Did you realize that just like certain animals here on Earth, there are endangered elements too? For example, we’re constantly losing helium, a gas that defies gravity and escapes our atmosphere into space. This incredible element is in high demand all over the globe. It’s also way too expensive to create in the laboratory and that’s bad news for more than just your birthday party! This week on Reactions, we will explore innovations of the industrial era of helium, how much we have left and see whether or not this element will go extinct.

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Credits:
Producer: Kirk Zameiroski
Writer: Kirk Zameiroski
Scientific Consultants: Michelle Boucher, PhD Brianne Raccor, PhD, Sophia Hayes, PhD
Executive Producer: Hilary Hudson

Music:
Sam Leopard – Secret Bass

Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/08/news-helium-mri-superconducting-markets-reserve-technology/
https://communities.acs.org/community/science/sustainability/green-chemistry-nexus-blog/blog/2017/02/16/critical-elements-series-helium-shortage-to-occur-in-the-next-25-50-years
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/greenchemistry/research-innovation/endangered-elements.html
https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/heliumnaturalgas.html
https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0121/report.pdf
https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/06/discovery-of-massive-new-helium-reserves-is-game-changer-for-medical-industry/
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/353/6295/109
https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(16)30726-8/abstract
https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/helium/mcs-2018-heliu.pdf
https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/heliums-ballooning-price-may-fly-even-higher-2018-05-30
https://www.aps.org/policy/reports/popa-reports/upload/HeliumReport.pdf
http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/2/helium
https://www.nature.com/news/helium-should-be-recycled-1.22244
https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/helium/mcs-2018-heliu.pdf

Ever wonder why dogs sniff each others’ butts? Or how Adderall works? Or whether it’s OK to pee in the pool? We’ve got you covered: Reactions a web series about the chemistry that surrounds you every day.

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