NBC晚间新闻 氦气供应短缺价格飙升

Tonight that odorless, colorless gas you never see is literally¹ vanishing. Helium used to pump up balloons, small and big, is also a critical element used around the world. From medical equipment to high-speed internet in cable and even in airbags. 75% of Helium comes from just three places on the planet: Fields in Qatar, Wyoming and Texas. Experts say supplies are deflating. Production is slowing in many places and won't likely increase for several years.

With reservoirs depleted² and prices jumping a hundred and thirty five percent. Even local party stores can't fill those graduation balloons so many want. I never thought I was gonna have a problem finding Helium. I never thought that was an issue. Party city says it'll have a new source for helium this summer. The shortage may seem funny. I mean I shouldn't be doing this. but it's no laughing matter. Everyone from hospitals to party planners try to find a commodity that's slipping away.

今晚，你从未见过的无色无味气体正在消失。氦气用来给大大小小的气球打气，也是世界各地使用的一种重要的元素。从医疗设备到高速互联网的电缆，甚至在安全气囊中都有它的身影。75%的氦来自地球上的三个地方：卡塔尔、怀俄明州和德克萨斯州的油田。专家说氦气供应正在减少。许多地方的生产正在放缓，而且在未来几年都不太可能增长。氦气储备减少，而价格则飙升了135%。甚至当地的派对商店都不能充满那些很多人想要的毕业气球。我从没想过找氦气会成为一个问题。我没想到这会是一个问题。派对之城表示今夏他们会有一个新的氦气供应源。氦气的短缺似乎还很有趣。我的意思是，我不应该在这里吹气球。但是这可不是开玩笑的事。从医院到派对策划者的每个人都在试图寻找这种正在溜走的东西。

1 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

2 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。