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Price Shocks May Be Coming For Helium Supply

Posted by kdawson on from the squeaky-voice-price-inflation dept.

Ars has an update on the potential helium shortage we discussed a couple of years back. A Nobel laureate, Robert Richardson, argues for ending market distortions that are resulting in an artificially low price for helium, which is accelerating the projected exhaustion of the supply. "Richardson's solution is to rework the management of the Bush Dome [so named for reasons that have nothing to do with the politician] stockpile once again, this time with the aim of ensuring that helium's price rises to reflect its scarcity. In practical terms, he said that it would be better to deal with a 20-fold increase in price now than to deal with it increasing by a factor of thousands in a few decades when supply issues start to become critical. But he also made an emotional appeal, stating, 'One generation doesn't have the right to determine the availability forever.'"

9 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. No Problem by LBArrettAnderson · · Score: 4, Funny

    This isn't an issue... all we need to do is send some blimps up to collect all of the balloons that kids accidentally let fly away.

    1. Re:No Problem by Arthur+Grumbine · · Score: 4, Funny

      All we need to do is make nuclear fusion work.

      This is why this is a non-story. I have it from a very reliable source that practical nuclear fusion is only 20 years away. I spoke to my father and grandfather, and they assured me that this estimate was time-tested, and therefore, reliable.

      --
      Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
  2. Do you hear that? by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's as if a million chipmunk voices suddenly cried out in terror and turned into baritones.

    --
    "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
  3. I RTFA and... by martyb · · Score: 3, Funny

    I RTFA and am pleased to report that it was *really* light reading! ;)

  4. Re:Lets mine the Moon! by countertrolling · · Score: 5, Funny

    The moon? There's lots more in the sun. Just stick a big straw into it and drain it out. Just don't let BP do it. They'll blow out a big hole and the thing will fly off like a balloon.

    --
    For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
  5. Re:Lets mine the Moon! by swb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mom, why is dad such a boring, sanctimonious pain in the ass?

  6. Re:Lets mine the Moon! by Bman21212 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have no problem seeing BP sent into the sun

  7. Re:Someone owns stocks in major helium producers by haruchai · · Score: 5, Funny

    You named your ass Insightful? Or is it really the source of your insight? That would explain many of the Anonymous Coward postings I've seen
    over the years.

    "Ladies & Germs, I'd like to introduce Insightful, my ass"

    --
    Pain is merely failure leaving the body
  8. There's an inexhaustible supply just 1 AU away by mykos · · Score: 3, Funny

    But you have to harvest it from a giant fusion reactor with the biggest gravity well in the solar system