In this compelling episode, we're joined by Dr. Birner, who leads us into the fascinating world of atmospheric science. We explore the little-known issue of the increasing concentration of helium in our atmosphere and the potential implications this has on our understanding of fossil fuel consumption and our planet's atmosphere.

Dr. Birner reveals the surprising findings of his research: a clear build-up of helium-4 concentrations in the atmosphere over the past five decades. Based on a high-precision mass spectrometry technique and analysis of 46 air samples acquired between 1974 and 2020, the study has enabled a direct measure of the rise in atmospheric helium-4.

This episode delves into the potential sources of the increasing helium concentrations and why this exceeds current estimates of anthropogenic emissions from natural gas, nuclear weapons, and nuclear power generation. This suggests a potential problem with previous isotope measurements or an incorrect assessment of known sources.

Join us as we explore these groundbreaking findings and their implications, providing a fresh perspective on the impact of fossil fuel consumption on our atmosphere.

Keywords: Helium, Atmosphere, Dr. Birner, Mass Spectrometry, Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases, Atmospheric Science, Helium-4, Helium-3.

Birner, B., Severinghaus, J., Paplawsky, B. et al. Increasing atmospheric helium due to fossil fuel exploitation. Nat. Geosci. 15, 346–348 (2022). https://doi./10.1038/s41561-022-00932-3