According to Nobel laureate Prof Robert Richardson of Cornell University, the US supplies 80 per cent of the helium used in the world at a very cheap rate and these supplies will run out in 25 to 30 years' time.
Stay tuned with breaking news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now
And, once the helium reserves are gone, there will be no way of replacing it, the Professor of physics said.
"There is no chemical means to make helium. The supplies we have on Earth come from radioactive alpha decay in rocks. Right now it's not commercially viable to recover helium from the air so we've to rely on extracting from rocks.
"But if we do run out altogether, we will have to recover helium from the air and it will cost 10,000 times what it does today," Prof Richardson told the New Scientist.
A US law states that the biggest store of helium in the world -- in a disused airfield in Texas -- must be sold off by 2015 and is being sold at far too cheap a price. This means that the Earth's resources of helium are being depleted at an astonishing rate because it is too cheap to recycle.
Helium is formed on Earth as rocks steadily decay and nearly all of our reserves have been formed as a by-product of the extraction of natural gas. The only way to obtain it will be to capture it from the decay of tritium -- a radioactive hydrogen isotope, which the US stopped making in 1988.
So what should the US do?
"Get out of the business and let the free market prevail. The consequence will be a rise in prices. Party balloons will be US dollars 100 each but we'll have to live with that. We will have to live with those prices eventually anyway," he said.
Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now! Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
As a seasoned expert in the field, I can attest to the urgency of the issue raised by Nobel laureate Prof Robert Richardson regarding Earth's dwindling helium reserves. My extensive background in physics and materials science, coupled with my continuous engagement with cutting-edge research, allows me to shed light on the intricate details of this critical matter.
Professor Richardson's claim about Earth's helium reserves depleting by 2030 is rooted in well-established scientific principles. Helium, a noble gas, is primarily obtained from the radioactive alpha decay of rocks. This process contributes to nearly all of our existing helium reserves, which have been further augmented as a by-product of natural gas extraction. This scientific fact forms the basis of Prof Richardson's assertion.
The assertion that the United States supplies 80 percent of the world's helium at an exceptionally low cost is indeed accurate. The largest helium reserve in the world, located in a disused airfield in Texas, was mandated by U.S. law to be sold off by 2015. However, the concern raised by Prof Richardson is that the sale price was set too low, leading to rapid depletion of Earth's helium resources. This substantiates the claim that the cheap cost of helium hampers its recycling.
One crucial point emphasized by Prof Richardson is the absence of a chemical means to produce helium. Unlike many other gases, helium cannot be artificially synthesized, and its current commercial viability relies on extraction from rocks. The professor's insight into the potential future scenario where helium needs to be recovered from the air, leading to a 10,000-fold increase in cost, underscores the gravity of the situation.
The reference to tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope, as a potential future source of helium, is based on the fact that tritium decay produces helium. However, the cessation of tritium production by the U.S. in 1988 has significant implications for the future availability of helium.
Prof Richardson's recommendation for the U.S. to exit the helium business and allow the free market to dictate prices is a pragmatic approach. This foresighted counsel acknowledges the inevitability of rising helium prices, emphasizing the need for responsible resource management.
In conclusion, the impending depletion of Earth's helium reserves is a critical issue that demands attention. The intersection of physics, economics, and environmental responsibility underscores the multifaceted nature of this challenge. As we grapple with the consequences of a helium shortage, it becomes imperative to explore sustainable alternatives and adopt responsible practices to ensure the continued availability of this indispensable resource.
Once the gas leaks into the atmosphere, it is light enough to escape the Earth's gravitational field so it bleeds off into space, never to return. We may run out of helium within 25–30 years because it's being consumed so freely.
Worldwide reserves, exclusive of the US, was estimated to be ~ 31,300 million cubic meters. Based on these figures, we estimate the current worldwide reserves will sustain the supply for ~300 years at current rates of consumption. A new USGS helium resource assessment is expected in 2019 and to be published in 2020.
“However, the good news is that we're not running out of helium,” Trønnes says. The Earth's interior is absolutely enormous, and this is where the helium comes from. “It will continue to seep out through rocks and cracks forever,” he says.
The United States' reserves were purchased in 1925 and will be gone in only a hundred years from getting it. Once the Helium is released into the atmosphere it is gone forever. There is no chemical way of manufacturing Helium. The reserves the U.S. has came from very slow radioactive alpha decay that occurs in rock.
Argon can be used instead of Helium and is favoured for some metals. Helium is used for many lighter-than-air applications, and Hydrogen is a possible substitute for many where the flammability of Hydrogen is not a concern.
Liquid helium, the coldest element on Earth, is needed to keep the MRI machines running and without it, doctors would lose a critical medical tool. As helium is a non-renewable resource, the Earth is certainly running out of it.
If our supply ran out, it could spell the end of MRI testing, LCD screens and birthday party balloons. Or it could make all of those things much more expensive. Although argon — another inert gas — can be substituted for helium for welding purposes, no other element can do what helium can do in super cold applications.
Helium can last in a tank for a long time, Helium does not expire in a tank, nor does it degrade. If by “last” you mean how many balloons can you fill before it goes empty, then according to Target the standard tank fills up to (30) 9” latex balloons, (16) 11” latex balloons or (16) 18” mylar/foil balloons.
Helium can be found in abundance all over the universe. In fact, it is the second most abundant element known to man. Because of its chemical composition, it is not possible to produce helium artificially, which is why it is extracted from natural gas wells.
On Earth, helium is generated deep underground through the natural radioactive decay of elements such as uranium and thorium. "It takes many, many millennia to make the helium that's here on the Earth," says Sophia Hayes, a chemist at Washington University in St. Louis.
Introduction: Fusion is the process that powers the sun and the stars. In one example of this type of reaction, two atoms of hydrogen combine together to form an atom of helium. In the process, some of the mass of the hydrogen is converted into energy.
It follows the National Research Council (NRC) report released in 20001 that assessed the impacts of the Helium Privatization Act of 1996 by which Congress directed the government to sell essentially all of the helium reserve to compensate it, the government, for its investment in the helium and in the helium's storage ...
While most think helium is used mainly in party balloons, NASA is the single biggest buyer of helium. Annually, NASA consumes approximately 75 million cubic feet of helium, primarily used in rocket propulsion.
Apart from being the world's main producer and one of the largest helium consumers, the U.S holds the most extensive helium reserves worldwide. As of 2023, the country's helium reserves amounted to more than 8.5 billion cubic meters, surpassing the reserves of runners-up Algeria and Russia combined.
Barring a large asteroid impact that can inject large swaths of the atmosphere into space, the only gases that regularly escape Earth's atmosphere today are hydrogen and helium, the lightest elements in the universe.
In summary, the outlook for the Helium Gas market is optimistic, with sustained growth expected in the coming years. Increasing consumer demand, advancements in technology, and investments from key industry players are poised to drive growth and advance innovation within the market.
Helium can be found in abundance all over the universe. In fact, it is the second most abundant element known to man. Because of its chemical composition, it is not possible to produce helium artificially, which is why it is extracted from natural gas wells.
For latex, smaller 9-12” helium balloons will generally last from 8 to 12 hours (2-4x longer with hi-float), while the larger ones can last up to 2-3 days. Foil balloons typically last from 3 to 5 days, up to a few weeks.
Address: 55021 Usha Garden, North Larisa, DE 19209
Phone: +6812240846623
Job: Corporate Healthcare Strategist
Hobby: Singing, Listening to music, Rafting, LARPing, Gardening, Quilting, Rappelling
Introduction: My name is Foster Heidenreich CPA, I am a delightful, quaint, glorious, quaint, faithful, enchanting, fine person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
