How much hydrogen does the Sun burn?
The Sun fuses about 600 million tons of hydrogen into helium every second.
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Helium Facts
Helium facts and facts about heliums, from the Random Facts shelf.
11 facts on this shelf
Where was helium first discovered?
Helium was discovered in the Sun's light in 1868, decades before it was found on Earth.
How did helium get its name?
Helium is named after Helios, the Greek god of the Sun.
Why is helium rare on Earth?
Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, but it's rare on Earth because it's so light that it escapes the atmosphere into space.
Why does helium make your voice squeaky?
Helium makes your voice sound high and squeaky because sound travels faster through helium than through air, which changes the resonance of your vocal tract.
What is superfluid helium?
When cooled close to absolute zero, liquid helium becomes a superfluid that flows without friction and can creep up the walls of its container.
Why is helium important for MRI machines?
Liquid helium is used to cool the superconducting magnets in MRI machines.
Can helium freeze?
Helium is the only element that won't freeze at normal pressure, even at absolute zero.
Where does helium on Earth come from?
Helium on Earth is made by the radioactive decay of elements underground and is collected from natural gas wells. It was first found in US natural gas in Kansas in 1905.
What happened to the US Federal Helium Reserve?
The US government's Federal Helium Reserve near Amarillo, Texas, was sold to a private company in 2024.
Why is helium called a noble gas?
Helium is a noble gas, which means it almost never reacts with other elements.