In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Earlier this year, scientists published a paper describing how they pieced together segments of DNA in order to bring back a previously eradicated virus called horsepox. The paper, written by two ...

Only Slate Plus members can gift Slate stories. Become a member to share 10 free articles a month. I remember the first time I read the words of the Frenchman Charles Arthaud: “Inoculation, which will ...

LARRY BRILLIANT IS, among many other things, an expert on smallpox. He worked for the World Health Organization in India during smallpox outbreaks there -- and has written movingly about that ...

Smallpox was a severe infectious disease that affected humans for thousands of years before its eradication in the late 20th century. The symptoms included a distinctive rash, pustules, and fever.

The origin of smallpox is unknown. Smallpox-like rashes on ancient Egyptian mummies suggest it dates back at least 3,000 years. European settlers brought smallpox to North America in the 17th century.

Vaccines were an effective way of protecting against the deadly disease. CDC/ Wikimedia Commons One of the most challenging places when it came to eradicating smallpox was India, largely because of ...