The long, rich musical and social history of a great old American song — before and after Kurt Cobain and Nirvana took a turn at making it theirs.

In Japan, people only eat about 30 grams of whale meat a year — about the size of a slice of ham. So, why is whaling still so popular there?

Hernando Colón was the illegitimate son of famed explorer Christopher Columbus. His love of books inspired him to attempt an ambitious dream: store all of the world's books in one place. He summarized much of the information in his "Libro de los Epítomes," which has recently been rediscovered.

The world is mourning the destruction to Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. Some of The World's readers and listeners shared their memories of the medieval church.

The cover could incite further hate crimes against the congresswoman and Muslim Americans at a time when Islamophobia is already on the rise, says community organizer Debbie Almontaser.

The country this week decided it would no longer require companies to stockpile coffee. For those working in the coffee business, it’s a slight.

The modernist writer talks craft, courting Diane Keaton and his biggest regrets

Cartoonist Cathy Guisewite put more than just her name into the “Cathy” comic strip.

How a short story by Jamaica Kincaid inspired Helado Negro’s Roberto Carlos Lange.

Videos and photos of a striking woman leading a group of protesters in Sudan has gone viral on social media. But what is it about this image that makes it so powerful and symbolic?