Helium

What is so important about helium?
Why do we actually have so little of it in the world yet it is (apparently) the second most abundant element in the universe – after hydrogen?
Why is it vitally important that we find new supplies of helium in the universe before ours runs out (within 100 years, apparently)?
A report I heard on the radio said that the search for helium was the singularly most important reason for getting off the Earth – I just didn’t hear why helium was so important (we are talking end of the human race tone of voice here). If it is so important to us then why are we wasting it on party balloons and making ourselves sound like that talentless squeeky-voiced non-comic Joe Pesci look-a-like whose name I cannot remember?

Flood