In western countries at least three in every four people suffer from hay fever at least once in their lives, and as many as one in every four are effected annually. Microscopic grains of airborne pollen from trees (such as pine and birch), grasses (especially rye-grass and timothy) and weeds (including ragwort, plantain and nettle) set throats itching, eyes streaming and noses running. To Sneeze or Not to Sneeze describes how the study of pollen (palynology) has been able to ease the suffering of hay fever victims, and provides many fascinating facts about pollen and pollen dispersal from prehistoric times to the present.