Helium is a gas that many people associate with party balloons, but it is far more important than that. This invisible element plays a key role in medicine, technology, and space research. Despite its importance, helium is in short supply. Scientists, doctors, and industry experts warn that the helium crisis could have serious effects on healthcare, manufacturing, and even national security.
Helium Crisis Hits Scientists Hard
Nancy Washton, a scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, remembers when her lab ran out of helium. In early 2022, her regular shipment never arrived. The supplier told her that global shortages would reduce deliveries. By April, her lab received less than half of its usual 2,500 liters (660 gallons). This forced her team to cut back on research.
One of the biggest victims of this shortage was the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer. This tool, which looks like a large tower, uses helium to reveal detailed molecular structures. Washton’s team used it for energy and battery research. It even helped them discover that magnesium oxide can pull carbon from the air. This confirmed that some minerals naturally trap greenhouse gases.
The discovery was exciting, but the helium shortage shut down their research. Without helium, the machine had to be turned off. It sat unused for months. Once helium supplies improved, the team restarted their work. But Washton still fears the next shortage.
The Many Uses of Helium
Few people realize how much modern life depends on helium. Its unique properties make it essential for many industries:
- Healthcare: Hospitals use helium to cool MRI scanners. Medical facilities consume about 32% of the world’s helium.
- Technology: Semiconductor manufacturers need helium to produce chips for phones, computers, and cars.
- Space and Aviation: NASA and other agencies use helium to cool satellites and rocket engines.
- Research: The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland relies on helium to cool superconducting magnets.
- Diving: Deep-sea divers mix helium with oxygen to avoid decompression sickness.
- Manufacturing: Helium is used in welding, airbag production, and leak detection.
Unlike hydrogen, helium is safe because it does not ignite. It turns into a liquid at -269°C but never freezes. Supercooled helium becomes a superfluid that flows without resistance. This makes it valuable for high-tech applications.
A History of Shortages and Rising Prices
Helium shortages are not new. Since 2006, the world has faced several supply crises. The most recent one in 2022 was severe. A fire at Russia’s Amur helium plant forced it to shut down. At the same time, Qatar’s helium plant closed for maintenance. In the U.S., the National Helium Reserve temporarily stopped operations. These events removed 10% of the world’s helium supply.
The result was higher prices. Between 2022 and 2023, helium costs doubled. In 2024, the situation became worse when the European Union banned helium imports from Russia. At the same time, the U.S. government sold its Federal Helium Reserve to the German company Messer. This reserve, based in Texas, had supplied 10% of the world’s helium for decades. Experts warned that selling it could make future shortages worse.
Messer faced legal problems after taking over the reserve. Lease disputes almost shut down an important enrichment unit. Although operations are stable for now, experts remain concerned.
Helium and Geopolitics
Helium is not just a scientific concern—it is becoming a political issue. The U.S. produces 46% of the world’s helium. Qatar supplies 38%, while Algeria provides 5%. If American production were disrupted, it could affect industries worldwide. The growing demand for helium in defense and chip production makes it a valuable strategic asset.
Finding Solutions for the Future
With helium supplies uncertain, scientists are looking for alternatives. One major focus is MRI scanners, which use a large amount of helium. Traditional MRI machines need around 2,000 liters of helium to keep magnets cool. If the helium runs out, the machine overheats and vents its gas in a process called “quenching.” That helium is then lost forever.
New MRI designs now use only one liter of helium in a sealed system. Some hospitals have already installed these models, but they are expensive and not as powerful as older machines. Traditional MRIs provide a 3-Tesla magnetic field, while low-helium versions only reach 1.5 Tesla. This means weaker images and longer scan times.
Some researchers are working on superconductors that do not need helium. Others are investing in recovery systems to capture helium before it escapes. Nicholas Fitzkee from Mississippi State University is leading a project to reclaim 90% of used helium. His lab’s system cost $300,000 but will pay for itself in six years.
Washton, however, says helium recovery does not get enough attention. Many funders see it as an expensive upgrade rather than a necessity. “People hear $600,000 for recovery and think it’s just upgraded plumbing,” she said.
New Helium Sources Offer Hope
Some scientists are searching for new helium reserves. Qatar plans to open another helium plant by 2027. In 2016, geologists discovered a massive helium field in Tanzania. This was the first reserve found using targeted exploration. Production there will begin in 2025. China has also found helium deposits in the Bohai Bay Basin.
Christopher Ballentine, an Oxford scientist involved in the Tanzania project, warns that these reserves are not a quick fix. Setting up extraction takes time and investment.
The Risk of Running Out
The helium crisis has shown how fragile the supply chain is. Washton fears what will happen if shortages continue. “What if there’s no helium left? What if your grandma can’t get an MRI?” she asks. The world depends on helium, and experts say action is needed before it is too late.