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Helium, the most abundant element after hydrogen, is also the most stable element, with the lowest melting and boiling points. It exists as a gas except under the most extreme conditions; when temperatures near absolute zero, helium is a liquid. Many people do not realize that helium is a non-renewable resource. For those who think that the most critical use of helium is for balloons, helium’s fixed amount may not be a concern. However, helium is used for much more than children’s birthday parties. It is used in essential medical diagnostic equipment such as MRIs. National defense applications include rocket engine testing and surveillance craft. Helium is used to cool thermographic cameras and equipment used by search and rescue teams. Various industries use helium to detect gas leaks in their products, including manufacturers of aerosol products, tires, refrigerators, fire extinguishers, and air conditioners. Also, cutting-edge space science and research requires helium. NASA uses helium to keep hot gases and ultra-cold liquid fuel separated during lift off of rockets. Given the many uses of helium, it’s not surprising that the U.S. government has taken an interest in preserving the element. The Federal Helium Reserve is a self-sustaining and profit-making branch of the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. Last year, it returned over $400,000 per day to the U.S. Treasury.
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