recycling.............. helium?

[7960]

The element that lifts things like balloons, spirits and voice ranges is being depleted so rapidly in the world's largest reserve, outside of Amarillo, Texas, that supplies are expected to be depleted there within the next eight years.

Helium supplies endangered, threatening science and technology

Once the helium is gone, it's gone. Should the govt step in and force recycling, or force people to stop using it for stupid/wasteful stuff like filling balloons?

It's one of those things I'd never have thought of...........we can "run out" of helium?? Should that be allowed to happen?

[Ardentfrost]

I always thought helium was pulled from the atmosphere.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I always thought helium was pulled from the atmosphere.

apparently no.

and apparently it's running out.

[Ardentfrost]

We should harvest the sun!

[Phantom]

Stupid question, but I don't know the answer. My last chemistry class was taught by a drunk my freshman year of college.

Where does Helium come from?

[Ardentfrost]

looked up where it comes from

Originally Posted by http://www.pa.msu.edu/sciencet/ask_st/051095.html

There is helium all around us in the air, but it is not a good source for helium collectors. There are only about 5 parts of helium for every 100,000 parts of air! People have discovered much richer sources of helium underground. Some radioactive elements, such as uranium, release alpha particles when they decay. An alpha particle is just a helium atom with no electrons. Deep in the Earth where these radioactive decays take place, the alpha particles capture electrons and become helium. As the radioactive deposits age, large quantities of helium become trapped in underground caverns. To collect the helium, people drill down into the caverns and capture the helium as it escapes.

Most people are familiar with helium balloons. We put helium in these balloons, because it is lighter than air and is non-flammable. However, most of the helium used today is in liquid form. All gases become liquids when the temperature becomes low enough, or when excessive pressure is used. Scientists use liquid helium for experiments that have to be kept very very cold. Helium becomes a liquid at 270oC below zero!

[Scrum]

Wow, great article.

I knew that we got our Helium out of the ground along with natural gas (thanks Modern Marvels!) but I didn't realize that it would be too expensive to reclaim out of the atmosphere or that it bled away into space like that.

I don't think the government should force recycling or keep people from filling balloons. I would rather the cost go up and people will find an alternative.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

looked up where it comes from

thanks for supporting my laziness

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

We should harvest the sun!

I'll bring the sunglasses, you bring the empty party balloons.

[Ardentfrost]

I'm sure once the price goes past a certain point, there will be ways found to make helium (probably using the same methods it's created under the ground anyway). That's how stuff works

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by Scrum

I'll bring the sunglasses, you bring the empty party balloons.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I'm sure once the price goes past a certain point, there will be ways found to make helium (probably using the same methods it's created under the ground anyway). That's how stuff works

We could start using hydrogen balloons.

Candles on cakes may need to stop though.

[Ardentfrost]

Originally Posted by Scrum

We could start using hydrogen balloons.

Candles on cakes may need to stop though.

That would be epic.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Scrum

I don't think the government should force recycling or keep people from filling balloons. I would rather the cost go up and people will find an alternative.

Isn't this like saying "I don't think the govt should protect the Northern Spotted Owl. I would rather the hunting license fee goes up so people will find an alternative."

The problem is both are basically non-renewable. There are alternatives to gasoline and oil, but when the helium has floated away and when all the spotted owls are gone they're never coming back....there are alternatives for welding and such, but still, once the helium is gone, it's gone. That's ok?

[Ardentfrost]

Welding uses Argon.

I dunno if they're as comparable as you say. Unless we're talking about replicants, owls can't be created in unnatural ways.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by 7960

Isn't this like saying "I don't think the govt should protect the Northern Spotted Owl. I would rather the hunting license fee goes up so people will find an alternative."

The problem is both are basically non-renewable. There are alternatives to gasoline and oil, but when the helium has floated away and when all the spotted owls are gone they're never coming back....there are alternatives for welding and such, but still, once the helium is gone, it's gone. That's ok?

But we can make more helium, it just isn't cost efficient to do so right now but the tech is there.

If the price goes up enough it will be worth looking into these methods of producing it or we will find an alternative.

We can't ever make more spotted owls. It's not even on the horizon.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Welding uses Argon.

welders also use helium

I dunno if they're as comparable as you say. Unless we're talking about replicants, owls can't be created in unnatural ways.

from the article,

"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."

Also,

"nor will we ever produce helium in anywhere near the quantities we need from Earth-bound factories. Helium could eventually be produced directly in nuclear fusion reactors and is produced indirectly in nuclear fission reactors, but the quantities produced by such sources are dwarfed by our needs."

In other words we can make helium but it costs way too much and we can't make enough.

Should waste be allowed?

[Ardentfrost]

I still like my "harvest from the sun" idea.

Define "waste."

[7960]

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I still like my "harvest from the sun" idea.

costs too much, and then we'd have a tanning lotion shortage

Define "waste."

open a balloon........there goes a thousand years worth of decay.

[motivez]

Time to buy some helium tanks to sell on ebay in 9 years