How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks... more

Once a luxury good, the soft fiber is now everywhere — which has led to a goat boom in Mongolia.... more

Behind almost every character you see displayed on a page or a screen, there’s a complex — and sometimes lucrative... more

Americans throw away 320 million books every year. How do some of them find a second life? Zachary Crockett is... more

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation.... more

It’s unreactive, lighter than air, and surprisingly important to the global economy. Zachary Crockett goes up an octave.

How did Florida International University’s new football stadium come to be named after the rapper and singer Pitbull? Adrian Ma... more

Mannequins may be made out of plastic or fiberglass, but for retailers they’re pure gold. Zachary Crockett strikes a pose.

Incarcerated people grow crops, fight wildfires, and manufacture everything from motor oil to prescription glasses — often for pennies per... more

It takes millions of giant green placards to make America navigable. Where do they come from — and who pays... more

When a zoo needs an elephant, or finds itself with three surplus penguins, it doesn’t buy or sell the animals... more

Tow-truck drivers: roadside rescuers or car confiscators? Zachary Crockett gets hooked.

Why are these 300-year-old instruments still coveted by violinists today? And how do working musicians get their hands on multimillion-dollar... more

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet?... more

Making money in the stock image business requires a sharp eye for trends, a very specific type of model, and... more

How does a fresh tuna get from Japan to Nebraska before it goes bad? And how does its journey show... more

Why do millions of people pay to have one of the world’s deadliest toxins injected into their faces? Zachary Crockett... more

Almost everyone who buys a home spends thousands of dollars on title insurance. Most of them don’t understand it, and... more

It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end... more

Once considered noble and heroic, pigeons are now viewed as an urban nuisance — one that costs cities millions of... more

How do criminals turn their ill-gotten gains into taxable income? And how does law enforcement stop them? Zachary Crockett follows... more

Thanks to online booking platforms, the way we make reservations has changed — but a table at a hot restaurant... more

There are more firefighters than ever — and fewer fires for them to fight. So the job has changed. Zachary... more

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett... more

Performing at a strip club can be lucrative, but it requires financial and psychological savvy — and an eye for... more

Why does treating a venomous snake bite cost as much as a house? Zachary Crockett slithers over to North Carolina... more

Online companies promised to bring transparency to the mattress-buying experience. Did that work out? Zachary Crockett takes a look under... more

Channeling the voices of celebrities can be a lucrative career — one that requires empathy and discretion as well as... more

How did mobile kitchens become popular with hipster gourmands? And just how much money can a popular truck make from... more

Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett... more

Why do we use a specific kind of tree-bark tissue to seal up 70 percent of wine bottles? Zachary Crockett... more

Grocery stores have turned shoppers into cashiers. Zachary Crockett runs two bags of chips and a Gatorade over the scanner.

Does anyone ever win the giant teddy bear? Zachary Crockett steps right up.

With industries relying on them and profits to be made, weather forecasts are more precise and more popular than ever.... more

A fraternity’s budget includes broken windows, liability insurance, chili dog breakfasts, and the occasional $40,000 DJ. Zachary Crockett crashes the... more

How does bail work — and who's really paying? Zachary Crockett follows the money.

So many vehicles on the road today are white, black, or gray — but automotive designers find that consumer preferences... more

Americans love to buy new stuff and hate to get rid of old stuff, which is why storing it all... more

The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized... more

Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial... more

The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary... more

Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits... more

More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates.

Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows... more

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the... more

Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on... more

If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. ... more

Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to?... more

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a... more

Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention... more

Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is... more

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary... more

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn.

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet?... more

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett... more

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation.... more

How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply?... more

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett... more

Can a hit single from four decades ago still pay the bills? Zachary Crockett f-f-f-finds out.

Is graffiti public art, or public nuisance? It depends who you ask. Zachary Crockett tags in where it all started.

Executives shell out millions of dollars for the privilege of flying private — but that convenience comes at a steep... more

How did a little green nut become a billion-dollar product, lauded by celebrities in Super Bowl ads? Zachary Crockett cracks... more

In the final part of our series, Zachary Crockett talks to a man with a storied — and controversial —... more

In the first of two episodes, Zachary Crockett digs into the strange and discomfiting history of cadavers, and the industry... more

Why are these sudsy roadside stops one of the fastest growing industries in America? Zachary Crockett takes a look under... more

More people than ever before are getting tattoos — but social media has flipped the trade’s business model on its... more

There’s more than meets the eye to the box that stores the pie. Zachary Crockett cracks the lid.

Hotel guests adore those cute little soaps, but is it just a one-night stand? Zachary Crockett discovers what happens when... more

They’ve long been associated with crime and blight. Now, the investors are moving in. Zachary Crockett follows the trail.

It takes fungi-sniffing dogs, back-room deals, and a guy named “The Kingpin” for the world’s most coveted morsel to end... more