sixpence Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Dudes this is serious! Rutgers is having a liquid helium shortage!! What should we do??? I just received this email: [font="Arial"][size="2"][font=Arial][size=2]All:[/size][/font][/size][/font] [font="Arial"][size="2"][font=Arial][size=2] [/size][/font][/size][/font] [font="Arial"][size="2"][font=Arial][size=2]University Procurement Services has been working on a solution to the liquid helium shortage. We have an update on a solution and would like to invite you and the appropriate individuals from your department to attend a meeting to discuss the options on Wednesday. Please have the decision makers in your area attend this meeting.[/size][/font][/size][/font] Ah!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyP89 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) Scientists... Edited July 31, 2012 by MissyP89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthephysicist Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 [quote name='sixpence' timestamp='1343751110' post='2460640'] Dudes this is serious! Rutgers is having a liquid helium shortage!! What should we do??? I just received this email: [font=Arial][size=2]All:[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2]University Procurement Services has been working on a solution to the liquid helium shortage. We have an update on a solution and would like to invite you and the appropriate individuals from your department to attend a meeting to discuss the options on Wednesday. Please have the decision makers in your area attend this meeting.[/size][/font] Ah!!! [/quote] There's a liquid helium condenser in the Physics basement at Stony Brook. The guy who helped build it and who single-handedly ran it for the past 30 or so years retired a few months ago. They haven't found anyone that's been able to run it since he left so now we have to go to Brookhaven labs for ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Sheesh Go to Walmart and buy some more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 [quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1343753430' post='2460658'] Sheesh Go to Walmart and buy some more [/quote] Might not work, party stores and Wal-Mart were all out a few weeks ago around here due to a national helium shortage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I could manifest liquid helium ex nihilo if I willed it. But since you hurt my feelings by not coming to me with your problem I shall not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincessKRS Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 How the heck do you end up with a national helium shortage??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixpence Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 [quote name='IcePrincessKRS' timestamp='1343764906' post='2460774'] How the heck do you end up with a national helium shortage??? [/quote] too many kids... too many ballons... too many chip monk voices... it all adds up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincessKRS Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 [quote name='sixpence' timestamp='1343765314' post='2460778'] too many kids... too many ballons... too many chip monk voices... it all adds up [/quote] Clowns everywhere must be crying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 (edited) [quote name='IcePrincessKRS' timestamp='1343764906' post='2460774'] How the heck do you end up with a national helium shortage??? [/quote] My private lifestyle choices are nobody's business but my own. Edited July 31, 2012 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 I don't know, I just know I couldn't get inflated helium balloons for a friend's party for love or money at any place that sells them and they all used a national shortage as an excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groo the Wanderer Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 helium is the 2nd most common element in this universe. how the floopy does one run out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 [quote name='Groo the Wanderer' timestamp='1343833128' post='2461070'] helium is the 2nd most common element in this universe. how the floopy does one run out? [/quote] "In 2183, a combined Wal-Mart and Party City team set up the first Helium collection stations in orbit of Jupiter in order to establish a source of cheap, sustainable, helium...while trying to make people forget it's the second most common element in the universe (possibly 3rd when one includes broken political promises)." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthephysicist Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 [quote name='Groo the Wanderer' timestamp='1343833128' post='2461070'] helium is the 2nd most common element in this universe. how the floopy does one run out? [/quote] Yes, but it doesn't bond with hardly anything and it's light enough that it has almost enough energy to escape our atmo. Give it an extra kick and it's gone. It tends to only be massively abundant in heavier objects like stars or heavy gas giants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissyP89 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 So how do we get more helium? Bring down the stars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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