One of the tricks used to make currency harder to counterfeit is being made
available to manufacturers to mark their goods as the genuine article. The
invention, licensed from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and made by
Tracer Detection Technology, uses tags consisting of fluorescent dichroic fibres
of nylon. The tags, which can be woven into fabric, fluoresce when they absorb
polarised light and can be detected by a scanner. Tracer claims the tags will be
quick to scan and almost impossible to forge.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Life
New Scientist recommends a brilliant take on the evolution of birds
Culture

Environment
Striking photos show how sands are encroaching on oases in the Sahara
Regulars

Comment
Think you have a good sense of humour? So do most people…
Regulars

Comment
Sci-fi horror film Backrooms is a triumph for its 20-year-old director
Culture
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
Millions of fossil whale bones found in deep-ocean ‘necropolis’
3
Hundreds of new moons are revealing our solar system's violent history
4
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
5
Why you need to future-proof your brain in middle age and how to start
6
A nuclear war between India and Pakistan could destroy the ozone layer
7
Mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the Atlantic suggests the AMOC is weakening
8
Why we should all take quantum physics extremely personally
9
Dinosaur-killing asteroid impact site stayed hot for millions of years
10
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies