Going, Going, Gone
This article is about helium, one of the most useful and strange elements, which is vanishing off the face of the Earth. Helium is used in everything from balloons to MRI's to liquid fueled rockets. Many of the highest technologies require this buoyant element. It is one of the most plentiful elements in the universe but on Earth it can only be found in great quantities in a few subterranean pockets, many of which are in the US. Due to mindless management it may soon vanish.
Q: Why is this element rare on Earth yet abundant throughout the universe?
A: Earth may once have had an abundant supply too but it was burned up by the sun eons ago. Why most of it is in America is just a random act of nature.
Q: What do we need this element for anyway?
A: MRI's, liquid fueled rockets, optical fibers, particle accelerators, all require helium either to test or manufacture.
Q: What could we do to prevent this problem?
A: The US could stop selling off their reserves and instead keep it for times of need. They should focus on the small scale laboratories. Scientists should work on finding alternatives to helium. Helium balloons not used for scientific study should be banned. Maybe we could figure out a way to harvest helium from space.
Q: How could this issue happen with other elements?
A: Maybe other gases could be lost up in space. When the last tree on Earth is cut down we will lose all our oxygen and have an abundance of CO2. Perhaps some of less common gases in our atmosphere like ozone could disappear due to CO2 emissions. Then ultraviolet light from the sun would burn us.
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