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/sci/ - Science & Math

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6353858 No.6353858 [Reply] [Original]

how is helium produced? I've read that we're running out of it. Also are there ways we could produce it efficiently in the future with an alternative method?

>> No.6353862

>>6353858
>how is helium produced?
you just squirt it out of those cannisters that clowns use at the fair
..duh!

>> No.6353869

It is a byproduct of petroleum production.

>> No.6353872

>>6353862
so the clowns are behind the alleged shortage. we must act fast. I need a squeaky voice for reasons

>> No.6353873
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6353873

>>6353872
what reasons??

>> No.6353876

>>6353873
My job requires it. I heard about us running out of it and got a little scared

>> No.6353882

>>6353858
>How is helium produced?

When many natural radioactive materials (such as the uranium and thorium found in granite) decay, they produce alpha particles - helium nuclei. Over millions of years, this helium collects in gas-tight traps in the rock.

When we mine natural gas, which also collects in these pockets, helium comes up with the flow. In fact, the first helium well was thought to be a gas well - until a flaming hay bale tossed into it as a celebration went out.

As a result, (like natural gas), helium is a limited resource. More limited, in fact.

The reason we're running out is because we've been wasting it for the last few decades, flaring it off as a waste product. This is because the Army, back when they thought helium-filled airships were going to be the next big thing, bought up loads and loads of helium as the National Helium Reserve.

And when zeppelins didn't pan out, they started selling off helium from the Reserve at absurdly cheap prices. So cheap, in fact, that nobody could justify the expense of capturing any more helium - no matter what, they couldn't make it as cheaply as Congress was selling it.

So most of our planet's helium reserve has gone to waste, vented into the atmosphere.

And now the National Helium Reserve is running low, and predictably, the price of helium is going way up.

If we could invent a good fusion reactor, we could produce helium cheaply as a by-product of deuterium-deuterium fusion, like car exhaust produces CO2.

In fact, even if fusion reactors don't turn out to be efficient sources of power, if we get them near enough breakeven they could serve as efficient helium factories and neutron sources that just use a little bit of power.

>> No.6353884
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6353884

>>6353876
>and got a little scared
hah, pussy!

>> No.6353885

>>6353882
Sorry, not "flaring" it off. "venting" it off. Wrong choice of words. Flaring's only for flammable stuff.

>> No.6353890

>>6353884
oh I forgot the possibility of losing a job has never occurred to a NEET. trust me it's pretty scary

>> No.6353899
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6353899

>>6353890
i aint a NEET, im set for life, bitch
got the best job ever

>> No.6353908

>>6353899
we're all successful on the internet

>> No.6353911

>>6353908
hah, yeh. but the difference is that im successful in real life too
:)

>> No.6353958

Easy to produce helium, all you need to do is make a hydrogen bomb. Couple of nukes should make a decent amount of helium.

>> No.6354106

Fun Fact: Helium was discovered in the Sun before it was found on Earth.