Asked by: Peter Walton, Lancashire
A 2013 study (published before the UK switched to plastic banknotes) found that the polymer currency used in Romania allowed MRSA superbugs to survive for 24 hours, compared with just three hours for paper notes. But subsequent studies on the new polymer £5 note have found that harmful germs are much less likely to stick to the plastic in the first place.
Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.
