Our helium reserves are rapidly being depleted; helium is used for superconducting refrigeration, MRI scanning, and many other high technology applications, yet we're blowing through our helium reserves in no time flat, partly because of a shortsighted act of Congress that mandated we sell off our strategic helium reserve. Helium, once released, escapes into space: it cannot be recovered. It is a finite resource and we need to take steps to preserve our supply. Current estimates are we will totally run out of helium in just 4 decades.
I'm starting a petition to ask the Administration to take steps to investigate this issue of critical national security issue and at the very least stop the sell-off of our helium reserves.
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/holidays/2012/11/m