4 ms·

The article talks about how hard it is to contain helium. Why would you assume that a basic metal foil would keep helium indefinitely?

• ahartmetz 2y ago
  It's right there in the article: it mentions welding of aluminum foil seals - for helium. I have also worked with high vacuum in lab exercises. There's a leak finder apparatus using helium because helium creeps through the smallest leaks - but they have to be leaks! Hydrogen just diffuses through anyway, though not quickly through thick metal (I have that from Wikipedia).
  • ejdhshsuwisjsh 2y ago
    I have to read up on this. I have seen a YT on someone doing this in a lab env but I always assumed that you can't contain it indefinitely
  • Wowfunhappy 2y ago
    ...so, uh, any idea why balloons suck? I assume it would be way more expensive but if it lasted for decades or more...