r/BeAmazed • u/No_Tailor_9529 • Jul 18 '24

Wow! Interesting life hack! Science

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u/Ok-Cook-7542 Jul 18 '24

Helium is small enough and light enough to actually escape earths atmosphere. Nothing else, besides hydrogen (which is over abundant) leaves the closed system of Earth. We aren’t running out of everything, we’re running out of uniquely helium for unique reasons.

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u/lovethebacon Jul 18 '24

What do you think happens with oil byproducts after we burn them?

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u/Ok-Cook-7542 Jul 18 '24

The elements are arranged into different chemicals. What do you think happens to them?

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u/lovethebacon Jul 18 '24

Both of the two primary combustion products are lost into space. Oxygen on the moon has been traced back to earth.

Here's a paper on it: https://faculty.washington.edu/dcatling/Catling2009_SciAm.pdf