We’ve known this has been going on for decades. If it had been so bad, we would have done something long ago, because the medical world has warned us several times already. Moreover, helium balloons are a perfect tool to transport plastic to the furthest corners of the earth.
Several years ago someone in the govt, Clinton or Bush admin decided that the helium reserve was too high and needed to be sold down. It was within a year that the helium shortage started.
For years helium was a restricted commodity in the US. NASA wanted/needed it, and so did the military-industrial complex. It’s not like you can just go out and mine helium!
Just saw a sign at the local Kroger about not being able to fill any balloons. Now we all have to rub them on our heads and stick them to the ceiling, or the dog.
What I found surprising is it’s used in many other fields (arc welding, fuel tanks of liquid fueled rockets and in supersonic windtunnels. It is used in deep sea diving, cryogenics, and in superconnectivity magnets and in superconductive electron accelerators. It is critical to medicine where ultra-low-temperature liquid helium is used to cool the superconducting magnets in MRI scanners. About a third of all produced helium is used in these medical instruments with industrial applications using up most of the rest. The growth of medical cryogenics and industrial uses has caused a dramatic imbalance between supply and demand. However, in 2015 a large supply of Helium was discovered in Tanzania. Tanzania could become one of the world’s premier producers of helium and perhaps the medics and other industrial users of this precious gas can breath a sigh of relief. (lifted http://theconversation.com/helium-is-vital-for-medicine-just-as-well-we-discovered-more-of-this-rare-element-61887 and https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele002.html)
SHIVA over 5 years ago
It IS a real world-wide crisis!!! Only major helium producer is Russia.
Bryan Farht over 5 years ago
We’ve known this has been going on for decades. If it had been so bad, we would have done something long ago, because the medical world has warned us several times already. Moreover, helium balloons are a perfect tool to transport plastic to the furthest corners of the earth.
Zebrastripes over 5 years ago
Excuse me, I need some fresh air…
Olddog1 over 5 years ago
Several years ago someone in the govt, Clinton or Bush admin decided that the helium reserve was too high and needed to be sold down. It was within a year that the helium shortage started.
tiomax over 5 years ago
Party’s over!
jonlaw over 5 years ago
Supplies are getting a little light
WCraft Premium Member over 5 years ago
Oh no! Who will do the Micky Mouse voice now?
ekke over 5 years ago
For years helium was a restricted commodity in the US. NASA wanted/needed it, and so did the military-industrial complex. It’s not like you can just go out and mine helium!
John9 over 5 years ago
Just saw a sign at the local Kroger about not being able to fill any balloons. Now we all have to rub them on our heads and stick them to the ceiling, or the dog.
dmalzahn over 5 years ago
What I found surprising is it’s used in many other fields (arc welding, fuel tanks of liquid fueled rockets and in supersonic windtunnels. It is used in deep sea diving, cryogenics, and in superconnectivity magnets and in superconductive electron accelerators. It is critical to medicine where ultra-low-temperature liquid helium is used to cool the superconducting magnets in MRI scanners. About a third of all produced helium is used in these medical instruments with industrial applications using up most of the rest. The growth of medical cryogenics and industrial uses has caused a dramatic imbalance between supply and demand. However, in 2015 a large supply of Helium was discovered in Tanzania. Tanzania could become one of the world’s premier producers of helium and perhaps the medics and other industrial users of this precious gas can breath a sigh of relief. (lifted http://theconversation.com/helium-is-vital-for-medicine-just-as-well-we-discovered-more-of-this-rare-element-61887 and https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele002.html)