Podcast: Sideways (LS 36 · TOP 3% what is this?)
Episode: 2. 1 in 73 Million
Pub date: 2021-02-10

Notes from The Audio Browser:

Examination of the human ability to comprehend probability, as explored through two tragic stories. The host zeroes in on a major miscarriage of justice that happened in the UK in the early 2000s, when a woman was found guilty of the murder of her two infant sons, who the defence claimed had both died from sudden infant death syndrome. A since discredited medical expert claimed that the chances of this happening were "one in 73 million" — a flawed statistic that became extremely influential in the courts and the press

In this episode, Matthew tells two stories, both of which raise profound questions about how we think. A group of terrified teenagers discover a disturbing app on social media. A world renowned doctor sets out to uncover hidden crimes.

The tragic events Matthew examines lead to a mother getting jailed for killing her two children. The key piece of testimony in her trial hinges on a question of statistical probability. But, as Matthew reveals, human beings are extremely poor at understanding the improbable.

Producer: Gemma Newby Music, Sound Design and Mix: Benbrick Series Editor: Russell Finch Executive Producer: Sean Glynn and Max O'Brien

Sideways is produced by Novel for BBC Radio 4

The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC Radio 4, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.