Currently, however, helium reserves in the U.S., which supplies 75% of world's annual demand for 6.2 billion cubic feet, are at an all-time low. Under current conditions, the largest U.S. reserve will only last another five to six years unless additional supplies are brought on line.
Interesting fact to tell your kids:
While helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, here on earth, most of it bleeds right through the atmosphere and into space.
From Wikipedia:
By 2007, the federal government was reported as auctioning off the Amarillo Helium Plant. The National Helium Reserve itself was reported as, "(S)lowly being drawn down and sold to private industry."[4]Of course, in order to figure out how smart they are, I'd have to find out who owns what, but I assume even the dumbest people don't miss a golden goose when it walks across their desk. :-)
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