Are We Running Out Of Helium?

WASHINGTON — Did you realize that just like certain animals here on Earth, there are endangered elements, too? For example, we’re constantly losing helium, a gas that defies gravity and escapes our atmosphere into space. This incredible element is in high demand all over the globe. It’s also way too expensive to create in the laboratory, and that’s bad news for more than just your birthday party! This week on Reactions, we will explore innovations of the industrial era of helium, how much we have left and whether or not this element will go extinct: https://youtu.be/h0Vz_AmKCPw.

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The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.