1-877-ASKZEPHYR (275-9374)
Mon-Fri 8a - 5p
Search
He, CO2, N, Propane   Get a quote
Zephyr Solutions, LLC.
  • Helium
  • Propane
  • Nitrogen
  • CO2
  • Products
  • Blog
  • Referral Program
  • Get a Quote
  • Helium
  • Propane
  • Nitrogen
  • CO2
  • Products
  • Blog
  • Referral Program
  • Get a Quote

Noble: The Zephyr Blog

The most interesting, entertaining blog about helium you’ve ever read. Never mind that it’s the first one.

HomeHeliumCan we make helium?
Can we make helium? Ask Zephyr

Can we make helium?

by Kathi Leidenon 25 April 2017in Helium, Helium Science

Every few years you’ll hear about a helium shortage and that the world is running out. One of the questions we hear is, “Can we make helium?”

 

We can make almost anything

In this day and age, it seems humans can manufacture almost anything. Our species has created some of the most magnificent and seemingly impossible structures all around the world.

We’ve created incredible technologies, from computers that fit in our palms to the Large Hadron Collider.

We have made unbelievable advances in the sciences, like shooting a beam that traveled 300 times faster than the speed of light. Or slowing down and stopping light as if it were a physical train that we could put the brakes on.

Humans have MADE black holes in a lab. We’ve proved teleportation is possible and actually SHOWED it in action using diamonds.

The point is, if we can solve these impossible achievements, we could make something as simple as helium gas right?

 

Naturally made helium

To answer that question, we need to understand where helium comes from. How is helium made originally?

Helium gas on Earth is actually a natural byproduct of decaying radioactive materials, specifically uranium and thorium. This radioactive decay, as you might imagine, takes an awful lot of time.

This is why you hear about helium reserves being depleted and fears that the planet is running out of the gas. Think of it like oil – whatever we currently have in the ground is it and when it’s gone, that’s it. Thankfully, we have TONS of helium. Zephyr can give you a free helium quote any time!

And that begs the question – can we make helium?

 

Can we make helium?

The quick answer is no. Can we harvest and manipulate uranium and thorium? Well, you know that answer, yes.

The actual issue is really a simple one. We cannot speed up time. We can do all sorts of things with uranium obviously, but we can’t force it to decay so that we can capture the released helium gas.

That answer is valid today, however. In the future – who knows?

 

Can we make helium in the future?

A scientist has to keep an open mind, otherwise there would never be an advancement made on this planet.

The reason for the opening list of scientific feats in the top of this article is to show the incredible things we’ve done that 50, 25, even 10 years ago would have been laughed at.

The reality is, we are figuring out things that seemingly defeat nature and time themselves.

So while we aren’t scientists, we like to keep a similar open mind that truly anything seems to become possible the more we learn and the more advanced our technologies become.

Can we make helium today? No. Impossible.

Can we make helium in 50 or 75 years? It might be possible!

 

Like us on Facebook for more!

Wholesale helium for retail chains stores Zephyr helium quote

Sources: New York Times, ABC Science, Seeker, New Atlas

Share this article
0
0
0
Tags: Federal Helium Reserve, Helium, Helium gas, Helium Shortage

Written by Kathi Leiden

An expert on commercial, industrial, and compressed gases, Kathi Leiden is President of Zephyr Solutions: a leading international supplier of helium, CO2, propane, and nitrogen, plus telemetry systems, safety equipment, wholesale party products, and more. Connect with Kathi on LinkedIn!

previous article

Helium imaging used to measure cystic fibrosis treatment

next article

Discovery of antihelium – a story still being written


Need wholesale helium?

We'd be happy to provide a FREE estimate on Zephyr wholesale helium. Tap this...

GET AN ONLINE HELIUM QUOTE!

Search Articles:

Fresh posts

  • Load-bearing helium balloon deploys foldable skyscraper design

    Load-bearing helium balloon deploys foldable skyscraper design

    Posted 25 Apr 2018
    By Kathi Leiden
  • Giant party balloon to return rockets from space

    Giant party balloon to return rockets from space

    Posted 19 Apr 2018
    By Kathi Leiden
  • How to choose an industrial propane supplier

    How to choose an industrial propane supplier

    Posted 5 Apr 2018
    By Kathi Leiden
  • How 2013 Helium Stewardship Act is fixing national parks today

    How 2013 Helium Stewardship Act is fixing national parks today

    Posted 29 Mar 2018
    By Kathi Leiden
  • Why you’ll never get a helium allocation letter from Zephyr Solutions

    Why you’ll never get a helium allocation letter from Zephyr Solutions

    Posted 22 Mar 2018
    By Kathi Leiden

Services

  • Wholesale Helium
  • Wholesale Propane
  • Wholesale Nitrogen
  • Wholesale Carbon Dioxide
  • Products & Equipment
  • Troubleshooting

Quick Links

  • Get a Helium Quote
  • Get a Propane Quote
  • Get a Nitrogen Quote
  • Get a Carbon Dioxide Quote
  • Zephyr’s Gas Referral Program
  • Where to Buy Zephyr Products
  • Become a Zephyr Distributor

Company

  • About
  • Resources
  • FAQ
  • Noble: Helium Blog
  • The Zephyr Brand
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

Zephyr Solutions, LLC.

  • HQ: 1050 Lear Industrial Pwky
  • Avon, OH 44011
  • 1-877-ASKZEPHYR (275-9374)
  • Like us on Facebook!

© Copyright 2008-2017 Zephyr Solutions, LLC. // Privacy Policy // Terms of Use