Helium Crisis Approaching 501
vrmlguy writes "Within nine years the National Helium Reserve will be depleted, according to an article in Science Daily. It quotes Dr. Lee Sobotka, of Washington University in St. Louis: 'Helium is non-renewable and irreplaceable. Its properties are unique and unlike hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas or oil), there are no biosynthetic ways to make an alternative to helium. All should make better efforts to recycle it.' (The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a local article with quotes from Dr. Sobotka and representatives of the balloon industry.) On Earth, Helium is found mixed with natural gas, but few producers capture it. Extracting it from the atmosphere is not cost-effective. The US created a stockpile, the National Helium Reserve, in 1925 for use by military dirigibles, but stopped stockpiling it in 1995 as a cost-saving measure."
No more helium? (Score:5, Funny)
oh no! (Score:4, Funny)
oh the humanity!
Re:No more helium? (Score:2, Funny)
We need more gas (Score:4, Funny)
damn. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:We need more gas (Score:4, Funny)
We're screwed.
Re:This is a capitalist economy (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Where's the problem? (Score:5, Funny)
Hydrogen balloons would be more fun (Score:4, Funny)
Helium is a rebel, a loner (Score:4, Funny)
Helium: the James Dean of elements. All by itself in the upper right hand corner of the periodic table.
Which I guess makes hydrogen the Paris Hilton of elements? Alone at the top??
Why oh why couldn't I have been a science journalist...
Re:No more helium? (Score:2, Funny)
I suppose it would explain the subsequent explosions.
Re:This is a capitalist economy (Score:4, Funny)
Re:This is a capitalist economy (Score:5, Funny)
QED?
Quod Erat Donatum?
Re:oh no! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:wha?! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Helium is a rebel, a loner (Score:5, Funny)
It also bonds with pretty much anything it meets.
Re:wha?! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:What? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:helium toy balloons (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Look on the bright side (Score:5, Funny)
Re:We need more gas (Score:3, Funny)
(No help to be had at acronymfinder)
Re:Time to ramp up fusion research (Score:5, Funny)
2) ?????
3) <squeakyvoice> Profit! </squeakyvoice>
I can see it now. (Score:3, Funny)
Borthday Balloons will get smaller every year. Soon you won't be able to get them at your local grocery store.
I personally blame the Mythbusters. What between the Raft, The several thousand balloons used to lift the kid, and the Lawn chair, they probably reduced our supply by 3 yrs alone.
Re:Peak Everything (Score:2, Funny)
> End of the World
> Things Could Go Poorly
hey! stop using up our precious reserves of capital letters!
Re:We need more gas (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Good! That stuffs dangerous! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Look on the bright side (Score:5, Funny)
You had to tell them that didn't you? (Score:3, Funny)
Of course they don't drop down. Ceiling drops down.
Sheeesh! Do I have to tell you how to do EVERYTHING?
Liquidating the reserve (Score:2, Funny)
The resulting "Helium Privatization Act of 1996" (Public Law 104-273) directed the United States Department of the Interior to start liquidating the reserve by 2005.
OK, OK, so they are going to start liquidating the reserve, but the big question is - are they going to sell off the helium to make some cash?
Re:Look on the bright side (Score:5, Funny)
Now that would be a cool sight. Dropping C02 filled balloons at a political rally. They wouldn't float down. They'd plummet straight to the ground and wouldn't even bounce. It wouldn't look natural.
Call Batman. (Score:4, Funny)
And on a side-note which is probably more relevant. . .
Since the Hindenburg went up in flames because it had been painted with thermite and not because of the gas it had been filled with, perhaps our airships should be using hydrogen which has more lifting power than helium anyway.
I've always felt slightly gyped by not getting to live in that reality where we had regular airship traffic and where classy chicks all smoked from foot-long cigarette holders. I want to wear a waxed mustache and say things like, "Now see here, what?" and not sound like an idiot like I currently do when I speak that way.
-FL
Re:No more helium? (Score:3, Funny)
Nice logic. (Score:3, Funny)
Shall I say anything?
Nah.
Re:Look on the bright side (Score:5, Funny)
Re:No more helium? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:No more helium? (Score:2, Funny)
*) see other replies for details.