The world is running out of helium — again - Short Wave

Short Wave – "The world is running out of helium — again"

NPR | Aired April 6, 2026
Hosts: Regina Barber, Maddie Sofia (former), Jeff Brumfiel (guest, science correspondent), with contributions from David Aubin (helium historian) and Sophia Hayes (chemist)

Episode Overview

In this energetic and informative episode, Short Wave explores the science, history, and current crisis surrounding the global helium shortage. Regina Barber introduces the topic in the context of recent geopolitical turmoil that has disrupted helium supplies, and the episode revisits a lively conversation between former host Maddie Sofia and science correspondent Jeff Brumfiel. Together, they uncover how this unique element was discovered, why it’s essential (beyond party balloons), and what it would really mean to run out of helium.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Is There a Helium Shortage (Again)?

Context: The U.S. is the world’s largest helium supplier, followed by Qatar, which recently halted production due to conflict and missile strikes from Iran. Shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have compounded the problem.
- Regina Barber: "With the current conflict, much of that shipping traffic is closed and goods are staying put, including helium, which will eventually leak out of the tanks they're in if they're not shipped in time." [00:19]
Consequence: Helium is at risk of being lost entirely if not shipped promptly — it escapes containment over time.

2. Helium’s Nature and Origins

Fun Facts:
- 2nd most abundant element in the universe, but rare on earth due to its tendency to float away.
- Voice gets higher after inhalation because sound travels faster through less dense helium.
  - Maddie Sofia: "It's a noble gas, which probably means it thinks it's better than the other gases." [03:15]
Discovery:
- Named after Helios (the sun god) after astronomers observed an unknown spectral line during a solar eclipse (Jules Janssen, 1868), confirmed by Norman Lockyer.
  - David Aubin: "And he called it helium in reference to the name of Helios, the sun God." [04:00]
Why it’s scarce on Earth:
- Jeff Brumfiel: "It just floats up and it escapes the atmosphere...if the Earth had a stronger gravitational pull, it could hold on to our helium like the sun does." [04:34]

3. The 1903 Dexter, Kansas Discovery Story

A quirky moment in science: Townspeople thought they struck it rich with natural gas, held a celebration to light the well — but the gas wouldn’t burn (because it was helium).
- Jeff Brumfiel: "They set this bale of hay on fire. They start prodding it towards the well. They push it over the hole, and it goes out." [06:14]
- The nonflammability proved, ‘there was more than natural gas in that well, and in fact, it was full of helium.’ [06:34]
How does helium get underground?:
- Produced by radioactive decay of uranium and thorium, accumulates in Earth's crust over millions of years.

4. Helium in Warfare and Rockets

WWI:
- Germans used zeppelins filled with hydrogen (flammable); Allies eyed helium as a safer alternative.
  - David Aubin: "They had cylinders filled of helium on the docks in New Orleans ready to be shipped to Europe in November 1918." [08:37]
- War ended before U.S. could use helium in combat.
Stage Two – The Space Race:
- Rockets (Saturn V, Apollo lunar lander) relied on helium: lightweight, non-reactive, perfect for pressurizing rocket fuel.
- Jeff Brumfiel: "Helium was actually used in every stage of the Apollo program from the giant Saturn V rocket to the lunar lander." [09:32]

5. Modern and Critical Uses

Supercooling and Superconductivity:
- Liquid helium (at 4.2 Kelvin, only a degree above absolute space) needed for superconducting magnets, as in MRI machines and cutting-edge research.
  - Sophia Hayes: "That superconducting state is only reached at low temperatures like that provide by liquid helium." [10:35]
MRI Machines:
- A major driver of helium demand globally; supply fluctuations impact medical device uptime.
  - Maddie Sofia: "Like we’re talking MRIs that we use on people." [11:01]
Quantum Computing:
- Google’s quantum computer requires helium cooling.
  - Jeff Brumfiel: "Well, it uses helium to cool the chip." [12:16]

6. The Supply Crunch

Three major producers: U.S., Qatar, Algeria.
Result of shortages:
- Price volatility; sometimes research labs are forced to shut down vital equipment.
  - Sophia Hayes: "Those are very high capital cost pieces of equipment...for want of a chemical to sustain it, the liquid helium, we are taking those offline..." [11:58]

7. Will We Run Out for Good?

Short-term: Other natural gas fields might be developed to ease current shortages.
Longer-term: Once released, helium just escapes to space; "not coming back."
- Jeff Brumfiel: "Once it gets out into the atmosphere, it's flown off into space, it's not coming back." [12:40]
Ongoing formation: Generated internally by radioactive decay, but "one atom at a time" — a glacial pace.
The balloon conundrum:
- Serious researchers debate the value of party balloons.
  - Sophia Hayes: "There's a lot of debate in my community of researchers...I will say I am not a balloon denier, in part because I think the helium that's used for party balloons gets every person almost to care about this resource." [13:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the uniqueness of helium’s behavior:
- Maddie Sofia: “So it's out of here. It's like, no, I'm done with Earth.” [04:49]
On the early, failed attempt to ignite helium:
- Jeff Brumfiel: “They push it over the hole, and it goes out.” [06:14]
Historical perspective on scientific priorities:
- Sophia Hayes: "For want of a chemical to sustain it, the liquid helium, we are taking those offline, making smaller the number of experiments that one can do or maybe even shrinking the size of the research groups." [11:58]
On science communication and engagement:
- Sophia Hayes: "I am not a balloon denier...the helium that's used for party balloons gets every person almost to care about this resource." [13:37]
Final moment of levity:
- Maddie Sofia: "All right Jeff, knock open one of those helium balloons. Let's do this." [14:14]
- Jeff Brumfiel: "Do we have scissors?" [14:21]
- Maddie Sofia: "I mean, you have nature scissors, which are your teeth." [14:22]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:19: Regina Barber introduces the episode’s helium crisis context
03:01: Maddie Sofia and Jeff Brumfiel dive into what makes helium special
04:25: The 1868 astronomical discovery of helium
06:14: The non-flammable Dexter, Kansas well story
07:47: Helium’s WWI military history and the Zeppelin
09:32: Space Race, rockets, and the Apollo program
10:35: Sophia Hayes talks about supercooling, superconductivity, and research
11:01: MRI machines and helium’s crucial role in medicine
12:16: Quantum computing and future scientific uses
12:40: Can we actually "run out" of helium?
13:37: The party balloon debate among scientists
14:14: Playful closing as Jeff prepares to open a helium balloon

Tone & Style Snapshot

The episode is brisk, witty, and accessible, filled with science fact, relatable jokes, and playful banter. It balances the gravity of resource depletion with the quirky history and sci-fi context of helium—the rare element behind both party tricks and vital medical technology.

In Summary

This Short Wave episode tackles the helium shortage crisis head-on, untangling the science, history, and global stakes behind this elusive element. While helium may sound trivial, its shortage impacts everything from brain scans to quantum computers. The show’s conversational style and memorable anecdotes make a complex story both understandable and urgent for listeners at every level.