Talk about passing gas: Vast stores of helium are escaping from the steam vents and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park after being trapped within Earth's crust for up to 2 billion years, according to new research.
In a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey determined that the famed national park was releasing hundreds -- if not thousands -- of times more helium than anticipated.
In fact, researchers say, the escaping helium -- about 60 tons per year -- is enough to fill one Goodyear blimp every week.
They also calculate that this "sudden" release of gas began roughly 2 million years ago, with the advent of volcanic activity there.
"That might seem like a really, really long time to people, but in the geologic time scale, the volcanism is a recent phenomenon," said study coauthor Bill Evans, a research chemist at the USGS office in Menlo Park, Calif.
Helium, or more accurately the isotope helium-4, is produced in Earth's crust as uranium and thorium decay. Often, this nonradioactive, crustal helium is swept away by groundwater, or freed as a result of tectonic movement.
Flathead Valley Community College’s Chef Howard Karp knows his way around a kitchen and in the past he has graciously shared some of his secrets with the Beacon. This time around, Karp has prepared what we’re calling the “perfect Montana meal,” anchored by bison rib eye steaks, grilled in coffee beans with a Flathead cherry velvet chili sauce.
Karp said the rib eye, also know as a “cowboy steak,” has an earthy flavor that is complemented by the coffee beans.
To serve alongside the meat, Karp said you could never go wrong with mashed potatoes or root vegetables.
On Saturday the 11th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival kicked off, after months of preparations. The festival is the culmination of work from more than 150 volunteers and 30 staff members, as well as judges and panels.
The festival draws thousands of attendees each year, and this year features more than 140 films over 9 days at four venues around Missoula.
NBC Montana spoke with several attendees on Day One of the festival.
“I made a point of coming up to this film festival,” said attendee Pamela Holindrake, visiting from Salt Lake City, Utah. Holindrake has gone to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah for many years, but this year it’s all about Big Sky.
Tinkle was named the ‘Sexiest Man in College Basketball;’ an award handed out by collegeinsider.com.
The website compiled a list of 100 college basketball coaches and members of the media and Tinkle took the top honor.
The committee called him a "snow - capped mountain of a coach" who is actually a gentle giant.
“You know a coach would probably rather be known for championships, trips to the NCAA Tournament,” Tinkle said in his interview with the website. “But it’s quite a thrill and we'll enjoy it.”
Some others who made the top 100 included Steve Alford from UCLA, Kentucky’s John Calipari, Bob Huggins from West Virginia University and Bill Self from the University of Kansas.
Here at the National Bison Range, you can get it on the action.
The Great Backyard Bird Count, a worldwide citizen science program conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, is this weekend. Pat Jamieson, outdoor recreation planner at the Bison Range, is giving birders and wannabe-birders an opportunity to participate.
Jamieson will lead a bird count along the refuge’s Nature Trail between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Participants can take part in the whole count or any part – just stop in for as long as you want or can.
Entrance fees have been waived Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Presidents Day weekend.
Flathead Valley Community College’s Chef Howard Karp knows his way around a kitchen and in the past he has graciously shared some of his secrets with the Beacon. This time around, Karp has prepared what we’re calling the “perfect Montana meal,” anchored by bison rib eye steaks, grilled in coffee beans with a Flathead cherry velvet chili sauce. 
On Saturday the 11th annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival kicked off, after months of preparations. The festival is the culmination of work from more than 150 volunteers and 30 staff members, as well as judges and panels.
7:27 a.m. A man was seen crawling across Highway 2 East in Evergreen.
Tinkle was named the ‘Sexiest Man in College Basketball;’ an award handed out by collegeinsider.com.
Here at the National Bison Range, you can get it on the action.