x404.co.uk
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/

Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=17285		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  pcernie [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19676639

I'd no idea there was a shortage. Or that it had such cool uses :o
Author:  bobbdobbs [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
yup, there is a shortage. At work we are looking to change from helium to hydrogen where possible for the carrier gas in the GC's.
Author:  ProfessorF [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
So shouldn't it just be restricted sale to the medical profession then?
I'll admit I'll miss my hilarious use of it whilst drunk at parties to make my voice sound like an Australian Joe Pasquale, but needs must.
Author:  Linux_User [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
Christ, are the BBC taking lessons from the Daily Mail now? Complete non-story.

Quote:
But John Lee, the association's chairman insisted that the helium its members put into balloons, was not depriving the medical profession of the gas.

"The helium we use is not pure," he said. "It's recycled from the gas which is used in the medical industry, and mixed with air. We call it balloon gas rather than helium for that reason.

"There is no way the balloon and party industry would even consider taking badly-needed helium from the medical profession. That is important - people have to come first.

"If I thought this industry was taking helium away from the medical profession, I would be looking at doing things differently."
Author:  pcernie [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
I did think it was a bit sensationalist myself, but then I know nothing about that industry. It's actually BBC policy to jazz up the headlines now IIRC :roll:
Author:  belchingmatt [ Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
A few years ago the Americans decided they didn't need to stockpile Helium any more, and decided to sell it off cheap.

:lol: At the inaccuracies and opinion in that article.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:53 am ]
Post subject:  Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
I vaguely remember this in a New Scientist article in the 90's. it was after the US sold off strategic reserves.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk.
Author:  JJW009 [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
Amnesia10 wrote:
I vaguely remember this in a New Scientist article in the 90's. it was after the US sold off strategic reserves.

I remember reading about that too. Unbelievable the way they basically just dumped 90% of the world's supply.

Helium is pretty much a non-renewable resource since it drifts off into space when released, and the only way it's created is in nuclear fusion. The amount used in "balloon gas" may be low, but it's a luxury that can't last forever.
Author:  belchingmatt [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
JJW009 wrote:
Helium is pretty much a non-renewable resource since it drifts off into space when released, and the only way it's created is in nuclear fusion.


How about alpha decay? Those Helium nuclei are fairly electronegative and will almost certainly scavenge electrons from other atoms and become Helium as we know it. Probably not a significant natural production method based on daily consumption, but the majority of Terra's natural reserves would have been formed this way.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
belchingmatt wrote:
JJW009 wrote:
Helium is pretty much a non-renewable resource since it drifts off into space when released, and the only way it's created is in nuclear fusion.


How about alpha decay? Those Helium nuclei are fairly electronegative and will almost certainly scavenge electrons from other atoms and become Helium as we know it. Probably not a significant natural production method based on daily consumption, but the majority of Terra's natural reserves would have been formed this way.

That is actually how the majority of it on earth was formed. Straight forward radiation and lots of time.
Author:  leeds_manc [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
Of course these things are all renewable given a ridiculous enough time scale. However, a human time-scale is the only thing that is important.

Rationing of resources as a species, for the continuation of the species, is a skill which evolution simply can't provide a species with - exploitation yes, self-rationing when there's enough to go round right now...no.


In the end, I'll be dead before this is a problem, so I'm going on a flight to shoot some elephants.
Author:  JJW009 [ Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Helium shortage prompts scientist's balloon use warning
belchingmatt wrote:
How about alpha decay?

OK that's probably right, but it's a long wait for it to build up. Rather like waiting for coal to form naturally!
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
https://www.phpbb.com/