Other People's Stank

In many, many books I've always seen the phrase "the coppery taste of blood." In fact, that's exactly the opposite of what it should be: the bloody taste of copper.

That's kind of interesting, but the real point of the article is completely disgusting.

[I]n a recent experiment, Glindemann showed that when we handle metal objects like coins (most U.S. coins are about 75 percent copper), our sweat begins corroding them immediately, creating a film of unstable ions that behave like partially oxidized rust. Fatty acids from oils on the skin are decomposed by these loose ions and form the compounds that give coined money its distinctive smell—an aroma that bears an odd resemblance to blood's.

You read that correctly. Metal doesn't smell. This is a completely obvious point now that I mention it, but just think that the next time you inhale the fumes coming off the coins in your pocket it's the leavings of hundreds of sweaty palms.

This shouldn't come as that big of a surprise. After all, your mother always told you never stick money in your mouth.

Something to think about while you all rush out to grab a sackful of those new $1 coins.