Ian Coss

then any convenience store clerk with a stack of tickets might be able to figure out which ones of those are winners, which ones are losers, and then, you know, hand out the winners to friends, keep them for themselves, like just corrupt the whole system.

So, John Koza, back in Ann Arbor, he got to work. This other company's ticket was made of pretty thin paper with flap doors over the hidden numbers held down by glue. So John's goal was to see if he could reveal those numbers without visibly altering the ticket. That would be hacking the ticket.

So, John Koza, back in Ann Arbor, he got to work. This other company's ticket was made of pretty thin paper with flap doors over the hidden numbers held down by glue. So John's goal was to see if he could reveal those numbers without visibly altering the ticket. That would be hacking the ticket.

So, John Koza, back in Ann Arbor, he got to work. This other company's ticket was made of pretty thin paper with flap doors over the hidden numbers held down by glue. So John's goal was to see if he could reveal those numbers without visibly altering the ticket. That would be hacking the ticket.

This time, Dr. Peralt... great vacation giver. No, just kidding. This time, Dr. Peralt was waiting on the runway to greet them and carry their bags. Everybody convened at lottery headquarters, probably like half a dozen men in dark suits gathered around a conference table, eagerly awaiting this presentation from John.

This time, Dr. Peralt... great vacation giver. No, just kidding. This time, Dr. Peralt was waiting on the runway to greet them and carry their bags. Everybody convened at lottery headquarters, probably like half a dozen men in dark suits gathered around a conference table, eagerly awaiting this presentation from John.

This time, Dr. Peralt... great vacation giver. No, just kidding. This time, Dr. Peralt was waiting on the runway to greet them and carry their bags. Everybody convened at lottery headquarters, probably like half a dozen men in dark suits gathered around a conference table, eagerly awaiting this presentation from John.

A cystoscope has a tiny lens on the end of a thin, flexible tube. A doctor might use it to examine the inside of a patient's bladder, for example. John used it to peer underneath the ticket's flap doors.

A cystoscope has a tiny lens on the end of a thin, flexible tube. A doctor might use it to examine the inside of a patient's bladder, for example. John used it to peer underneath the ticket's flap doors.

A cystoscope has a tiny lens on the end of a thin, flexible tube. A doctor might use it to examine the inside of a patient's bladder, for example. John used it to peer underneath the ticket's flap doors.

Now, the average convenience store clerk probably does not have access to a cystoscope and may not have a copier in 1973. And so John presented his final foolproof technique. In a dramatic demonstration, John opened a bottle of Fresca, something you certainly could find in the average convenience store.

Now, the average convenience store clerk probably does not have access to a cystoscope and may not have a copier in 1973. And so John presented his final foolproof technique. In a dramatic demonstration, John opened a bottle of Fresca, something you certainly could find in the average convenience store.

Now, the average convenience store clerk probably does not have access to a cystoscope and may not have a copier in 1973. And so John presented his final foolproof technique. In a dramatic demonstration, John opened a bottle of Fresca, something you certainly could find in the average convenience store.

He poured the Fresca on the ticket and the glue, which was supposed to be the ticket's sacred seal, it simply let go. You could peel the whole thing apart, read the numbers, and glue it back together again.

He poured the Fresca on the ticket and the glue, which was supposed to be the ticket's sacred seal, it simply let go. You could peel the whole thing apart, read the numbers, and glue it back together again.

He poured the Fresca on the ticket and the glue, which was supposed to be the ticket's sacred seal, it simply let go. You could peel the whole thing apart, read the numbers, and glue it back together again.

Now, Ian, do we know why Fresca? Was it like what John had around? Was it an ingredient in Fresca? Like what is happening?

Now, Ian, do we know why Fresca? Was it like what John had around? Was it an ingredient in Fresca? Like what is happening?

Now, Ian, do we know why Fresca? Was it like what John had around? Was it an ingredient in Fresca? Like what is happening?

We're an economics podcast. We're not a science show.