Is the world running out of helium? A particular phenomenon has begun to generate concern in the scientific community regarding this natural resource.
It is “disappearing,” as warned. It is considered irreplaceable in many aspects, and so far, it has not been possible to recreate it artificially. What is happening.
The world is running out of helium: what is happening
Helium is a lightweight gas, the second lightest element in the universe. According to scientists, it is “escaping” slowly from the Earth’s surface. And it is impossible to retain it.
For this reason, there is concern since a way to recreate it artificially has not been found to be able to have this element once it is extinct.
Furthermore, it is considered “irreplaceable” in many aspects. Helium is used in various treatments and medical devices, mechanical devices, and even in space travel.
For this reason, its “extinction” could cause major problems in the field of medicine and even setbacks.
Also, concerning interaction with the environment, in the search for its replacement, various resources could be exploited, causing great harm to the Earth.
It is an element that forms naturally in radioactive decay processes or in stellar reactions. “Helium is a magical element. There is nothing like it in the universe,” summarized Sophia Hayes, a chemistry professor at the University of Washington.
She even stated that, even if it were to be stored, it is impossible because it can escape from anywhere.
What helium is used for
Helium is a gas colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-flammable. It is chemically inert and has the lowest known boiling point.
It is used, among other things, in cryogenics and in the cooling of superconducting magnets. Its most relevant application is possibly in hospital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, which are cooled with the gas.
Liquid helium is used to cool the magnets of magnetic resonance machines, infrared detectors, and nuclear reactors.
It is also used in medical conditions that require increased oxygen intake.
