Philosophy
The National Academies Press:
Helium has long been the subject of public policy deliberation and management, largely because of its many strategic uses and its unusual source-it is a derived product of natural gas and its market has several anomalous characteristics. Shortly after sources of helium were discovered at the beginning of the last century, the U.S. government recognized helium's potential importance to the nation's interests and placed its production and availability under strict governmental control. In the 1960s, helium's strategic value in cold war efforts was reflected in policies that resulted in the accumulation of a large reserve of helium owned by the federal government. The latest manifestation of public policy is expressed in the Helium Privatization Act of 1996 (1996 12 Act), which directs that substantially all of the helium accumulated as a result of those earlier policies be sold off by 2015 at prices sufficient to repay the federal government for its outlays associated with the helium program.
The present volume assesses whether the interests of the United States have been well served by the 1996 Act and, in particular, whether selling off the helium reserve has had any adverse effect on U.S. scientific, technical, biomedical, and national security users of helium.
Selling the Nation's Helium Reserve
- Folk Physics
Let's test the intuitions today with one I gave to my first year seminar yesterday: You are sitting in the aisle seat of a jet awaiting take-off when the child next to you hands you his helium balloon. You hold it in your hand next to the aisle as...
- Deceased--robert Coleman Richardson
Robert Coleman Richardson June 26th, 1937 to February 19th, 2013 "Robert Richardson: Nobel Winner Dies, Leaving Legacy On Field Of Physics" February 21st, 2013 The Inquisitor Nobel winner Robert Richardson has died at age 75, leaving behind a legacy...
- Helium Shortage
"Helium shortage is on, and prices are up, up and away" Science and medicine are using more of the element, so there’s less for things like balloons. by Joyce Smith and Lisa Gutierrez August 19th, 2012 The Kansas City Star A helium...
- Deceased--leonard Searle
Leonard Searle October 23rd, 1930 to July 2nd, 2010 "Leonard Searle dies at 79; astronomer's work provided key information on the Big Bang" The former director of the Carnegie Observatories also played a crucial role in the construction of the twin...
- Deceased--edwin E. Salpeter
Edwin E. Salpeter December 3rd, 1924 to November 26th, 2008 "Edwin E. Salpeter, Leader in Astrophysics Study, Dies at 83" by The Associated Press November 29th, 2008 ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Edwin E. Salpeter, an astrophysicist widely known for his studies...
Philosophy
The politics of selling helium reserves
The National Academies Press:
Helium has long been the subject of public policy deliberation and management, largely because of its many strategic uses and its unusual source-it is a derived product of natural gas and its market has several anomalous characteristics. Shortly after sources of helium were discovered at the beginning of the last century, the U.S. government recognized helium's potential importance to the nation's interests and placed its production and availability under strict governmental control. In the 1960s, helium's strategic value in cold war efforts was reflected in policies that resulted in the accumulation of a large reserve of helium owned by the federal government. The latest manifestation of public policy is expressed in the Helium Privatization Act of 1996 (1996 12 Act), which directs that substantially all of the helium accumulated as a result of those earlier policies be sold off by 2015 at prices sufficient to repay the federal government for its outlays associated with the helium program.
The present volume assesses whether the interests of the United States have been well served by the 1996 Act and, in particular, whether selling off the helium reserve has had any adverse effect on U.S. scientific, technical, biomedical, and national security users of helium.
Selling the Nation's Helium Reserve
- Folk Physics
Let's test the intuitions today with one I gave to my first year seminar yesterday: You are sitting in the aisle seat of a jet awaiting take-off when the child next to you hands you his helium balloon. You hold it in your hand next to the aisle as...
- Deceased--robert Coleman Richardson
Robert Coleman Richardson June 26th, 1937 to February 19th, 2013 "Robert Richardson: Nobel Winner Dies, Leaving Legacy On Field Of Physics" February 21st, 2013 The Inquisitor Nobel winner Robert Richardson has died at age 75, leaving behind a legacy...
- Helium Shortage
"Helium shortage is on, and prices are up, up and away" Science and medicine are using more of the element, so there’s less for things like balloons. by Joyce Smith and Lisa Gutierrez August 19th, 2012 The Kansas City Star A helium...
- Deceased--leonard Searle
Leonard Searle October 23rd, 1930 to July 2nd, 2010 "Leonard Searle dies at 79; astronomer's work provided key information on the Big Bang" The former director of the Carnegie Observatories also played a crucial role in the construction of the twin...
- Deceased--edwin E. Salpeter
Edwin E. Salpeter December 3rd, 1924 to November 26th, 2008 "Edwin E. Salpeter, Leader in Astrophysics Study, Dies at 83" by The Associated Press November 29th, 2008 ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Edwin E. Salpeter, an astrophysicist widely known for his studies...