Helium Balloon

LeopoldScotch · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:34

I'm hoping someone here can help me understand this.

Last night I was sitting in my living room playing on my Xbox when my daughter's helium balloon started moving around the room by itself.

What would cause this? What is the science/witchcraft behind it?

Beans on toast Dave · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:35

neighbor has something similar?

bitslice · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:41

Convection,
but clearly magic in this case as the effect is not understood.

fez · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:41

A draft?

benjo · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:41

The change in room temperature affects the density/buoyancy of the helium, I think.

thezakarum · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:41

100% proof that ghosts exist right there.

On Holiday · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:46

Paging that guy with the thermal imaging camera to the thread.

Better take up boxing stance to be safe.

It could be a ghostly queen wasp.

(Are there any others I've missed?)

Edrof · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:46

Buy a FLIR camera as fast as you can.

LeopoldScotch · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:49

The balloon was rising up and down as well moving across the room.

I was thinking it could be that the helium was cooling as the air cooled so it became more dense? Science is not my strong point though

Destination · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:51

'Without the midi-chlorians, balloons could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the helium. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the helium. When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you through your helium balloon.'

DampDog · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:53

Are you sure it's the balloon moving and not the house moving around the balloon?

Or maybe multi-dimensional beings trying to communicate.

just a long shot, warm air from a radiator, maybe a thermal effect or drafty??

My personal favourite would be space aliens.

Theophany · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:56

Hikari Kisugi said:
'Without the midi-chlorians, balloons could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the helium. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of the helium. When you learn to quiet your mind, you'll hear them speaking to you through your helium balloon.'

Edrof · 31 Mar 2013 at 16:59

There's only one strange incident in this example, but if there were a number, and the witness was not willing to research and not scientifically-minded you would see the process of how some people come to the conclusion that a location is haunted.

bitslice · 31 Mar 2013 at 18:50

Two balloons moving however would provide conclusive proof of Aliens trying to communicate.

Suggest you clear the dining room table and go buy a bag of clay in readiness.