When you need cash, do you go to an automated teller machine? You might want to rethink using an ATM simply for the "yuck" factor when you learn about the traces of substances investigators found on the keypads of 66 ATMs in New York City. Using cotton swabs, researchers from New York University collected gene markers from the keypads. Most of the bacteria they found were from normal human skin and household surfaces like TVs, pillows, restrooms, and kitchens. They also found plenty of food microbes, including those from bony fish, mollusks, and chicken, suggesting that New Yorkers commonly carry residue from their meals on their hands. In fact, clusters of the same food microbes were found within certain neighborhoods, seemingly revealing the favorite dishes of local communities. The study didn't report whether ATM users could pick up any of those germs and become ill from them because the researchers couldn't distinguish between active and dormant microbes. But just to be sure you're not picking up any germs, you might want to use common sense and wash your hands after withdrawing money. In addition, the CDC says you should wash your hands with soap and water: