i'm extremely skeptical that there are actually RFID tags in the bills. the anti-theft devices in most stores still aren't RFID and can be set off by a metal coil of the right dimensions (think of the little metal foil spiral stickers in CDs). small personal electronics occasionally set them off. the bills do have metal threads running through them, so with a stack of 50 bills, it's not that difficult to imagine it setting off an alarm.
and with the metal threads in bills, it isn't even remotely surprising that they catch fire in the microwave. i remember being present for many experiments with the MSSM microwaves that demonstrated the reliability of the 'metal + microwave = fire' equation.
if you are still concerned, get a bloody microscope and a $20 bill and take a close look and see if you can find an RFID tag. i don't think you will.
I was also very skeptical when I read this. Our government is a lot of things; but leading edge is NOT one of them.
I don't think we ever started a fire in our microwave...we had lightbulbs that made pretty colors, christmas tree lights that pop like popcorn, and the obligatory CD or thirty...no fires though...
helmet? nah! a couple of couch cushions work fine, hell, if something happens to them you can always just swap them for ones out of the student lounge...
It's funny you bring this up. Just about two weeks ago I was talking to an vietnam vet/hippie who has this conspiracy theory that the new twenty dollar bills have technology in them that can read any fingerprints that have been on them in the last twenty-four hours...neat conspiracy theory, though a little kooky.
OH and don't forget the mandatory, plastic army men in the microwave experiment..."aaahhh, cosmic radiation melting flesh" and the Hasbroian Army falls.
One final note, if any of these theories are true, just start using less popular bills.
It's funny you bring this up. Just about two weeks ago I was talking to an vietnam vet/hippie who has this conspiracy theory that the new twenty dollar bills have technology in them that can read any fingerprints that have been on them in the last twenty-four hours...neat conspiracy theory, though a little kooky.
OH and don't forget the mandatory, plastic army men in the microwave experiment..."aaahhh, cosmic radiation melting flesh" and the Hasbroian Army falls.
One final note, if any of these theories are true, just start using less popular bills.
comments
anders pearson - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:41:23
i'm extremely skeptical that there are actually RFID tags in the bills. the anti-theft devices in most stores still aren't RFID and can be set off by a metal coil of the right dimensions (think of the little metal foil spiral stickers in CDs). small personal electronics occasionally set them off. the bills do have metal threads running through them, so with a stack of 50 bills, it's not that difficult to imagine it setting off an alarm. and with the metal threads in bills, it isn't even remotely surprising that they catch fire in the microwave. i remember being present for many experiments with the MSSM microwaves that demonstrated the reliability of the 'metal + microwave = fire' equation. if you are still concerned, get a bloody microscope and a $20 bill and take a close look and see if you can find an RFID tag. i don't think you will.Miguel Diaz - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:46:23
I was also very skeptical when I read this. Our government is a lot of things; but leading edge is NOT one of them. I don't think we ever started a fire in our microwave...we had lightbulbs that made pretty colors, christmas tree lights that pop like popcorn, and the obligatory CD or thirty...no fires though...emile - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:42:23
well this is actually probably a hoax, but it's pretty funny. <br><br> and remember, when conducting microwave expirements, always wear a helmet.Miguel Diaz - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:47:23
helmet? nah! a couple of couch cushions work fine, hell, if something happens to them you can always just swap them for ones out of the student lounge...Luke Shorty - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:43:23
It's funny you bring this up. Just about two weeks ago I was talking to an vietnam vet/hippie who has this conspiracy theory that the new twenty dollar bills have technology in them that can read any fingerprints that have been on them in the last twenty-four hours...neat conspiracy theory, though a little kooky. OH and don't forget the mandatory, plastic army men in the microwave experiment..."aaahhh, cosmic radiation melting flesh" and the Hasbroian Army falls. One final note, if any of these theories are true, just start using less popular bills.Luke Shorty - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:44:23
It's funny you bring this up. Just about two weeks ago I was talking to an vietnam vet/hippie who has this conspiracy theory that the new twenty dollar bills have technology in them that can read any fingerprints that have been on them in the last twenty-four hours...neat conspiracy theory, though a little kooky. OH and don't forget the mandatory, plastic army men in the microwave experiment..."aaahhh, cosmic radiation melting flesh" and the Hasbroian Army falls. One final note, if any of these theories are true, just start using less popular bills.kurtis - Tue 02 Mar 2004 11:45:23
Yeah but it's funny as hell to think these people are walking around with tin-foil wrapped money ... I bet it matches their tin-foil hats