Some estimates have the Earth's crude oil supply running out in a little over 50 years, at current production. It is vital that other methods of meeting future energy demands are found. While there is no oil on the Moon, in 2004, it was discovered that mineral samples from the Moon contained large amounts of helium-3, a gas used in lasers and refrigerators. According to Dr Lawrence Taylor from the US Planetary Geosciences Institute, "when helium-3 combines with deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen) the fusion reaction proceeds at a very high temperature and it can produce awesome amounts of energy."