This post originally appeared on Orphan Road.
Candidate for the best symbol of man’s short-sighted greed over the past century:
We are running out of helium. The stuff is rare, useful, irreplaceable, and once used makes its way to the top of our atmosphere and is blown off into space. The US is getting rid of its massive supply at bargain basement prices, making it too cheap to recycle, while scientists say each balloon should cost $100. In about 25 years it will all be gone.
(via Slog)