Donate

Inoculation

flu shot

Scientists have developed a bandagelike patch that could painlessly replace the flu shot

Health

What’s more, you could apply it at home.

Climate change march

It’s possible to ‘inoculate’ the mind against climate misinformation, a new study shows

Science
Reading the newspaper

Can we develop immunity against fake news?

Media
A pair of Sierra Nevada mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana sierrae) is pictured here. Populations have been devastated in recent years by the chytrid fungus.

Scientists try to save this frog species from being wiped out by fungus

Science
The World

Why 21st-century anti-vaxxers have nothing on their 18th-century counterparts

Health
Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!

Innoculation always prompts anxiety. Here's how France dealt with it three centuries ago.

How France used fashion to spread the message to vaccinate

Culture

In the 18th century, King Louis XVI underwent a highly controversial medical procedure: smallpox inoculation. To commemorate his new immunity, milliners in France concocted a new fashion. A historian says we need a gimmick like that today to help us through a measles outbreak.

We respect your time, attention and privacy

This is a news website, not a click casino. We do NOT employ deceptive behaviors, display annoying ads or use third party cookies and trackers to monetize your visit or help advertisers track you across the internet.

Simply, we ask that you would consider a donation to support the journalism we produce every weekday. Thank you.

This is The World

The World is a public radio program and podcast that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Follow The World

Subscribe to The World’s Latest Edition podcast for free using your favorite podcast player: