So Expensive
The real reason eggs are more expensive than ever
H5N1 has led to the killing of 170 million birds. And the virus is mutating, risking a human pandemic.
Enxhi Dylgjeri
Producer, So Expensive
How Grand Antique marble became a lost luxury of the $65 billion marble industry
Grand Antique is a marble found in only one quarry in the world.
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Why professional colored pencils are so expensive
Professional artists spend hundreds of dollars collecting high-end colored pencils because of the thoughtful precision with which they're crafted.
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Why mangosteen, the viral TikTok fruit, is so expensive
Buying a little over a kilo of fresh mangosteens in the United States can cost nearly $80. Farmers are cutting down other fruits to grow more.
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Why climbing Mount Everest is so expensive
Adventurers shell out tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for the privilege of attempting the world's highest peak.
Only 40 Benin Bronze makers are left in Nigeria as it fights to have its stolen artifacts returned
Nigeria has started to see some of its looted Benin Bronzes returned. But the craftsmen still making bronzes won't be able to continue their craft.
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4 of the world's most expensive calligraphy tools
Across East Asia, artisans handcraft high-end calligraphy tools worth thousands of dollars.
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Why calligraphy inkstones are so expensive
An inkstone can take two months to make, and it's traditionally done by hand. Elaborately designed ones can cost over $5,000.
Climbing Mount Everest can be deadly. Some Sherpa guides say the grueling work isn't worth it anymore.
Sherpas are built to climb Everest. But high risks and relatively meager pay of guide work could drive the next generation away from the mountain.
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Why less snow is threatening Japan's expensive Kanzuri chile paste
Snow bleaching local togarashi peppers is unique to making Kanzuri.
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Why some Sherpas say there won't be any guides on Everest in 10 years
Everest mountain guides earn $4,000 to $10,000 per climb. They can count on only one expedition a year.
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Every piece of gear you need to summit Everest, according to a Sherpa guide
Pastemba Sherpa, a Mount Everest guide, breaks down every piece of gear he uses to summit the world's tallest mountain.
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Inside the hidden hotels that keep Mount Everest running
On the Everest base-camp trek, teahouses provide a hot meal and a warm bed. Porters, who carry everything, often stay separately from the climbers.
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What happens to Mount Everest's over 110,000 pounds of waste?
There are an estimated 50 metric tons of waste on Mount Everest, and Nepal's residents are finding creative ways to deal with it.
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Why Hot Air Balloons Are So Expensive
The envelope of a hot-air balloon accounts for half of the final price because making it requires a unique skill set.
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10 of the most expensive items made in India
We traveled the length of the subcontinent to uncover the stories behind some of the most expensive products made in India.
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Why Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford spend up to $15,000 for one kilo of Bulgarian rose oil
It takes up to 5,000 kilograms of damask rose petals to make just 1 kilogram of Bulgarian rose oil.
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So Expensive season 11 marathon
We uncovered the stories behind the world's most expensive items, from natural latex mattresses and bespoke dress shoes to handmade calligraphy ink.
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Why these lifelike baby dolls can cost thousands of dollars
Hyperrealistic baby dolls are used for medical training, for therapy, and as collectibles.
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One pair of professional hair scissors can cost over $2,000. Here's why.
A well-crafted blade needs less sharpening, which delays damage to professional hair scissors and increases their life span.