Earth's helium reserves to run out within 25 years

Well, someone must have miscalculated badly, because according to teh Wikilypedia, Next to hydrogen, it is the second most abundant element in the universe, and accounts for 24% of the elemental mass of our galaxy. So if humanity really can't work out how to obtain the stuff in quanitity, I really think they ought to start working out a way, don't you.

this isanother lie to frighten ppl into submission I don't exactly see how anyone would be cowed by a lack of helium...maybe those who desperately crave high, squeaky voices? I guess the government would have them over a barrel.

An obvious question needs to be asked - Where the hell did they get the initial supply from, and why can't they get more?

An obvious question needs to be asked - Where the hell did they get the initial supply from, and why can't they get more? From the gas and dust cloud of which the earth condensed. To do it again we would have to start a new Big Bang.

To be more precise, they got the supply from tritium decay. No more nuclear weapons, means no more tritium, means no more helium.

To be more precise, they got the supply from tritium decay. No more nuclear weapons, means no more tritium, means no more helium. The few pounds you get out of nuclear weapons really does not make any difference in the big picture. Balloon fliers use more every year.

From the gas and dust cloud of which the earth condensed. To do it again we would have to start a new Big Bang. Surely everything has its origins then. And if the figure quoted by Wiky Pedia is right, there'd seem to be more than enough to go round. One suspects that this is just another attempt by American big business to monopolise the world's supply of something.

Surely everything has its origins then. And if the figure quoted by Wiky Pedia is right, there'd seem to be more than enough to go round. One suspects that this is just another attempt by American big business to monopolise the world's supply of something. Yes, but it is a matter of economics as well. Is it cost efficient to exctract it? We have been using the best and most cost efficient sources and when that is gone, the price will go up as it will become harder to obtain.

From what I read about Helium on Wikipedia, it is mostly produced by seperating it from natural gas, where it is created by natural radioactive decay. About 7% by mass is what it says. So as long as we have natural gas, we have helium. And from what I have read the natural gas supplies are expected to last 100 more years with the supply we know of now, at least in the USA.

All of you scientific minded people, fill a balloon with helium and what does it do? People are getting more obese now, right? Why? Do you think that if they were taller they would be less obese or not at all? Start pumping helium into the atmosphere.