Helium is a vital natural resource. Among other valuable uses, it plays an essential role in scientific research because in its liquid form it enables researchers to reach temperatures close to absolute zero on the Kelvin scale. What many people don’t realize is that helium is obtained from underground reserves and that these are finite and thus should be carefully conserved and not wasted on frivolities like balloons, making voices high pitched, and the like.
There were fears that helium reserves were running low but now comes welcome news about new reserves found in Tanzania as a result of a deliberate search using new techniques.
The discovery in Tanzania is the result of a new exploration approach for the precious gas that is essential to spacecraft, MRI scanners, nuclear energy, according to the Oxford University statement . Helium also fills party balloons.
This is the first time helium has been found intentionally, said the statement. Until now, the gas has been found in small amounts accidentally during oil and gas drilling.
Independent experts have estimated the helium discovery is about 54 billion cubic feet, Oxford professor Chris Ballentine said.
“To put this discovery into perspective, global consumption of helium is about 8 BCf per year,” he said in the statement. “This is a game changer for the future security of society’s helium needs, and similar finds in the future may not be far away.”
What is important to realize is that these new reserves by themselves do not solve the helium problem because it only provides about seven years’ supply. So we still need to use it carefully. What is significant about this story is that we may now have a better way to search for new sources rather than depending upon serendipitous discoveries.
If only the damnable HBA (Helium Balloon Association (I only half jest) weren’t so powerful we might have Helium Control legislation.
Reminds me of this video on helium recovery in research institutions.
And a short article on helium production in Australia.
There appears to be much helium in the sun. Anybody know how to stake a claim?
@3
First you need to personally travel there, and plant your flag on its surface. We’ll discuss colonization when you return.
Does this mean no more breathing helium so we can quack like a duck?
The discovery should have been kept secret. Whenever the supply of something increases and/or the price goes down, people stop economizing and start wasting resources.
If anyone needs an example, there’s oil -- at $150 per barrel, people stopped driving SUVs and driving in general. Now they’re driving everywhere again. Or last year in Taiwan, water reservoirs were as low as 19% in major cities, and people cut down (by choice or by force, when water was cut off on some days). Now the reservoirs are full again, and people are wasting water again.