2025-05-07T23:18:20Z

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Helium, a resource that has quietly integrated itself into the fabric of modern life, has become increasingly difficult to obtain. Its applications range from crucial hospital equipment to spacecraft and deep-sea diving mixtures, electronic manufacturing, and various scientific instruments. However, the global supply of helium is notoriously precarious, leading to significant challenges for industries and researchers alike.

One notable figure affected by this helium scarcity is Nancy Washton, a chemist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). She oversees instruments that depend on helium for cooling, particularly vital nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers. In 2022, Washton faced a significant setback when her helium supplier reduced deliveries, forcing her to shut down a critical instrument that plays a key role in energy research.

Helium's importance cannot be overstated; it possesses a unique low boiling point of approximately -452 °F, which is essential for cooling superconducting magnets found in MRI scanners and nuclear magnetic resonance devices, among other sensitive equipment. Its inert nature ensures that helium does not react with other chemicals, while its lightweight properties make it suitable for filling balloons used in meteorological measurements and vital airbags in vehicles.

Unfortunately, helium is not easy to conserve—it can escape into space over time, making it impossible to reclaim once lost. The existing supply chains rely heavily on deep drilling into the Earth’s crust, where radioactive decay naturally produces helium. Suppliers extract helium from natural gas streams before distributing it to meet the growing demands from scientific, medical, and industrial sectors.

The pressure on helium supplies has put a strain on research laboratories around the globe. “We are now living on the banked liquid helium that the vendors had,” Washton explained, noting that at one point, the price for helium soared to $55 per liter, a steep cost for cooling a magnet. Researchers utilizing NMR spectrometers worldwide have been feeling the effects of these rising prices, leading to the shutdown of some superconducting instruments at PNNL and disrupting essential energy research efforts.

To adapt to these challenges, some laboratories have implemented expensive recovery systems designed to reclaim much of the helium that evaporates during operations. These systems not only allow for re-liquefaction and reuse of helium but also incur significant costs, require careful maintenance, and often necessitate extensive reworking of laboratory infrastructure. Smaller institutions, in particular, find it difficult to shoulder these financial burdens, which raises concerns about the potential impacts on cutting-edge research as budgets tighten.

Hospitals are by far the largest consumers of helium, accounting for approximately one-third of the global market. The gas is crucial for cooling MRI scanners, and any disruption in the helium supply chain can lead to delays or cancellations of vital medical scans. Fortunately, some newer MRI models have been developed to use less helium—sometimes as little as a single liter—thanks to advancements in technology that allow the gas to be recirculated within sealed units. Although these machines tend to be more expensive and produce marginally lower magnetic field strengths, they present a promising solution for reducing overall helium demand.

Looking to the future, analysts predict that global helium demand could double by the year 2035 due to its increasing role in semiconductor manufacturing and electric vehicle battery production. However, there remains a critical challenge: no large-scale artificial methods exist for producing helium. Its formation is a slow natural process, and helium continues to drift away from the Earth's atmosphere, exacerbating the supply issues.

Supply disruptions have become alarmingly common, often triggered by maintenance shutdowns at processing plants or geopolitical conflicts. Key suppliers, including Qatar, Algeria, and the United States, remain critical to the global helium market, but unforeseen events and trade sanctions can jeopardize timely deliveries.

In light of these challenges, major natural gas exporting nations are eager to explore new helium reserves. Notably, Tanzania recently discovered a large helium field expected to begin production in 2025, marking the first significant helium extraction at scale without reliance on fossil fuels. Qatar is also planning to open a new helium processing plant by 2027. These developments may help alleviate market fears surrounding helium shortages.

Despite these hopeful prospects, industry experts like Christopher Ballentine from Oxford caution that the logistics and financing of new helium fields may take years to materialize, leaving a gap in immediate supply solutions.

Over the years, various governments have attempted to stabilize helium supplies by maintaining strategic stockpiles. However, a significant turning point came in 2024 when the U.S. Federal Helium Reserve—the world's largest source—was sold to a private firm. This sale has raised alarms among concerned groups, such as The Compressed Gas Association, suggesting it could add further uncertainty to an already volatile market. As a result, predicting stable helium output has become increasingly challenging, contributing to soaring prices.

“This is serious and we need to deal with it,” Washton emphasized, warning that ordinary people might be caught off guard if helium shortages escalate. If the current trends worsen, the repercussions could extend to everything from routine hospital scans to advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

Despite the challenges, stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic that the advent of new helium fields, the introduction of smaller MRI machines, and improved recycling measures will help avert a severe shortfall. Nevertheless, the unique characteristics of helium make finding suitable alternatives a daunting task. Ongoing efforts to recycle and reuse every possible drop of this precious gas, even when it requires costly equipment and meticulous planning, are a testament to the importance of ensuring a sustainable supply for the future.

This critical issue was highlighted in a study published in Physics Today.

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