WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE GERMS is an anthology of articles, compiled by 12 authors with topics ranging from the history of the perception of germs to their discovery and to the future understanding of germs. Keeping germ theory as its focus, this collection of articles provides details of the historical composition of the theory and the emergence of opposing theories. Concluding the anthology with the influence of conspiracy theories and popular culture on the general understanding of germs, What in the World are Germs aims at bringing to light all that we have come to know about germs. "It was not until the early 19th century which witnessed a robust emphasis on containing infectious diseases with the aim of adopting a prophylactic approach to eradicate epidemics. Through the contributions of countless scientists and medical practitioners, this ambitious goal sought to revolutionize the field of medicine, however, it was not without ramifications."