mississippi may go on trial for murder after she gave birth to a stillborn infant. Since she smoked crack during her pregnancy, prosecutors say the young woman is responsible for the death of her child. We also look at how March Madness became so mad. We talk to a doctor who’s struggling with whether he should treat kids whose parents purposely didn’t get them vaccinated. And we look at the science behind music and our brains.
Banner Image: FEB. 13, 2011-Coral Gables, Florida, U.S - Duke Blue Devils guard Nolan Smith (2) drive past Miami Hurricanes guard Durand Scott (1) during the game between Miami and Duke at Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Florida.The Duke Blue Devils defeated the Miami Hurricanes 81-71; Credit: Luis Blanco
In this episode
4 storiesMurder Charges Over Stillborn Babies
A woman in Mississippi may go on trial for murder after she gave birth to a stillborn infant. Since she smoked crack during her pregnancy, prosecutors say the young woman is responsible for the death of her child. This is just one case in a wave of so-called “fetal harm” prosecutions across the country in recent years.
Read the story11 minHow March Got Madness
March Madness begins today! But all the hype around the NCAA basketball tournament may never have come to be, if it weren’t for one game back in 1989. We find out how that single game changed everything.
Read the story14 minYour Brain On Music
Just what’s going on in our heads when a song gets stuck there? And why do we keep returning to our favorite songs over and over and over again? We take a look at the latest science on how music interacts with our brains.
Read the story11 minShould Doctors Treat Unvaccinated Kids?
California officials report that there have been 32 confirmed cases of measles in the state so far this year - ten of them in LA County. Last year there were only three cases reported in California by mid-March. Nearly half of the infected people belong to families who intentionally opted out of vaccinations.
Read the story10 min
