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Season 5
These handmade scissors have been produced in Sheffield, England, for over 100 years. But compared to a $2 mass-produced pair, the kitchen scissors will cost you over $100, and a pair of
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These handmade scissors have been produced in Sheffield, England, for over 100 years. But compared to a $2 mass-produced pair, the kitchen scissors will cost you over $100, and a pair of professional tailor's shears cost $315. So just what is it that makes them so expensive?
Depending on the stallion, horse semen is one of the most expensive liquids on the planet. A gallon of gold-medal-winning Big Star's semen is worth $4.7 million. But that's nowhere near
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Depending on the stallion, horse semen is one of the most expensive liquids on the planet. A gallon of gold-medal-winning Big Star's semen is worth $4.7 million. But that's nowhere near the most expensive! Once it's collected, horse semen can be sold in small tubes called straws, each containing 150 million to 200 million sperm cells. These straws can sell for thousands of dollars. In the horse-breeding world, genetics is king. Wealthy investors are willing to pay high prices for a proven winner's semen, hoping that the resulting foal provides a large return on investment. But even though most stud farms offer guarantees on producing a live foal, commercial and competitive success is still a gamble, even with strong genetics.
NASA's current fleet of spacesuits was built in 1974, and each was reported to cost between $15 million and $22 million. Today, that would be about $150 million. Having not built any new
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NASA's current fleet of spacesuits was built in 1974, and each was reported to cost between $15 million and $22 million. Today, that would be about $150 million. Having not built any new mission-ready extravehicular suits since then, NASA is running out of spacesuits. In fact, NASA is down to just four flight-ready EVA suits. Since 2009, NASA has invested more than $200 million in spacesuit development, recently unveiling the xEMU prototype for its Artemis program, which plans to take humans back to the surface of the moon by 2024, with a view to eventually go to Mars. With that goal fast approaching — and the number of existing spacesuits dwindling — NASA engineers face a new kind of space race. Meanwhile, commercial space company Final Frontier Design is developing its own EVA spacesuits and plans to build new units at much lower costs than NASA. So, why has it taken so long for new spacesuits to be built? And what makes them so expensive?
Rolls-Royce makes some of the world's most luxurious and expensive cars. Known for producing hand-crafted automobiles that promise a seamless "magical carpet ride" for its customers,
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Rolls-Royce makes some of the world's most luxurious and expensive cars. Known for producing hand-crafted automobiles that promise a seamless "magical carpet ride" for its customers, Rolls-Royce's cars do not come cheap. With virtually unlimited optional extras, upgrades, and customizations, the true cost of a bespoke Rolls-Royce has no limits. So what are some of those bespoke extras? And is that what makes Rolls-Royces so expensive?
When Doc Martens first appeared in the UK, in 1960, they were working boots that would cost you under $3 a pair. These days, a pair of Made in England boots could set you back $225. So, what has changed? And why are these shoes now so expensive?
When Doc Martens first appeared in the UK, in 1960, they were working boots that would cost you under $3 a pair. These days, a pair of Made in England boots could set you back $225. So, what has changed? And why are these shoes now so expensive?
Cuban cigars hold a reputation as the world's most opulent tobacco product. A box of good quality Habanos can cost thousands of dollars. Every hand-rolled Cuban cigar goes through about
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Cuban cigars hold a reputation as the world's most opulent tobacco product. A box of good quality Habanos can cost thousands of dollars. Every hand-rolled Cuban cigar goes through about 500 manual tasks from seed to cigar. But over the last 25 years, cigars made in other countries in the Caribbean and Central America have become comparable in quality, consistency, and cost. Some experts suggest that up to 95% of all Cuban cigars in the US, which hasn't allowed the import of Cuban cigars since the 1962 embargo, are actually counterfeit. So why are Cuban cigars so desirable? And is that why they're so expensive?
Even in the expensive world of spices, saffron stands out. Real saffron can cost you over $10,000 per kilogram. No machine can do the delicate work required to harvest these thin
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Even in the expensive world of spices, saffron stands out. Real saffron can cost you over $10,000 per kilogram. No machine can do the delicate work required to harvest these thin threads. It can take 40 hours of hard manual labor to produce just 1 kilogram of high-quality saffron.
Hand-harvested Icelandic sea salt could cost you more than 30 times the price of table salt. Housed in one of the most remote and coldest locations in the country, Saltverk salt factory
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Hand-harvested Icelandic sea salt could cost you more than 30 times the price of table salt. Housed in one of the most remote and coldest locations in the country, Saltverk salt factory produces 10 metric tons of salt each year. But there’s one other thing that’s unique about the way it’s processed: Everything is powered entirely by geothermal energy. Unlike processed rock salt, the sea minerals remain in the crystals — but these are only a tiny percentage of the final product. The final result is very minimally processed, flaky sea salt from clear Icelandic waters.
Real eiderdown is one of the warmest natural fibers you can find, but it doesn’t come cheap, an eiderdown double duvet could cost you over $8,000. Harvested from the nests of wild eider
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Real eiderdown is one of the warmest natural fibers you can find, but it doesn’t come cheap, an eiderdown double duvet could cost you over $8,000. Harvested from the nests of wild eider ducks found wild in Iceland, collecting a kilogram of this fluffy material isn’t easy, and only 4 metric tons are produced each year. So what makes eiderdown so expensive?
For thousands of years, agarwood has been known as "The Wood of the Gods." First-grade agarwood can cost as much as $100,000 per kilogram, making it one of the most expensive raw
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For thousands of years, agarwood has been known as "The Wood of the Gods." First-grade agarwood can cost as much as $100,000 per kilogram, making it one of the most expensive raw materials in the world. Aquilaria malaccensis is a tree native to the rainforests of southeast Asia. The healthy heartwood inside Aquilaria trees is pale, odorless, and worthless. In order for this tree to produce any agarwood, it must first become infected with mold. So how does this infection process work? What is agarwood used for? And what makes it so valuable?
Argan oil can cost as much as $300 per liter, making it the world’s most expensive edible oil. Just 20 years ago, however, the production of argan oil was isolated to villagers in
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Argan oil can cost as much as $300 per liter, making it the world’s most expensive edible oil. Just 20 years ago, however, the production of argan oil was isolated to villagers in Morocco, who sold it locally for as little at $3 per liter. But since then, the formation of women-run cooperatives has transformed the production into a billion-dollar industry. With the help of the cooperatives, the traditional skills held by the Amazigh women has created some financial independence in a male-dominated society However, the women normally make less than $220 a month — below Morocco's recommended national minimum wage. So why has argan oil suddenly gained such popularity? And what makes it so expensive?
Frankincense and myrrh are perhaps best known for their biblical connotations. But this tree sap has been prized across the world for over 6,000 years. These fragrant incense pieces come
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Frankincense and myrrh are perhaps best known for their biblical connotations. But this tree sap has been prized across the world for over 6,000 years. These fragrant incense pieces come from the Burseraceae family of trees and are found across the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. But despite recent attempts to protect these trees, they could soon be headed for extinction. So what makes frankincense and myrrh so expensive?
Hand woven with the finest materials including wool and silk, a single Persian rug can often take years, and sometimes decades to create. A high-quality Iranian carpet can cost tens of
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Hand woven with the finest materials including wool and silk, a single Persian rug can often take years, and sometimes decades to create. A high-quality Iranian carpet can cost tens of thousands of dollars, with antique rugs fetching even higher prices. So how are Persian rugs made, and why are they so expensive?
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