“A dream. It’s perfect”: Helium discovery in northern Minnesota may be biggest ever in North America::For a century, the U.S. Government-owned the largest helium reserve in the country, but the biggest exporters now are in Russia, Qatar and Tanzania. With this new discovery, Minnesota could be joining that list.

  • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    8 months ago

    The helium used for balloons is not the same type of helium used in medical and scientific equipment.

    • DrRatso@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      8 months ago

      Wdym? The only difference is the helium gas used in more serious applications is more pure. Its helium all the same.

        • DrRatso@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          8 months ago

          Helium-3 is not used in general applications, its uses are far more niche, it is much more rare than helium 4. For most applications, when we talk about helium being used we mean plain old helium-4. MRI machines and balloons both use helium-4.