Nitrogen and helium are both gases that are composed of molecules made up of two or more atoms. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless GAS that makes up 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. It is an essential component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biological molecules. Helium is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic GAS that is the second most abundant element in the universe. It is used in cryogenics, welding, and other industrial applications. Both nitrogen and helium are important elements in the environment and have many uses.