Helium
noun
Helium is a type of gas that is lighter than air and does not have color or smell. It's used to fill balloons and airships.
When you fill a balloon with helium, it floats in the air.
Often appears as...
- helium balloon
- helium gas
noun
In scientific terms, helium is a type of chemical element. Its symbol is 'He' and atomic number is 2.
Helium is the second element on the periodic table, after hydrogen.
Often appears as...
- helium nucleus
- helium atom
Usage tips
Academic
noun
Helium is a type of gas that is lighter than air and does not have color or smell. It's used to fill balloons and airships.
When you fill a balloon with helium, it floats in the air.
Often appears as...
- helium balloon
- helium gas
noun
In scientific terms, helium is a type of chemical element. Its symbol is 'He' and atomic number is 2.
Helium is the second element on the periodic table, after hydrogen.
Often appears as...
- helium nucleus
- helium atom
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3No taste/smell
Helium is odorless and tasteless, so don't expect any sensations when using it in balloons.
Despite the helium in balloons, they have no smell at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Safety concerns
Breathing in helium from a balloon makes your voice high-pitched but it can be dangerous if inhaled too much.
He inhaled helium for fun but started to feel dizzy.
Pro Tip 3/3Lighter than air
Objects filled with helium will float, so always secure helium balloons or they'll escape upwards.
She let go of her helium balloon and it quickly soared into the sky.
Pro Tip 1/3No taste/smell
Helium is odorless and tasteless, so don't expect any sensations when using it in balloons.
Despite the helium in balloons, they have no smell at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Safety concerns
Breathing in helium from a balloon makes your voice high-pitched but it can be dangerous if inhaled too much.
He inhaled helium for fun but started to feel dizzy.
Pro Tip 3/3Lighter than air
Objects filled with helium will float, so always secure helium balloons or they'll escape upwards.
She let go of her helium balloon and it quickly soared into the sky.
Pro Tip 1/3No taste/smell
Helium is odorless and tasteless, so don't expect any sensations when using it in balloons.
Despite the helium in balloons, they have no smell at all.
Pro Tip 2/3Safety concerns
Breathing in helium from a balloon makes your voice high-pitched but it can be dangerous if inhaled too much.
He inhaled helium for fun but started to feel dizzy.
Pro Tip 3/3Lighter than air
Objects filled with helium will float, so always secure helium balloons or they'll escape upwards.
She let go of her helium balloon and it quickly soared into the sky.
Compare with
he
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Video examples
What light can teach us...
Along with the idea that the visible universe has been constantly expanding from a densely packed single point, one of this theory's most important predictions is that the early universe consisted of just two hydrogen and helium, in a ratio of three to one. And this prediction can also be tested with light.
Video examples
The history of our world...
because we actually know quite a lot about the universe at this stage. We know above all that it was extremely simple. It consisted of huge clouds of hydrogen and helium atoms, and they have no structure. They're really a sort of cosmic mush. But that's not completely true.
Video examples
CERN's supercollider PIPE...
and that hydrogen, that helium, then began to cook into the heavier elements. So the elements of life -- carbon, and oxygen and iron, all the elements that we need to make us up -- were cooked in those first generations of stars, which then ran out of fuel, exploded,
Video examples
The law of conservation...
in the three minutes that followed the birth of our universe. Eventually, clusters of atoms accumulated and formed stars. Within these stars, nuclear reactions fused light elements, such as hydrogen and helium, to form heavier elements, such as carbon and oxygen.
Video examples
How cosmic rays help us...
scientists are able to determine the relative abundance of elements, such as hydrogen and helium, within the universe. But cosmic rays may provide even more fascinating information about the fabric of the universe itself.
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
the radiation era's last two stages, the protons and neutrons underwent a significant change. They fused and created nuclei. And in doing so, they created the first chemical element in the universe, helium.
Video examples
Jupiter 101 PIPE National...
Rather, this giant planet may have a dense, liquid center surround by a worldwide ocean of hydrogen and helium gases. Jupiter's gassiest composition can be observed in its atmosphere. About 44 miles thick,
Video examples
The Creation Of The...
and the pattern of the ripples was imprinted into our universe as regions of slightly different density in the hydrogen and helium gas that formed shortly after the big bang
Video examples
Neptune 101 PIPE National...
surrounded by a layer of clouds. These clouds, predominantly made of hydrogen and helium, include traces of methane, which give this ocean world its rich blue color.
Video examples
Helium 101 PIPE National...
- Most people know helium as the lighter than air gas that fills our party balloons. But more importantly it's an irreplaceable element for science and industry.
Video examples
What light can teach us...
Along with the idea that the visible universe has been constantly expanding from a densely packed single point, one of this theory's most important predictions is that the early universe consisted of just two hydrogen and helium, in a ratio of three to one. And this prediction can also be tested with light.
Video examples
The history of our world...
because we actually know quite a lot about the universe at this stage. We know above all that it was extremely simple. It consisted of huge clouds of hydrogen and helium atoms, and they have no structure. They're really a sort of cosmic mush. But that's not completely true.
Video examples
CERN's supercollider PIPE...
and that hydrogen, that helium, then began to cook into the heavier elements. So the elements of life -- carbon, and oxygen and iron, all the elements that we need to make us up -- were cooked in those first generations of stars, which then ran out of fuel, exploded,
Video examples
The law of conservation...
in the three minutes that followed the birth of our universe. Eventually, clusters of atoms accumulated and formed stars. Within these stars, nuclear reactions fused light elements, such as hydrogen and helium, to form heavier elements, such as carbon and oxygen.
Video examples
How cosmic rays help us...
scientists are able to determine the relative abundance of elements, such as hydrogen and helium, within the universe. But cosmic rays may provide even more fascinating information about the fabric of the universe itself.
Video examples
Origins of the Universe...
the radiation era's last two stages, the protons and neutrons underwent a significant change. They fused and created nuclei. And in doing so, they created the first chemical element in the universe, helium.
Video examples
Jupiter 101 PIPE National...
Rather, this giant planet may have a dense, liquid center surround by a worldwide ocean of hydrogen and helium gases. Jupiter's gassiest composition can be observed in its atmosphere. About 44 miles thick,
Video examples
The Creation Of The...
and the pattern of the ripples was imprinted into our universe as regions of slightly different density in the hydrogen and helium gas that formed shortly after the big bang
Video examples
Neptune 101 PIPE National...
surrounded by a layer of clouds. These clouds, predominantly made of hydrogen and helium, include traces of methane, which give this ocean world its rich blue color.
Video examples
Helium 101 PIPE National...
- Most people know helium as the lighter than air gas that fills our party balloons. But more importantly it's an irreplaceable element for science and industry.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Twinkle Khanna
Indian Businesswoman
I start my day with a hot water and lemon routine. I meditate. And I take my problems lightly, like my mother always said: treat them like helium balloons and let them go. I devour a lot of books to feed my mind.
Quote examples
Jill Tarter
American Scientist
Earlier generations of stars in the galaxy could well have had planets. But really, there was only hydrogen and helium to work with, so they'd all be gas giants and not small, rocky planets.
Quote examples
David Fahrenthold
American Journalist
The federal helium program sells vast amounts of the gas to U.S. companies that use it in everything from party balloons to MRI machines. If the government stops, no one else is ready.
Quote examples
Sam Kean
American Writer
Most stars just fuse hydrogen into helium, but larger stars can fuse helium into other elements. Still larger stars, in turn, fuse those elements into slightly bigger ones, and so on.
Quote examples
Homer Hickam
American Author
Tired of burning fossil fuel and polluting the planet? The moon is covered with helium 3, an isotope from the sun that is the perfect fuel for clean fusion reactors.
Quote examples
Lynn Abbey
American Author
I've read short stories that are as dense as a 19th century novel and novels that really are short stories filled with a lot of helium.
Quote examples
John C. Mather
American Scientist
Big Bang gave us hydrogen and helium. We couldn't make people out of hydrogen and helium. So we're made out of exploding stars.
Quote examples
Jimi Hendrix
American Musician
I have this one little saying, when things get too heavy just call me helium, the lightest known gas to man.
Quote examples
David Lee
American Physicist
Liquid helium belongs to a class of fluids known as quantum fluids, as distinct from classical fluids.
Quote examples
Raymond Davis, Jr.
American Scientist
The sun derives its energy from fusion reactions in which hydrogen is transformed into helium.
Quote examples
Twinkle Khanna
Indian Businesswoman
I start my day with a hot water and lemon routine. I meditate. And I take my problems lightly, like my mother always said: treat them like helium balloons and let them go. I devour a lot of books to feed my mind.
Quote examples
Jill Tarter
American Scientist
Earlier generations of stars in the galaxy could well have had planets. But really, there was only hydrogen and helium to work with, so they'd all be gas giants and not small, rocky planets.
Quote examples
David Fahrenthold
American Journalist
The federal helium program sells vast amounts of the gas to U.S. companies that use it in everything from party balloons to MRI machines. If the government stops, no one else is ready.
Quote examples
Sam Kean
American Writer
Most stars just fuse hydrogen into helium, but larger stars can fuse helium into other elements. Still larger stars, in turn, fuse those elements into slightly bigger ones, and so on.
Quote examples
Homer Hickam
American Author
Tired of burning fossil fuel and polluting the planet? The moon is covered with helium 3, an isotope from the sun that is the perfect fuel for clean fusion reactors.
Quote examples
Lynn Abbey
American Author
I've read short stories that are as dense as a 19th century novel and novels that really are short stories filled with a lot of helium.
Quote examples
John C. Mather
American Scientist
Big Bang gave us hydrogen and helium. We couldn't make people out of hydrogen and helium. So we're made out of exploding stars.
Quote examples
Jimi Hendrix
American Musician
I have this one little saying, when things get too heavy just call me helium, the lightest known gas to man.
Quote examples
David Lee
American Physicist
Liquid helium belongs to a class of fluids known as quantum fluids, as distinct from classical fluids.
Quote examples
Raymond Davis, Jr.
American Scientist
The sun derives its energy from fusion reactions in which hydrogen is transformed into helium.
Example 1 of 10
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