['< sod > * even although abundant in the universe, helium is very scarce on earth. above the only two commercially viable reserves are a few natural gas wells, mostly in the us, that trapped it from the slow [ [ alpha decay ] ] of radioactive materials within earth. by human standards helium is a [ [ non - renewable renewable resource ] ] variable that cannot be practically manufactured from other materials. when released into the atmosphere, e. g., when a helium - filled balloon leaks or bursts, it eventually escapes into space and is permanently lost. < eod > < 1 sod > * although abundant in both the universe, helium is very scarce on earth. the only commercially viable reserves are a few natural gas wells, again mostly in the us, apparently that have trapped it from the slow [ [ alpha decay ] ] of radioactive materials within earth. by human standards helium is a [ [ non - renewable resource ] ] that cannot be practically manufactured from other materials. when released into the atmosphere, e. g., when a helium - filled balloon leaks or bursts, helium eventually escapes into space and is permanently lost. < eod >']