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78 comments on Goodbye Helium, Goodbye Brainscans

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ransu on January 16, 2008 - 5:54pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

Another interesting application of helium:

We use 'lots' (well, relatively) of helium at our pressure standards lab room. It's used for checking leaks in high-precision pressure gauges and calibrators. The fact that the helium leaks out nicely from even the tinyest of gaps and the fact that its a rare noble gas ie. there is no other source of helium around in the lab so its easy to detect even the tinyest amount - helps reveal leaks and pinpoint exactly their location like no other gas. We could use hydrogen instead but - boom!

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ziz on January 16, 2008 - 7:11pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Perhaps we could ban the sale of helium those damned celebration balloons to preserve stocks ?

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Gail the Actuary on January 17, 2008 - 1:41pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

What percentage of helium is used in celebration balloons? I would agree that this is a use that should be eliminated - or perhaps have a very high tax levied, to strongly discourage it.

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Rembrandt on January 18, 2008 - 7:07am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

@Gail

Approximately 7% of world Helium consumption is used for balloon type purposes.

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78 comments on Goodbye Helium, Goodbye Brainscans

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