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There is lots of it now, so the market price is low. The reason that this is a problem is that compared to other raw materials like oil, there is basically noth
by hangsi 10y ago
There is lots of it now, so the market price is low. The reason that this is a problem is that compared to other raw materials like oil, there is basically nothing that can be used as an acceptable substitute for helium in its scientific/industrial uses. Also, the prospects for finding new helium reserves is much lower than for many other materials.
- randyrand 10y agoIt's going to run out eventually one day. So whats the point in trying to conserve it? You're just delaying the problem by a few decades. What good does that do? (serious question).
- sliverstorm 10y agoWe can delay the problem far more than a few decades. A lot of scientific equipment is now recycling helium, for example. It doesn't typically get consumed like oil or natural gas (it is inert, after all) so we can get by with our relatively fixed supply if we are smart about it. Which is why some people get really upset about the utter squandering of He.