[VygmraMGVl]

10 years ago, Congress decided we needed to transition off of it. Large amounts of the stockpile were sold off from 2013-2018 and this is the final part of the plan.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/helium/fede...

[hypercube33]

Transition off of it? Dont we need it for superconducting coolant and some other things?

[bonestamp2]

Yes. MRI machines need it, although I guess that kind of falls into the superconductor category. But I call that use case out because it's probably a good idea to have the government, or some trusted caretaker, look after at least two strategic stockpiles.

[westurner]

FWIU Nuclear Fusion can use (and produce) 4He ('He4') as fuel.

I think it makes sense to retain our nation's helium reserves.

[twarge]

You are thinking of helium-3, of which there is none stored here.

It is very much harder to fuse helium-4.

[westurner]

I think it's both Helium-3 and Helium-4?

(Tritium (3H) decays into 3He with a 12 year half life. Before 12*n years, tritium is radioactive and denser than water and so it will pool and concentrate in ocean cavities for example at the seafloor. Tritium also probably has affinity for certain types of trash floating in the ocean, which Seabin and The Ocean Cleanup are addressing.)

Is laser-based nuclear transmutation of e.g. He4 into He3 easier with the high heat of a nuclear fusion reaction?

Helion's fusion process involves both He3 and He4: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37403522

[nathanfig]

Thanks!