According to this, the new $20 bills, in sufficient quantities, will set off electronic anti-theft monitors. They also explode if you microwave them.
The authors suggest there are “RFID” tracking devices in the currency, similar to that found in European Union notes.
Via Blah3.com.
There’s a lot of buzz about this case online today. I’ve yet to see proof that it’s RFID. Personally I believe there might be other metallic components in the banknotes, not necessarily RFID tags. There are some more comments on it over here:
http://www.rfidbuzz.com/news/2004/rfid_tags_in_new_us_notes_explode_when_you_try_to_microwave_them.html
http://www.rfidbuzz.com/news/2004/rfid_in_us_postage_stamps_dollar_bills.html
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=98942&cid=8437731
http://thraxil.org/nodes/5027
The full story will certainly be updated here as soon as intependent source(s) confirm/debunk the claims:
http://www.rfidbuzz.com/wiki/Actors/InternalRevenueService