We are running out of Helium!!!

**Sava700** · 08-23-10, 11:32 AM

What will we fill up our ballons with in 30years??!!?

The dwindling supply of the inert gas has been a growing concern since the mid 2000s. Now a group of scientists tells the Independent that the world's supply could be gone completely in less than 30 years.

The problem is twofold. First, helium is a non-renewable resource, mainly collected from the very slow decay of radioactive elements - and we're using it much faster than it's being created.

Second, Congress passed a law in 1996 mandating that the U.S. helium reserve - by far the largest in the world - be sold off by 2015, irrespective of market price. The supply appeared plentiful then. Now, not so much.

The impact goes far beyond not being able to inflate birthday balloons. Liquid helium is used in cooling medical equipment and the gas has numerous industrial applications. It's used in manufacturing LCD TV screens. Oh, and it helps power space shuttle and other rockets.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...tionContent.11

**YARDofSTUF** · 08-23-10, 11:46 AM

Hopefully we have other ways of getting those tasks done without helium.

**Sava700** · 08-23-10, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by YARDofSTUF

Hopefully we have other ways of getting those tasks done without helium.

I haven't seen any that would not only do the deed but also be cost efficient?

**OSULLY** · 08-23-10, 05:02 PM

The biggest source of helium is natural gas wells. As a hold over from WW2, producers of natural gas were required to collect the helium. This hasn't been true for a while now but the reserves kept the price low. Untill the natural gas producers consider the price worth the effort the price will keep rising. It's getting bad enough that getting aproval for that MRI is getting harder.

**TonyT** · 08-24-10, 02:40 PM

Hydrogen is lighter than air and works well in balloons. Used thusly it would help to weed out the morons from the gene pool.

**Sava700** · 08-24-10, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by TonyT

Hydrogen is lighter than air and works well in balloons. Used thusly it would help to weed out the morons from the gene pool.

Will never be put to use... even people that are not morons will having issues such as the random balloon near a candle or something along those lines.

Perhaps its time for Helium to cost as much as it should based on the article... $100/per balloon!

**YARDofSTUF** · 08-24-10, 03:19 PM

Kinda funny:

"Next to hydrogen, it is the second most abundant element in the universe, and accounts for 24% of the elemental mass of our galaxy."

Maybe NASA should start collecting it in space and sell it to support their programs.