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Helium supply was never really an issue. All the media hit pieces were essentially triggered by the Pentagon stopping to run a price-fixing cartel to the benefi
by creshal 3y ago
Helium supply was never really an issue. All the media hit pieces were essentially triggered by the Pentagon stopping to run a price-fixing cartel to the benefit of US universities, who after endless wailing and gnashing of teeth finally adjusted to market prices and such desperate last ditch measures like "we actually have to recycle our helium now and can't just vent it carelessly after every run!!1"
- auspiv 3y agoYou say that but helium is essentially not renewable and is not produced naturally at rates anywhere near human consumption. Not sure if you're aware but helium currently only sourced as a byproduct of natural gas production. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium_production_in_the_United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium_production_in_the_Unite...
- creshal 3y agoYes, but for better or worse, we have lots of natural gas producers, and they'll be in business for a long time. And once the selloff of the US's strategic helium reserve is done with and prices stabilize, more natural gas producers will actually bother to capture their helium.