The Earth might contains ten times more helium 3 than science thought





An isotope of helium, helium 3 arouses desire, mainly in the energy sector. However, according to a recent study, our planet could contain up to ten times more than expected. A question then arises: should we still go to the Moon to try to harvest it?


Questioning a scientific consensus

Many companies and space agencies want to go to the Moon to exploit it . Among the coveted resources, we obviously find regolith , but helium 3 is also on the list. On Earth, helium 3 is very rare; but its properties make it highly sought after for its potential applications in nuclear fusion . It is in fact rather light and non-radioactive. In the future, its use could therefore possibly make it possible to build fusion power plants, providing clean and almost infinite energy .


On Earth, helium-3 makes up only a 7.2 × 10-12 fraction of the atmosphere as a whole. This value is the subject of scientific consensus, but could perhaps be the subject of future questioning. Indeed, a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience on May 9, 2022 suggests that helium 3 would be more present on our planet. An expert at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of San Diego (United States), Benjamin Birner estimates that helium 3 is ten times more present on Earth . In other words, this resource is still rare, but still a little less than expected.


A helium 3 “bonus” that is currently inexplicable

You should know that this discovery was made by chance. Indeed, Benjamin Birner and his team were carrying out research on another isotope of helium: helium 4. They were then trying to discover new methods for calculating anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. . Helium 4 is not a GHG, but it still comes from the consumption of fossil fuels by human activities. On the other hand, helium 3 can come from long geological processes, the operation of certain nuclear reactors or even fallout from atomic weapons tests.


The team tested air samples dating from the period 1974-2020 and discovered an increase in the concentration of helium-4 over the last fifty years. Thus, they concluded that there was a proportional increase in that of helium 3. In fact, the ratio between the isotopes of helium is generally stable. However, scientists have not been able to explain the origin of this helium 3 “bonus”. According to them, it is possibly a question of problems with previous calculations or even poor consideration of emission sources. .


Finally, there is absolutely no question of exploiting helium 3 on Earth , because the quantities remain tiny. Thus, missions to the Moon will remain the best way to obtain this much desired resource. However, Benjamin Birner's research could provide a better understanding of which fossil fuels are responsible for which greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the consequences of human activities on the climate would be better understood, thus making the measures to be taken more precise and effective .


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Only one letter does not appear in the periodic table of elements: do you know which one?

Image
A single letter does not appear in the famous periodic table of elements. Do you know what letter it is? The periodic table of elements is an essential resource for the scientific body, allowing us to understand and predict the properties and behaviors of the elements and their compounds. Each chemical symbol in this table consists of one or two letters of the alphabet . However, only one letter is missing: do you know which one? The periodic table of elements, an essential resource for scientists The periodic table of elements is a systematic arrangement of all chemical elements , classified according to their electronic structure and properties. This table is organized into horizontal rows called periods, and vertical columns called groups. Chemical elements are numbered according to their atomic number, corresponding to the number of protons present in their nucleus. Each element is represented by a chemical symbol consisting of one or two letters . Between groups and periods Period...
Read more

The birth of the concept of brain-computer interface

Image
Freepik / creativeart Brain-computer interface, or BCI, is a term that has been widely popularized in recent years. You might remember the first time you heard about this futuristic technology and you might be wondering how it could change our lives. This section will tell you how the concept of brain-computer interface was developed and where we are today. The idea of ​​an interface between the brain and the computer is not new. Indeed, research on brain-machine communication dates back several decades. However, it is only recently that this technology has started to make its way into the mainstream. It is thanks in particular to companies like NeuraLink, founded by Elon Musk, that this technology has become a common topic of discussion. In parallel: How to choose the best Pokémon binder for your collection? Elon Musk has highlighted the possibility of a direct interface between our brain and a computer system, allowing our thoughts to directly control machines. The potential of this ...
Read more

Will the computer of the future be made without silicon?

Image
Silicon is a key element in the manufacture of computers. Used for decades as the basis of electronic chips, researchers have now found an alternative to this element in optical fiber. A cable that would have the ability to overcome most of the limitations of traditional computing. A new milestone may well have been reached in the world of computing. Do you know the silicon, this essential element in the electronics industry? Amineralknown for giving its name to the famous Silicon Valley ( silicon meaning silicon in English) and one of the most abundant elements on the planet. Amaterial solids, having properties of semiconductors, have become essential in the development of the majority of modern electronic devices. If this mineral is at the origin of the second generation of transistors developed in the 1950s, the key component of the electronic chips in our computer equipment, today, an international team of researchers would have succeeded in developing an operational computer witho...
Read more