Paul Middlestead

Ottawa University

The physical properties of helium are unique and make it more and more attractive for multiple emerging applications from high end electronics to super magnets found in MRIs.  Helium is always being produced  thru alpha decay and extracted with natural gas.  However processing plants have limited capacities and the US reserve is now closed, conjuncture has created the 4^th world crisis and the short term future is uncertain.  To limit the damages, some actions are suggested to limit helium usage, such as closing systems instead of putting them to sleep.