369
submitted 8 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

"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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] protist@mander.xyz 24 points 8 months ago

I think for balloons we should switch back to hydrogen. What could possibly go wrong?

[-] locuester@lemmy.zip 21 points 8 months ago

It would make birthday parties more fun

[-] CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 4 points 8 months ago

Probably not much. The hydrogen that a party balloon would contain could certainly make a small, exciting explosion, but it probably wouldn't have enough energy to set anything else on fire.

[-] Norbynorwest@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 8 months ago

It's a common high school chem lab demonstration. Without added oxygen, the H2 balloons sort of burn from the outside in, and you get a sort of slow burning mushroom plume. It could light paper or cloth on fire in close proximity.

With added oxygen... BLAM! It could shatter windows.

[-] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

You willing to risk your house, life, and the lives of your children in that?

[-] CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 2 points 8 months ago

Yes. I use flammable gas for cooking and heating in my home everyday, hydrogen science kit toys are available for children to play with, and I have some experience working with actually dangerous high pressure hydrogen and oxygen to boot.

this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024
369 points (97.4% liked)

Technology

59414 readers
1164 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS