• Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - WSJ.com
    http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303456104579489510784385696?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F

    Dirty Dollars
    In the first genome study of the DNA on money, NYU researchers identified 3,000 types of bacteria on a set of one-dollar bills collected in New York.

    Total DNA found: 1.2 billion segments
    Percentage human: 27%-48%
    Bacterial DNA: 54 million segments
    Sampler of bacteria identified:

    Acinetobacter species: antibiotic-resistant infections
    Staphylococcus aureus: skin infections

    Bacillus cereus: food-borne illness

    Escherischia coli: food poisoning

    Helicobacter pylori: gastric ulcers

    Corynebactrium diptheriae: diphtheria

    Material: Cotton-linen blend.

    Lifetime: 21 months

    Weight: 1 gram. Since there are 454 grams in one pound, there are 454 dollar notes in one pound.

    Bulk: 1 million dollar bills stacked in a square would measure about four feet tall, four feet wide and four feet thick.

    Wear and tear: About 4,000 double folds (forward and backward) are required before a dollar note will tear.