Helium shortage slows nuclear bomb detection program
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023871
NYTimes.com : The Department of Homeland Security has spent $230 million to develop better technology for detecting smuggled nuclear bombs but has had to stop deploying the new machines because the United States has run out of helium-3."I have not heard any explanation of why this was not entirely foreseeable,” said Representative Brad Miller, Democrat of North Carolina, who is the chairman of a House subcommittee that is investigating the problem.The demand for helium 3 appeared to be 10 times the supply.
Related Physics Today article US government agencies work to minimize damage due to helium-3 shortfall October 2009 Helium shortage hampers research and industry June 2007
