Bonnard And Helium

Bonnard And Escapism

Julian Bell | Nonsite | 14th April 2026

“One of the reasons, it has often been noted, that Bonnard has had a lower profile in art history than his friend Henri Matisse is that he is much less of an image maker. He creates extraordinarily absorbing objects to look at, and yet he fails — or is it that he declines? — to deliver resoundingly memorable, reproducible, poster-friendly designs. Even at their most majestic, his canvases are relatively elusive” (5,200 words)

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Helium Is Hard To Replace

Brian Potter | Construction Physics | 9th April 2026

Qatar produces a third of the world’s helium, transported through the Strait of Hormuz in specialised containers. The strait’s closure has caused a spike in helium prices and looming shortages. A byproduct of natural gas extraction, helium’s unique properties make it hard to replace — especially in MRI machines, semiconductors, fibre optic cables, scientific research instruments, and technical diving (2,500 words)