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+--- Thread: The helium crisis: the element is quickly disappearing from Earth (/thread-12064.html)
The helium crisis: the element is quickly disappearing from Earth - C C - Apr 11, 2022
https://medium.com/@meletdillon/helium-is-quickly-disappearing-from-earth-629f70efe469
EXCERPTS: . . . 1996 Congress decides to sell off all helium reserves by 2013.
2013 Congress realizes how idiotic that 1996 decision was and does a complete 180. Although not before selling off 2/3rds of their helium at stupidly low prices.
By now you’re probably saying something along the lines of, “Thanks for the lame history lesson, nerd. But why should I give 2 squeaky farts about dumb helium?”
It’s time for a game of Meet Your Helium!
Introducing helium! [...] the second most abundant element in the entire universe! ... despite that, she only makes up .0005% of all atmospheric gases here on earth!
When she’s not floating off into space, helium can be found in the radioactive decay given off by elements like uranium and thorium. [...] Unlike nearly everything else in the universe, helium doesn’t cool into a liquid form until she hits 4.2 degrees Kelvin — barely warmer than the temperature of outer space! This means that helium can be used to cool everything from rocket ships to superconductors!
That’s it? No!
- In medicine, helium is crucial for MRI machines and for laser-eye surgery.
- The military uses it for rocket engine testing, surveillance aircraft, and even air-to-air missile guidance systems — BOOM baby!
- Thermographic cameras and other heat-vision systems require helium as a coolant which is crucial for search and rescue teams.
- Heavy industries use helium in order to detect and prevent dangerous gas leaks. It’s also used in the manufacture of air conditioners, tires, refrigerators, and fire extinguishers as a way to test seals.
- NASA, SpaceX, and Bezos’ penis rockets use helium to keep hot gases and super-cold liquid fuels away from each other during liftoff. Helium is also injected into fuel canisters to push the fuel out so that spaceships can actually make it off the planet.
- Nuclear reactors use helium as a coolant since it isn’t radioactive.
- Silicon, titanium, zirconium, and germanium all require helium to be produced/grown.
- Used by deep divers and in deep-water subs to resist massive pressures and create a safe breathing atmosphere.
Let’s really quickly run through the rest of the industries that use helium [...] Most of the items on this list require helium and only helium. We currently have no other substitute for many of these important processes.
What’s the bad news? The bad news is that the global helium market is walking on a tightrope. [...] Basically, most of the world’s helium comes from 2 places — the US and Qatar. If anything should happen to these helium plants, well, that wouldn’t be great for the world’s helium market. ... On top of that, as was mentioned before, it’s a non-renewable resource. ... we may run out between 2040–2050.
Is there good news? Actually yes. Other scientists believe that there’s a lot more helium on earth than we first thought... (MORE - missing details)
RE: The helium crisis: the element is quickly disappearing from Earth - Kornee - Apr 12, 2022
(Apr 11, 2022 03:38 PM)C C Wrote: ...Introducing helium! [...] the second most abundant element in the entire universe! ... despite that, she only makes up .0005% of all atmospheric gases here on earth!WTF?! Helium is now a female entity? Really? Then let's go further and state 'she' is also an antisocial bitch! Preferring to never 'bond' to other (gender optional?) elements. Or even to form Lesbian unions with other 'she' Helium atoms. Gawd.
When she’s not floating off into space, helium can be found...