Rubes by Leigh Rubin for March 19, 2009

  1. Ren
    LeftSock13  almost 16 years ago

    Bad economy, half the helium.

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  2. Black knight
    black_knight15_au  almost 16 years ago

    Used helium balloons - half price.

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    agent.007  almost 16 years ago

    Wuz Two: Strange kind of chemistry (make that physics). Hydrogen, too, is lighter than air. Maybe air-filled balloons? Well, Rubin can’t deliver yucks all the time.

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  4. Missing large
    har-de-har  almost 16 years ago

    Usually a day or two after a party the helium balloons are still inflated but they no longer float.

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    agent.007  almost 16 years ago

    Yes, allegedly helium atoms can slowly migrate through the walls of some thin balloons. Strangely, carbon dioxide molecules have the same capability.

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  6. Miserichord5small
    Miserichord  almost 16 years ago

    Helium, being monatomic, as opposed to hydrogen which is diatomic (H2), is the smallest molecule. It will migrate through steel. A steel tank of helium will slowly lose pressure, until it has an internal pressure near the partial pressure of helium in the surrounding environment. Helium tanks are often made of aluminum wrapped with fiberglass/epoxy to slow this process.

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