• MalReynolds@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    23
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    10 months ago

    Can we please either stop using floating balloons or replace with hydrogen already, sooo stupid.

    • Yaysuz
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      10 months ago

      Hydrogen balloons are dangerous. I say this as someone who handles them relatively often. One blast can seriously damage your hearing if you are standing next to it. And they explode easily, too.

    • Midnitte@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      10 months ago

      Not possible for certain things, plus hydrogen in balloons is dangerous.

      It’s needed to super cool magnets in NMR (and MRI), and it’s heavily used as a carrier gas in GC (where hydrogen is used as the flame gas).

      Many GC methods could have helium replaced with nitrogen, but the difference in gas performance means updating every method with tedious work.

      For NMR, there is no alternative, just varying degrees of effectiveness in how you use helium.

      • MalReynolds@slrpnk.net
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        10 months ago

        I was specifically talking about novelty balloons. Personally I think the danger is overblown in most situations, small rising pop (perhaps of flame), but if you have a problem with that, use air… with the goal of saving it for more important uses, like some of your examples. Blimps are another egregious waste, especially if usage scales up they need to be engineered for sustainable hydrogen.

        • cobra89@beehaw.org
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          10 months ago

          Someone needs to make a “balloon” you fill with normal air and then has a rechargable battery and 4 drone propellers to make it float up.

          The balloon lasts much longer than a helium balloon, only downside is you have to charge it and it’s noisy.

    • Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      10 months ago

      The Hindenburg was a giant zeppelin 🎶 It’s engineers made a minor oversight

      Before filling it with explosive gas they should have fixed the “no smoking” light