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EX500rider

(12,531 posts)

13. Might be a world shortage but I doubt a severe US shortage

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Thu Mar 19, 2026, 03:11 PM

12 hrs ago

United States: The world's largest helium producer, utilizing vast natural gas reserves in Texas, Oklahoma, and the Rocky Mountains, often supported by federal storage.

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The war in Iran is about to hit the helium supply, which is critical for more than just party balloons [View all] BumRushDaShow 23 hrs ago OP

Liquid helium is vital for cryogenic superconducting magnets -- including MRI/NMR probes. There is no substitute. eppur_se_muova 22 hrs ago #1

There has been a helium shortage for some time BumRushDaShow 21 hrs ago #2

Yes. I cringe at the indulgence of HUGE MASSIVE helium-filled parade balloons. QueerDuck 20 hrs ago #3

They could always use BumRushDaShow 20 hrs ago #4

Ha! Oh, the humanity! QueerDuck 19 hrs ago #5

Oh, the huge manatee. area51 13 hrs ago #10

Groan! QueerDuck 13 hrs ago #11

So no more MRI's? Computer Chips? blue-wave 19 hrs ago #6

because the price of oils is going up, so is the price of sulfur. (byproduct of oil production) Javaman 18 hrs ago #7

US is the world's second largest producer of sulfur, after China. eppur_se_muova 17 hrs ago #9

that's fine for us, but especially the Asian nations that import sulfur, not so much. nt Javaman 13 hrs ago #12

I was an MR service engineer prior to retirement. Dr. T 18 hrs ago #8

Might be a world shortage but I doubt a severe US shortage EX500rider 12 hrs ago #13

Don't "doubt", look at the conditions BumRushDaShow 11 hrs ago #14