The background noises you hear in film and TV — from footsteps to zombie guts — are produced in specialized studios by professionals known as Foley artists. Zachary Crockett makes some noise. SOURCE: Gregg Barbanell, foley artist at Universal Studios. RESOURCES: "The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects," by Anna Wiener (The New Yorker, 2022). "The Strangest Foley Sounds in Cinema," by Amber Gibson (ACMI, 2021). "The Man Who Makes Hollywood’s Smallest Sounds," by Zachary Crockett (Priceonomics, 2015). EXTRA: "No Hollywood Ending for the Visual Effects Industry," by Freakonomics Radio (2017).

Those letters at the end of web addresses can mean big bucks — and, for some small countries, a substantial part of the national budget. Zachary Crockett follows the links. SOURCES: Vince Cate, technical contact for the .ai domain in Anguilla. Kim Davies, Vice President of Internet Assigned Numbers Authority Services and President of Public Technical Identifiers at ICANN. Tianyu Fang, contributing editor at Reboot. RESOURCES: "The Two-Decade Fight for Two Letters on the Internet," by Jacob Judah (The New York Times, 2024). "Whose Domain Is It?" by Tianyu Fang (Reboot, 2023). "How a Tiny Pacific Island Became the Global Capital of Cybercrime," by Jacob Judah (MIT Technology Review, 2023). "The Tropical Island With the Hot Domain Name," by Rachel Metz (Bloomberg, 2023). "The Never-ending ccTLD Story," by Peter K. Yu (SSRN, 2003).

The verdant lawns promise everlasting rest — but what does it mean to sign a lease for all eternity? Zachary Crockett finds out where the bodies are buried. SOURCES: Terry Arellano, co-founder and president of Cemetery Property Resales, Inc. Jeff Lindeman, C.E.O. and General Manager of Mountain View Cemetery. Tanya Marsh, professor of law at Wake Forest University. Maureen Walton, founder and president of The Cemetery Exchange. RESOURCES: "Los Angeles Burial Crypt Near Marilyn Monroe, Hugh Hefner on Sale for $2 Million," by Stephanie Nolasco (Fox 10 Phoenix, 2023). "Why the Brooklyn-Queens Border Is Full of Dead People," by Keith Williams (The New York Times, 2017). "Death in the City: What Happens When All Our Cemeteries Are Full?" by Ana Naomi de Sousa (The Guardian, 2015). "Our First Public Parks: The Forgotten History of Cemeteries," by Rebecca Greenfield (The Atlantic, 2011). "Selling a Burial Plot is a Grave Decision," by Erin Peterson (Kiplinger, 2010). EXTRAS: "How to Be Better at Death," by Freakonomics Radio (2021).

Relocating halfway across the world is hard enough for humans. For pets it can require a specialist. Zachary Crockett waits at the airport, holding a sign saying "Fluffy." SOURCES: Amelia Barklow, owner of two pet ducks, Wobbles and Bean. Mike Gays, managing director of Global Pet Relocation. Gemma Tappin, pet relocation consultant team leader at Global Pet Relocation. RESOURCES: "Service Dogs Are Allowed on Planes, but There Are Some Requirements to Get Them There," by Zach Wichter (USA Today, 2023). "More Dogs Die on United Than on Any Other Airline. Here’s Why," by Martine Powers (The Washington Post, 2018). "Emotional support peacock denied flight by United Airlines," by Daniella Silva (NBC News, 2018). "Banned by Many Airlines, These Bulldogs Fly Private," by Christine Haughney (The New York Times, 2011). Pet Travel information, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. EXTRAS: "Should You Trust Private Equity to Take Care of Your Dog?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).

More and more Americans rely on prostheses. They’re custom-fitted, highly personal, and extremely expensive. Zachary Crockett investigates. SOURCES: Jordan Beckwith, YouTuber and advocate. Eric Neufeld, owner and medical director of Agile Orthopedics. RESOURCES: "Medicare Coverage of Durable Medical Equipment & Other Devices," by Medicare (2024). "Limb Loss in the U.S.," infographic by the Amputee Coalition (2022). "A Robot Hand Helps Amputees 'Feel' Again," by Jeffery Delviscio (Scientific American, 2019). "Differences in Myoelectric and Body-Powered Upper-Limb Prostheses: Systematic Literature Review," by Stephanie L. Carey, Derek J. Lura, and Jason Highsmith (Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 2015). "Local Coverage Determination: Lower Limb Prostheses," from the Medicare Coverage Database (effective 2015). "Variation in the Care of Surgical Conditions: Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease," by Philip P. Goodney, Nino Dzebisashvili, David C. Goodman, and Kristen K. Bronner (Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care Series, 2014). "Estimating the Prevalence of Limb Loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050," by Kathryn Ziegler-Graham, Ellen J. MacKenzie, Patti L. Ephraim, Thomas G. Travison, and Ron Brookmeyer (Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2008).

Interest in houseplants has exploded in recent years. But what causes floral trends, and prices, to grow? Zachary Crockett sows a few seeds. SOURCES: Justin Hancock, director of research and development at Costa Farms. Brian Williams, co-owner of Brian's Botanicals. Sarah Williams, co-owner Brian's Botanicals. RESOURCES: "Bidding Wars and $1,000 Succulents: The Wild World of Rare Houseplants," by Hannah Holland (The Washington Post, 2023). "Houseplants Boomed During the Pandemic. Gen Z and Millennials Say the Popularity Is Here to Stay," by Lucia Starbuck (KUNR, 2022). "The Most Iconic Houseplant Trends Through the Decades," by Wretched Flowers (Architectural Digest, 2021). "Meet the Plantfluencers," by Penelope Green (The New York Times, 2018).

Once America’s favorite recreational activity, bowling has been in the gutter for decades. But some surviving alleys are resetting the pins. Zachary Crockett laces up. SOURCES: Mike Leong, owner of Bel Mateo Bowl. Devon Stewart, head coach of Florida State University bowling team, C.E.O. of Bowl Connect, and consultant with the Hansell Group. RESOURCES: "Cornhole and Bowling Are the Sports Most Americans Played Last Year," by Mallory Newall, Johnny Sawyer, Charlie Rollason, and Tyler Ivey (Ipsos, 2023). "Overview of the Bowling Industry," by The Hansell Group (2022). "How Bowling Alleys Made a Comeback," by Justin Fox (Bloomberg, 2019). "New Look Keeps Bel Mateo Bowl Thriving," by Curtis Driscoll (The Daily Journal, 2017). "Inside the Ugly Road Bowlmor Took to Make Bowling Cool," by Gabrielle Fonrouge (New York Post, 2017). "The (Short) History of the National Bowling League," by Bob Johnson (United States Bowling Congress News, 2015). EXTRAS: "Is It Harder to Make Friends as an Adult?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).

Why does the mailman bring us so many catalogs, credit card offers, and pizza coupons? Because his job depends on it. Zachary Crockett checks the mailbox. SOURCES: Brett Chamberlin, program manager at Catalog Choice. Aaron Gordon, journalist. Mike Gunderson, president of Gunderson Direct. RESOURCES: "U.S. Postal Service Reports Fiscal Year 2023 Results," by the U.S. Postal Service (2023). "How We Ended Up With All This Junk Mail," by Aaron Gordon (Vice, 2020). "Here Are the Data Brokers Quietly Buying and Selling Your Personal Information," by Steven Melendez and Alex Pasternack (Fast Company, 2019). "How to Stop Junk Mail and Save Trees — and Your Sanity," by Elisabeth Leamy (The Washington Post, 2018). "How The Post Office Sells Your Address Update To Anyone Who Pays (And The Little-Known Loophole To Opt Out)," by Adam Tanner (Forbes, 2013). The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970. EXTRAS: "Is It Worth It for Charities to Harass Their Donors?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).

If you can make it through three years of law school, you too might end up on a billboard. Zachary Crockett makes the case. SOURCES: Jason Abraham, managing partner of Hupy & Abraham. Nora Engstrom, professor at Stanford Law School. Kyle Hebenstreit, C.E.O. of Practice Made Perfect. RESOURCES: “Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples (2024 Guide),” by Jeffrey Johnson (Forbes Advisor, 2022). “Low Ball: An Insider’s Look at How Some Insurers Can Manipulate Computerized Systems to Broadly Underpay Injury Claims,” by Mark Romano and J. Robert Hunter (Consumer Federation of America, 2012). “A Century of Change in Personal Injury Law,” by Stephen D. Sugarman (UC Berkeley Public Law Research Paper, 2000). Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, in the Supreme Court of Arizona (1977).

Why do you have to pay $4 to get $40 cash at a bar? And who does it go to? Zachary Crockett checks his balance. SOURCES: Bernardo Batiz-Lazo, professor in the Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University. Patricia Tuz, president of New York ATM. Jon Weilbaker, general manager of New York ATM. Sasha Weilbaker, freelance writer and daughter of Patricia and Jon. RESOURCES: "The Number of ATMs Has Declined as People Rely Less on Cash," by Jim Carlton (The Wall Street Journal, 2023). "Survey: ATM Fees Hit Record High While Overdraft and NSF Fees Fell Sharply," by Karen Bennett and Matthew Goldberg (Bankrate, 2023). "More Americans Are Joining the ‘Cashless’ Economy," by Michelle Faverio (Pew Research Center, 2022). "Thieves Target ATMs Flush With Cash During Covid-19," by Scott Calvert (The Wall Street Journal, 2021), "Locational Study of ATMs in the US by Ownership," by Lian An, Christopher Baynard, Chriadip Chatterjee, and Chun-Ping A Loh (2018). "A Brief History of the ATM," by Bernardo Bátiz-Lazo (The Atlantic, 2015). EXTRA: "Why Are We Still Using Cash?" Freakonomics Radio (2016).

Why is it separate from medical insurance? And is it really insurance at all? Zachary Crockett goes in for a cleaning. SOURCES: Brad Bolman, postdoctoral member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, prosthodontist and chief editor for Dental Economics. Wendell Potter, president of the Center for Health and Democracy; former executive at Cigna. RESOURCES: "Dental Medical Loss Ratios: Understanding the Landscape in Massachusetts and Beyond," by Shaza Stevenson, Megan D’Alessandro, Sandra Wilkniss, and Nicole Evans (National Academy for State Health Policy Blog, 2023). "Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2021," by Katherine Keisler-Starkey and Lisa N. Bunch (U.S. Census Bureau Reports, 2022). "Medicare and Dental Coverage: A Closer Look," by Meredith Freed, Nancy Ochieng, Nolan Sroczynski, Anthony Damico, and Krutika Amin (KFF, 2021). "Dentists’ Group Fights Plan to Cover Dental Benefits Under Medicare," by Julie Bykowicz (The Wall Street Journal, 2021). "Antisocial Dentistry," by Brad Bolman (Hypocrite Reader, 2021). EXTRAS: "'Insurance Is Sexy.' Discuss," by Freakonomics Radio (2023). "Does Health Insurance Make You Healthier?" by Freakonomics, M.D. (2022).

Those low-priced staples on grocery-store shelves — where do they come from? Zachary Crockett finds out at a national convention for private-label manufacturers. SOURCES: Kusum Ailawadi, professor of marketing at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Eric Beringause, C.E.O. of Winland Foods. Ryan Boyle, vice president of sales at Kitchen Innovations. Samantha Burd, co-owner of Lady Burd Cosmetics. Dean Erstad, senior vice president of sales at Seneca. Harry Overly, president and C.E.O. of Flagstone Foods. RESOURCES: "The Backlash to Price Hikes Is Building," by Julia Waldow (Modern Retail, 2024). "For U.S. Consumers, It’s a Matter of ‘And’ — Not ‘Or,'" by Kari Alldredge and Warren Teichner (McKinsey & Company, 2023). "Those Doritos Too Expensive? More Stores Offer Their Own Alternatives," by Julie Creswell (The New York Times, 2023). "Why Private Label Brands Are Having Their Moment," by Errol Schweizer (Forbes, 2022). "The Hidden Makers of Costco’s Kirkland Signature and Trader Joe’s O’s," by Nathaniel Meyersohn (CNN Business, 2022). "Pursuing the Value-Conscious Consumer: Store Brands versus National Brand Promotions," by Kusum Ailawadi, Scott A. Neslin, and Karen Gedenk (Journal of Marketing, 2001). "The Effect of Generic Products on Consumer Perceptions and Brand Choice," by John J. Wheatley (NA - Advances in Consumer Research, 1981). EXTRAS: "Should America Be Run by … Trader Joe’s?" by Freakonomics Radio (2018). "How to Save $1 Billion Without Even Trying," by Freakonomics Radio (2014).

Behind these steamy sequences, there are body doubles, pubic wigs, legal documents, and dedicated choreographers who make sure everyone is comfortable. Zachary Crockett fast-forwards straight to the good parts. SOURCES: Alicia Rodis, intimacy coordinator. Matthew Swanlund, founder and principal attorney at Aesthetic Legal. RESOURCES: "Romance or Nomance? Adolescents Prefer to See Less Sex, More Friendships, Platonic Relationships on Screen," by Elizabeth Kivowitz (UCLA Newsroom, 2023). "You're Not Seeing Things —'Nudity Creep' in Streaming TV Reveals More of Its Stars," by Neda Ulaby (All Things Considered, 2023). "Jennifer Aniston Rejected Offer for an Intimacy Coordinator in Sex Scenes with 'Gentleman' Jon Hamm," by Esther Kang (People, 2023). "How the Sausage Gets Made: Inside Hollywood's Prosthetic Penis Craze," by Emma Fraser (Thrillist, 2022). "The Disturbing Story Behind the Rape Scene in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris, Explained," by Anna North (Vox, 2018). "Two James Francos. Porn. 1970s New York. The Deuce Could Go So Wrong — but It Doesn't," by Emily St. James (Vox, 2017). "Shooting Film and TV Sex Scenes: What Really Goes On," by Melena Ryzik (The New York Times, 2015). "Sexually Explicit Casting Contract for HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Extras Has SAG-AFTRA Concerned," by Jonathan Handel (The Hollywood Reporter, 2015). EXTRAS: "Why is Everyone Having Less Sex?" by No Stupid Questions (2023).

American golfers lose 300 million balls a year — and all those bad swings are someone else’s business opportunity. Zachary Crockett hits the links. SOURCES: Todd Hutchinson, president and owner of BallHawker. Lashan Wanigatunga, founder of Two Guys With Balls. RESOURCES: "BallHawker, Challenge Enterprises Turn Wayward Golf Shots Into Successful Endeavor," Natalie Gilstrap (Clay Today, 2023). "Temecula Golf Ball Diver Nets $100,000 a Year," by Jeff Zevely (CBS8, 2022). "Golf’s Recycled Ball Market is Big Business," by Erik Matuszewski (Link, 2021). "The Inside Story of What the Original Titleist Pro V1 Launch Was Really Like," Andrew Tursky (Golf Digest, 2020). "Head of Golf Ball Retrieval Company Sentenced for Manslaughter After Diving Death at Wales Golf Course," by Alex Myers (Golf Digest, 2017). "Man Dies While Illegally Diving for Golf Balls," by Alex Myers (Golf Digest, 2015). EXTRAS: "Greg Norman Takes On the P.G.A. Tour," by People I (Mostly) Admire (2023).

The market for gustatory pain is surprisingly competitive. Zachary Crockett feels the burn. SOURCES: Ed Currie, founder and president of the PuckerButt Pepper Company. Stephanie Walker, associate professor and Extension Vegetable Specialist at New Mexico State University RESOURCES: "Pepper X Dethrones Carolina Reaper as World’s Hottest Chili Pepper," by Sanj Atwal (Guinness World Records, 2023). "The Shocking, Stupendous Rise of Superhot Chillies: ‘The Stomach Cramps Can Last for 14 Hours,’" by Tim Dowling (The Guardian, 2023). "14-Year-Old Dies After Trying The Paqui ‘One Chip Challenge,’" by Bruce Y. Lee (Forbes, 2023). "Beyond Neuronal Heat Sensing: Diversity of TRPV1 Heat-Capsaicin Receptor-Channel Functions," by Yaroslav M. Shuba (Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2021). "Training Your Tongue to Love Spicy Food Benefits More Than Your Taste Buds," by Maddie Oatman (Mother Jones, 2019). "Fire-Eaters," by Lauren Collins (The New Yorker, 2013). "The Arms Race to Grow World's Hottest Pepper Goes Nuclear," by Spencer Jakab (The Wall Street Journal, 2013). EXRAS: "Why Do People Love Horror Movies?" by No Stupid Questions (2022). Hot Ones, YouTube talk show.

Casinos think they can stop skilled gamblers from eking out a tiny edge at blackjack. Is that a losing bet? Zachary Crockett doubles down. SOURCES: "Ben," former professional card counter. Bill Zender, co-founder of Bill Zender and Associates casino consulting firm. RESOURCES: "Blackjack Player Sues Ameristar Casino, City of Black Hawk Over Alleged Detainment for Card Counting," by Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton (The Denver Post, 2023). "Why Does the House Always Win? A Look at Casino Profitability," by J. B. Maverick (Investopedia, 2023). "Counting the Cost," by Bill Zender (GGB News, 2022). "Nevada Supreme Court Orders Casino To Pay Card Counter," by I. Nelson Rose (Gambling and the Law, 2017). "Counting Cards Is Legal, But ..." by Mark Pilarski (Detroit Free Press, 2016). "Card Counter Sues Planet Hollywood Over Detention, Confiscated Casino Chips," by Carri Geer Thevenot (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2015). "Real People Behind Story of '21' Discuss Film's Facts," by Ed Symkus (The State Journal-Register, 2008). Blackbelt in Blackjack: Playing 21 as a Martial Art, by Arnold Snyder (1997). EXTRAS: "How to Make Your Own Luck," by Freakonomics Radio (2020). "The Economics of Sports Gambling (Replay)," by Freakonomics Radio (2020). "Could the Next Brooklyn Be … Las Vegas?!" by Freakonomics Radio (2015). 21, film by Robert Luketic (2008).

Only the finest restaurants have a chance to bask in their glow. Sometimes, it’s a bit too bright. Zachary Crockett squints at the menu. SOURCES: Nick Kokonas, founder and co-owner of The Alinea Group. Charlie Mitchell, executive chef and co-owner of Clover Hill restaurant. RESOURCES: "Michelin Announces 2022 Stars for New York City," by Ryan Sutton and Luke Fortney (Eater, 2022). "What’s Wrong With the Michelin Guide?" by Tim Hayward (Financial Times, 2021). "Eating A 6-Course Dinner From The Best Restaurant In The Country," by Number Six With Cheese (2020). "Expert Opinion and Restaurant Pricing: Quantifying the Value of a Michelin Star," by Carly Shin (Stanford Economic Review, 2018). "Here's How Michelin Stars Actually Affect the Restaurant Business," by Hillary Eaton (Food & Wine, 2017). "Three-Star Chef Asks Michelin Guide To Leave Him Out: 'I Will Be Able To Feel Free,'" by Laurel Wamsley (The Two-Way, 2017). "Lunch with M.," by John Colapinto (The New Yorker, 2009). "Alinea," review by the Michelin Guide. EXTRAS: "Why You Shouldn’t Open a Restaurant (Update)," by Freakonomics Radio (2019).

The tradition of sending cards to loved ones was in decline — until it was rescued by a new generation. But millennials have their own ideas about what sentiments they want to convey. Zachary Crockett is thinking of you on your special day. SOURCES: Mia Mercado, writer and former editor at Hallmark. George White, president of Up With Paper and former president of the American Greeting Card Association. RESOURCES: 34th Louie Awards - Finalists & Winners, (2022-2023). "Season’s (and Other...) Greetings," by Maria Ricapito (Marie Claire, 2020). "Hallmark Greeting Cards Have Adjusted to the Digital Revolution," by Trent Gillies (CNBC, 2017). "Testimony of Don Hall, Jr. President and CEO of Hallmark Cards, Inc. Before a Joint Hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security and the House, Postal Service and the District of Columbia" (2010).

How does the blood of a 450-million-year-old arthropod help prevent lethal infections in humans? And could we exhaust the supply? Zachary Crockett wades in. SOURCE: Dina Fine Maron, senior wildlife crime investigative reporter at National Geographic. RESOURCES: "When the Horseshoe Crabs Are Gone, We’ll Be in Trouble," by Deborah Cramer (The New York Times, 2023). "Horseshoe Crab Blood Is Vital to Modern Medicine. A New Lab-Made Alternative Could Save the Species," by Kristoffer Whitney, Jolie Crunelle, and The Conversation (Fortune, 2023). "Horseshoe Crab Blood Saves Lives. Can We Protect These Animals From Ourselves?" by Dina Fine Maron (National Geographic, 2022). "For Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs, Love Is a Battlefield," by Dina Fine Maron (National Geographic, 2022). "Horseshoe Crab Blood: The Miracle Vaccine Ingredient That's Saved Millions of Lives," by Katie Pavid (Natural History Museum, 2020). "The Role of Horseshoe Crabs in the Biomedical Industry and Recent Trends Impacting Species Sustainability," by Jordan Krisfalusi-Gannon, Anthony L. Dellinger, et al. (Frontiers in Marine Science, 2018). "Video: Horseshoe Crabs Mate in Annual Beach 'Orgy,'" by Heather Duner MacAdam (National Geographic, 2014). "Crash: A Tale of Two Species," S26.E7 of Nature (2011). EXTRAS: "Baby Blue Blood Drive," by Radiolab (2020).

How did love stories about vampires, cowboys, and wealthy dukes become the highest-grossing fiction genre in the world? Zachary Crockett gets swept away. SOURCES: Delaney Diamond, romance novelist. Danielle Flores, high school math teacher and avid romance novel reader. Brenda Hiatt, romance novelist. Diane Moggy, vice president of editorial at Harlequin. RESOURCES: "Even as Overall Book Sales Are Declining, Romance Novels Are on the Rise," by Elena Burnett, Sarah Handel, and Juana Summers (All Things Considered, 2023). "Key Takeaways from the Authors Guild’s 2023 Author Income Survey," press release by the Authors Guild (2023). "How Amazon Turned Everyone Into a Romance Writer (and Created an Antitrust Headache)," by Ann Kjellberg (Observer, 2022). "Vivian Stephens Helped Turn Romance Writing Into a Billion-Dollar Industry. Then She Got Pushed Out," by Mimi Swartz (Texas Monthly, 2020). "A Brief History of the Romance Novel," by Amanda Pagan (New York Public Library Blog, 2019). "How Harlequin Became the Most Famous Name in Romance," by Kelly Faircloth (Jezebel, 2015). "Fifty Shades of Amish: A Strange Genre of the Romance Novel," by Leah McGrath Goodman (Newsweek, 2015).