The more you think about anything, the stranger it becomes. Few things illustrate this better than a standard birthday balloon.
The first question that comes to mind is, What is it made of? The answer: rubber—more specifically, latex derived from the sap of the rubber tree. On a global scale, this means our journey begins with a material harvested primarily from South America. To achieve the bright colors we associate with balloons, a mix of organic and inorganic pigments is added. The latex is then molded into its familiar shape—most often, a simple orb.
Next, we consider the balloon’s seemingly magical ability to float. To achieve this gravity-defying effect, helium—a non-renewable resource extracted from the Earth—is required. According to the United States Bureau of Land Management, helium serves many critical functions, including applications in medical technology, national defense, and scientific research (1). Yet, we use it to make balloons float at birthday parties.
Last, we forcefully inject helium into the molded latex, shaping it into its final form. A thread is tied around its end and presented to children at birthday parties. Stepping back to consider the global resources, scientific advancements, and industrial processes that led to this fleeting moment, we realize the absurdity of this tradition.