Find The Helium
When hunting for helium, you need to drill deep down into the earth, well past the Jurassic period. These rocks are really old. Sarah Gonzalez hide caption
When hunting for helium, you need to drill deep down into the earth, well past the Jurassic period. These rocks are really old.
Sarah GonzalezThe U.S. found helium on Earth before anyone else. The military saw so much potential in this lifting gas that the government tried to keep helium a secret. There were code words like, "send more pups from the same litter." That meant send more helium.
The government started a stockpile of it. Now, helium is essential for space exploration, MRI machines and making our cell phones.
But there is a helium shortage. There are entire birthday parties with droopy, helium-less balloons because party stores are out.
Today on the show, a series of government decisions and counter-decisions that helped create that shortage. Also, we go looking for new sources of helium.
Music: "Back To The Lab."
Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Newsletter
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and NPR One.
If you want more informative, quirky economic stories, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.