The helium we have on Earth has been built up over billions of years from the decay of natural uranium and thorium. The decay of these elements happens at an extremely slow pace. We have been using Helium at a steady rate and now face the prospect that he world's largest reserve, which is outside of Amarillo, Texas, could be depleted there within the next eight years.

As well as many deflated balloons, this would have a large negative impact on engineering, science and technology, according to Lee Sobotka, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

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