Helium: A Journey Through the Cosmos to Our Everyday Lives

Hydrium's History

Lighter than air, helium is a colorless, odorless, and non-flammable gas. Found in stars, planets, and even the Earth's atmosphere, it is the second most plentiful element in the universe, just behind hydrogen. 

During a solar eclipse in 1868, French astronomer Pierre Janssen made the initial discovery of helium. Helios, the Greek word for "sun," is how he called the gas. William Ramsay, a British chemist, saw helium for the first time on Earth in 1895.

For a wide range of scientific and industrial uses, helium is an essential gas. It is utilized in cryogenics, diving gear, and weather balloons. Additionally, MRI equipment and lasers require helium.

Helium's Properties

Helium is incredibly helpful due to its many special features. With a boiling point of just -269°C (-452°F), it is the second least dense element after hydrogen. In addition to not reacting with other elements, helium is a non-reactive gas.

Helium Uses

Blowers with weather: Because helium is lighter than air, it is used to inflate weather balloons. High-altitude weather conditions are measured with weather balloons.

Diving apparatus:  Because helium dissolves less readily in blood than nitrogen, it is utilized in diving equipment. This lowers the possibility of bends, commonly known as decompression sickness.

Cryogenics:  In cryogenics, helium is used to chill materials to extremely low temperatures. Numerous fields, including industry, health, and research, employ cryogenics.

Lasers:  Due of its high energy level, helium is employed in lasers. Applications for lasers are numerous and include industry, telecommunication, and surgery.

MRI equipment:  Because helium has an extremely low magnetic susceptibility, it is employed in MRI equipment. Because of this, it is the perfect gas for producing a high magnetic field—a necessary component of MRI imaging.

Hydrium's Future

The world's helium supply is becoming increasingly concerned due to the rising demand for helium. For some industries, including aerospace and medical imaging, which depend on helium for a number of uses, this is a serious worry.

The primary source of helium production, natural gas, is being extracted from helium using novel techniques that certain scientists are working on. Others are looking at the possibilities of employing nuclear fusion or other renewable sources of helium.

Although the future of helium is unknown, it is likely that this special gas will go on being crucial to many different sectors for a very long time.