Helium is the only element that escapes Earth.
Helium is the only element on Earth that is completely non-renewable and light enough to escape our atmosphere forever. We explore why this byproduct of natural gas is critical for everything from MRI machines to quantum computing and why we are suddenly running out.
Listen in the Fylom app.
Explanation of Jeans escape and atmospheric loss.
The geological process of helium formation via alpha decay.
Critical roles of helium in MRI, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
Analysis of the 2026 Qatar supply disruption and its global impact.
New exploration efforts in Tanzania and Minnesota for primary helium sources.
- 01Intro1 min
- 02The Physics of the Great Escape2 min
- 03A Billion-Year Byproduct1 min
- 04The Coldest Tool in Science2 min
- 05The 2026 Supply Crisis2 min
- 06The Search for 'Green' Helium2 min
- 07Outro1 min
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