Helium - rare on earth but universally abundant

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe and possibly the most unreactive element on the periodic table, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT, in ep 35 of Elemental.

Did you know that helium is so light, that all the gas from your helium balloons escapes gravity and ends up in space?

This is partly why it is rare on earth, but common in space, where it makes up 23 percent of the mass of observed matter in the universe.

And while a helium-infused squeaky voice can be the life and soul of the party, in most other respects it is an unremarkable element.

Odour? None.

Colour? None.

Taste? None.

Toxic? No.

Helium is possibly the most unreactive element on the periodic table - it doesn't even react with fluorine, the highly reactive Teflon element, says our resident expert Professor Allan Blackman from AUT.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details