Price Shocks May Be Coming For Helium Supply 362
Ars has an update on the potential helium shortage we discussed a couple of years back. A Nobel laureate, Robert Richardson, argues for ending market distortions that are resulting in an artificially low price for helium, which is accelerating the projected exhaustion of the supply. "Richardson's solution is to rework the management of the Bush Dome [so named for reasons that have nothing to do with the politician] stockpile once again, this time with the aim of ensuring that helium's price rises to reflect its scarcity. In practical terms, he said that it would be better to deal with a 20-fold increase in price now than to deal with it increasing by a factor of thousands in a few decades when supply issues start to become critical. But he also made an emotional appeal, stating, 'One generation doesn't have the right to determine the availability forever.'"
No Problem (Score:5, Funny)
This isn't an issue... all we need to do is send some blimps up to collect all of the balloons that kids accidentally let fly away.
No problem in the long term (Score:2, Funny)
In the long term disney characters will finally be out of copyright and will no longer be popular. So we won't need helium to make those zany character voices. Better to use it now while the characters are still popular. That is the only use for helium right? Science? Pah, what's that!?
Do you hear that? (Score:5, Funny)
It's as if a million chipmunk voices suddenly cried out in terror and turned into baritones.
I RTFA and... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Lets mine the Moon! (Score:5, Funny)
The moon? There's lots more in the sun. Just stick a big straw into it and drain it out. Just don't let BP do it. They'll blow out a big hole and the thing will fly off like a balloon.
Re:Lets mine the Moon! (Score:5, Funny)
Mom, why is dad such a boring, sanctimonious pain in the ass?
I found the solution (Score:3, Funny)
1. Bottle helium ...
2.
3. Profit
FUCK YEAH.
Re:Killing Brain Cells to end soon (Score:3, Funny)
In the future, we'll do the trick with sulfur hexafluoride instead.
At least until enough kids suffocate.
Re:Health care impact (Score:1, Funny)
Only if you don't mind the highly exothermic reaction between the two gases causing the human to explode. Oh, the Hindenburgity!
Re:Lets mine the Moon! (Score:3, Funny)
I have no problem seeing BP sent into the sun
Re:Someone owns stocks in major helium producers (Score:5, Funny)
You named your ass Insightful? Or is it really the source of your insight? That would explain many of the Anonymous Coward postings I've seen
over the years.
"Ladies & Germs, I'd like to introduce Insightful, my ass"
There's an inexhaustible supply just 1 AU away (Score:4, Funny)
Re:I can't wait... (Score:3, Funny)
Now, that's just freaky. I mean, not that I believe all the religious clap-trap, but my cousin is certain that "God is everywhere", and is now rather painfully confused as to what could possibly be more everywhere than the sky fairy he refers to as "He".
Land of Oz (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No Problem (Score:5, Funny)
All we need to do is make nuclear fusion work.
This is why this is a non-story. I have it from a very reliable source that practical nuclear fusion is only 20 years away. I spoke to my father and grandfather, and they assured me that this estimate was time-tested, and therefore, reliable.