Helium is a unique and fascinating element that has a variety of uses across different industries. As the second-lightest element, it has a very low density and is highly unreactive, which makes it an ideal coolant and shielding gas for a variety of applications. However, despite its usefulness, helium is also a rare and non-renewable resource that may be running out soon.
One of the most well-known uses of helium is in helium-filled balloons. While it may seem like a trivial application, the widespread use of helium balloons has contributed to the depletion of this precious resource. Helium is also used in arc welding, diving, growing silicon crystals, and as a coolant in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners. In fact, it is the most widely used of the inert gasses.
Unfortunately, helium is not a renewable resource, and most of the helium that we have today was produced by the radioactive decay of rock millions of years ago. The gas accumulated over time and was released by tectonic plate movement, where it found its way into natural gas deposits and dissolved in groundwater. However, once the gas leaks into the atmosphere, it is light enough to escape the Earth's gravitational field and bleed off into space, never to return. This means that we may run out of helium within the next 25-30 years, as it is being consumed at an alarming rate.
The reason for the depletion of helium is that its price does not reflect its true value. Most of the world's supply of helium is held by the United States National Helium Reserve, which was mandated to sell off all of its stockpile by 2015, regardless of price, based on the Helium Privatization Act of 1996. Although the uses of helium multiplied, the law had not been revisited, so by 2013 much of the planet's stockpile of helium was sold at an extremely low price. This resulted in a significant loss of the world's helium supply.
However, there is some good news. Recent research indicates that there is more helium in groundwater than previously estimated, and ongoing radioactive decay of natural uranium and other radioisotopes does generate additional helium, although at a very slow rate. Nonetheless, the recovery of this helium will require more money and new technology. Unfortunately, there isn't going to be any helium available from nearby planets, as their gravity is not strong enough to hold the gas. Perhaps in the future, we may find a way to "mine" the element from gas giants further out in the solar system.
It's worth noting that hydrogen, another lightweight gas, is not running out because it forms chemical bonds with other elements besides itself. The element is bound into water molecules and organic compounds, which means it is preserved in compounds. Helium, on the other hand, is a noble gas with a stable electron shell structure, which means it does not form chemical bonds and is not preserved in compounds.
Helium is a valuable and non-renewable resource that we must use responsibly. While there may be more of it out there than we previously thought, its recovery will require more resources and technology. We must also be mindful of the environmental impact of its extraction and use, as it is a finite resource that we cannot afford to squander.