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Dr. T

(624 posts)

8. I was an MR service engineer prior to retirement.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2026, 08:53 AM

Yesterday

Liquid helium is used to cool wire coils in the magnet to near absolute zero degrees (roughly -460 degrees Fahrenheit). This results in superconductivity which allows the magnetic field to remain stable.

No liquid helium, no magnetic field, no detailed picture of your brain after a stroke or as cancerous tumors are growing.

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Scrivener7 cliffside

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Highlight:

The war in Iran is about to hit the helium supply, which is critical for more than just party balloons [View all] BumRushDaShow Yesterday OP

Liquid helium is vital for cryogenic superconducting magnets -- including MRI/NMR probes. There is no substitute. eppur_se_muova Yesterday #1

There has been a helium shortage for some time BumRushDaShow Yesterday #2

Yes. I cringe at the indulgence of HUGE MASSIVE helium-filled parade balloons. QueerDuck Yesterday #3

They could always use BumRushDaShow Yesterday #4

Ha! Oh, the humanity! QueerDuck Yesterday #5

Oh, the huge manatee. area51 21 hrs ago #10

Groan! QueerDuck 21 hrs ago #11

So no more MRI's? Computer Chips? blue-wave Yesterday #6

because the price of oils is going up, so is the price of sulfur. (byproduct of oil production) Javaman Yesterday #7

US is the world's second largest producer of sulfur, after China. eppur_se_muova Yesterday #9

that's fine for us, but especially the Asian nations that import sulfur, not so much. nt Javaman 21 hrs ago #12

I was an MR service engineer prior to retirement. Dr. T Yesterday #8

Might be a world shortage but I doubt a severe US shortage EX500rider 20 hrs ago #13

Don't "doubt", look at the conditions BumRushDaShow 19 hrs ago #14