DailyDirt: The Second Most Abundant Element In The Universe…
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
Helium is a fascinating element that most people recognize as the stuff that you can inhale to make your voice sound funny. However, it has some really serious uses in MRI machines and rocket engines — and if we’re not careful, we could waste this precious material and not have any kind of replacement for it. Once we run out of helium on earth, there aren’t a lot of great options for obtaining more. It’s not like we can just swing by Jupiter and bring some back. Maybe we can recycle and conserve for a bit, and perhaps someday we’ll figure out fusion.
- Vast helium reserves in Tanzania have been discovered that could supply the world with enough helium for several years (assuming we don’t celebrate will a LOT of unnecessary balloons). About 54 billion cubic feet of helium might last about 6 years or so at the global consumption rate, but this is the first time anyone has actually gone specifically looking for helium deposits (successfully). Presumably, if we have a method that works, we’ll be able to find a bit more helium before we need to resort to helium rationing.
- The lunar surface could be mined for helium. If mining the moon for helium sounds impractical and crazy, it wouldn’t be if we could use a specific isotope of helium for a fusion reactor. Just gotta get fusion technology working….
- The US National Helium Reserve is the largest supplier of helium in the world right now, but that could change. Nobel laureate Robert Richardson warned everyone about “peak helium” a few years ago, but party balloons are still cheap — so it’s likely no one will really care about a helium shortage until it’s almost too late.
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Filed Under: chemistry, fusion, helium, moon, peak helium, robert richardson, us national helium reserve
Comments on “DailyDirt: The Second Most Abundant Element In The Universe…”
We have plenty of hydrogen, who needs a lighter than air inert gas anyways … it’s the war on party balloons.
Re: Re:
Wouldn’t it absolutely suck if someone finally invents a real, workable fusion power plant, one that will end our energy problems overnight…but nobody can build it because it needs helium and we used all of ours up on party balloons?
Stupidium
Every attempt to analyze, destroy, or reduce it results in greater quantities appearing from seemingly nowhere.
Scientists eternally baffled!
Isn’t peak helium just how high the balloon goes ?
IF we get practical fusion energy production and *IF* it uses a method that requires Helium-3, that Helium-3 will still be far cheaper to obtain on Earth.
The second most-abundant element in the universe is daily dirt?
Good to know.
Re: Re:
Didn’t read the article .. good to know.
“but party balloons are still cheap”
What? You mean the all-wise Free Market has yet to price the imminent shortage of helium into its trades?
Surely, if not the first then the 2nd most abundant element, I would have thought is BULLSHIT!!
Singing
Imagine a large helium leak that spread around the world. Then imagine everyone singing “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.” That would be amazing… Disclaimer. I am not going to be held responsible for my post if a lawsuit happens. I give that people portion to Techdirt. But if this comment makes the funny list. Or praised in any form without chance of me getting in trouble. Then it is so mine baby….
Singing
Imagine a large helium leak that spread around the world. Then imagine everyone singing “We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.” That would be amazing… Disclaimer. I am not going to be held responsible for my post if a lawsuit happens. I give that people portion to Techdirt. But if this comment makes the funny list. Or praised in any form without chance of me getting in trouble. Then it is so mine baby….
IIRC, the helium used in party balloons is worthless for MRIs and rocket engines, those needs a specific isotope of helium
Re: Re:
Not for rocket engines.
The helium is used to maintain the pressure in the tanks as the fuel drains out. Helium is of course very light, which saves weight. Its lower density stops it from mixing with the fuel. (You REALLY don’t want bubbles in the fuel being fed into your engines.) And being inert it doesn’t react with the fuel.
Helium is the second most while whatever toxic gas came not of politicians mouths is the first.
Re: Re:
Methane, then?