Interest in all things spicy has been further stoked by the recent string of records, says Mr. Moore.

WSJ: Arms Race to Grow World's Hottest Pepper Goes Nuclear

Some of the messages sent to the screens are remarkably banal, but things occasionally get spicy.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

Several things have encouraged Americans' once-bland palate to warm to the spicy chile pepper.

ECONOMIST: A brief history of chile cuisine