Short Wave

The world is running out of helium — again

April 6, 2026·13 min·3-min readnarrativescience
Podzilla Summary (3 min)
TLDR
Helium, a vital yet often overlooked element, is facing supply shortages due to geopolitical conflicts and its unique physical properties that make it irreplaceable in science and medicine. The episode reveals how a seemingly frivolous use—party balloons—masks a deeper crisis in research,

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Guest

J

Jeff Brumfield

narrative on Short Wave

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Jeff BrumfieldMaddie SofiaRegina BarberSophia HayesJules JanssenNorman Lockyer

Books

The Periodic Table

Companies

Google

Topics

ChemistryClimate ChangeGlobal NewsPhysicsResearchScientific Method

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