Helium-3—a variation of the helium used in balloons—can reduce temperatures to nearly absolute zero, provide non-radioactive medical lung imaging, and detect neutrons emanating from smuggled nuclear devices. It may even be an element of a clean energy source. For decades, this non-toxic and non-corrosive gas has been in adequate supply, but now that supply is dwindling just as demand is rising dramatically.

Call him “Neutron Bob” or even “Bob the Science Slob” and he won’t mind. Those are just a few of the nicknames Bob Hirshon has adopted during his appearances on the “Absolutely Mindy” radio show.

Once a month, Hirshon, senior project director for media programs at AAAS, appears as the science expert on the kids’ radio program. Mindy Thomas hosts the segment, which is a part of the “Kid’s Place Live” channel on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Hirshon and Mindy talk about the latest scientific developments and answer kids’ science questions.