Helium, the second most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen. One of the primary sources of helium production on our planet arises from the natural radioactive decay of uranium-238. This gradual process occurs over millions of years within Earth's crust, slowly releasing helium gas as a byproduct.

A defining characteristic of helium lies in its extraordinary stability, rendering it inert and unreactive with other elements under standard conditions. This inertness and its exceptionally light density contribute to helium's propensity to escape Earth's gravitational pull when released into the atmosphere. Consequently, unlike many other gasses, helium gradually dissipates into space, adding to its rarity on Earth.

Reflecting on the gradual disappearance of helium brings another layer of thinking into humanity's relationship with the resources that shape our existence. As we grow older we constantly lose the things we take for granted. Whether it's our memories or something we see in our daily lives, we are constantly losing them or on the way to losing them.

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Yihan Luo
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