The History of Helium: Properties, Reserves, Production and Uses
- Jun 4, 2024
- 7 min read
Frankie Wood-Black, professor at Northern Oklahoma College, discusses the history and exploration of helium. Initially identified in the Sun's spectrum, helium was later confirmed on Earth in natural gas wells. Today, helium is indispensable across various industries, from healthcare to aerospace, due to its unique properties such as inertness and low boiling point. However, as helium is a non-renewable resource, Wood-Black stresses the importance of sustainable extraction methods, potential lunar mining, and the need for circular practices to ensure future supply stability, despite recent increases in known reserves which led to its removal from the critical minerals list.
