Taran RampersadMar 15

Helium. This I did not see coming.

Helium.

https://www.techspot.com/news/111683-critical-semiconductor-gas-lost-third-global-supply-drone.html

#tech #iranwar

Drone strikes halt a third of the world's helium supply, threatening chip production

At the center of the issue is the precision gas vital to chip manufacturing and cryogenics. Helium cools silicon wafers during fabrication, maintaining the extremely low temperatures...

TechSpot
Show threadChip ButtyMar 15
@knowprose I think that high gas/oil prices will also mean we are low on gasses to go into food packaging as well (crisps, lettuce, that kind of thing)
Show threadTaran RampersadMar 15

@otfrom yeah, I was looking at what we actually do with helium. This was a pretty big blindspot for me.

The universe, in it's infinite wonders, gave me a lesson in humility. Again. 🤣

Show threadJochen Wettach 💙💛Mar 15
@knowprose @otfrom Although it is possible and permitted to use helium as a food packaging gas, it is way too expensive. Due to the small size oft helium atoms, it is also too volatile for most packaging purposes.
Show threadChip Butty
@jochenwettach @knowprose I was talking about co2 rather than helium https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-58626935
Why is there a CO2 shortage and how will it hit food supplies?

The UK's food industry has been told it must pay five times more for carbon dioxide in future.

BBC News
Mar 15 at 9:23pmWeb
Show threadCadbury MooseMar 15

@otfrom @jochenwettach @knowprose

I haven't seen "Distillers" tanker trucks around for many years - one source of CO2 was the brewing industry (it's not that difficult to liquefy at atmospheric pressure). Later they got it (and industrial ethanol) from the petrochemical industry.

Helium is from radioactive decay in the earth, and separated out from natural gas wells. It's scarce and any leakage ends up in outer space.

Show threadChip ButtyMar 16

@Cadbury_Moose @jochenwettach @knowprose interesting list of US based producers from the epa here https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/documents/co2_map_050120.pdf

Looks like most produce from ethanol