The editors of Scientific American regularly encounter
perspectives on science and technology that we believe our
readers would find thought-provoking, fascinating, debatable and
challenging. The guest blog is a forum for such opinions. The
views expressed belong to the author and are not necessarily
shared by Scientific American. Shannon Palus is a physics
student at McGill University, and an editor of the McGill
Science Undergraduate Research Journal. When she is not busy
with those things, she writes about everything from outer space,
to feminism. Follow on Twitter @shanpalus. In 1966, five guys
with a bunch of regular office supply store paper created
hundreds of thousands of dollars in counterfeit $10 Australian
bills. This, just weeks after Australia had introduced a new
series of banknotes — what they had touted as their most
advanced, most secure yet. The Royal Bank of Australia, stumped,
made the decision to turn to scientists. Meetings were held. The
Globe and Mail reported that a crucial moment dur