Research institutions, medical facilities and party shops feeling the pinch of helium shortage

Amy Deveau shows off some of the tools in her lab that require helium
Amy Deveau shows off some of the tools in her lab that require helium

A global helium shortage is impacting everything from party balloons to scientific research.

The effects are beginning to be felt here in Maine.

Amy Deveau, Ph.D., associate professor and assistant chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics, showed WCSH some of the tools she uses that rely on helium.

"NMR stands for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and it's an essential tool for chemists," said Deveau. "It helps us figure out the structures of molecules.”

The instrument, with a massive superconducting magnet inside, runs on liquid helium. Deveau tells WCSH helium is becoming more difficult to get.

"It's pretty scary actually," she said. "There's really nothing right now to replace it."

The largest demand for helium is for MRI machines. Perhaps the most popular use is in party balloons.

The shortage appears to be caused by several factors, including sanctions on overseas supplies, lower U.S. production and prioritizing what's available for military and medical uses.

Scientists estimate the helium supply will run out in the next 25 or so years.

Deveau and her students use the NMR spectrometer to determine the structures and properties of natural products produced by algae harvested from the Gulf of Maine. The group includes one graduate student and three undergraduates.

The students are given the opportunity to cross-train in the lab of collaborator Kristin Burkholder, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology. That gives them lab skills in both organic chemistry and microbiology, helping them to succeed in their professional lives.

Deveau’s group is funded by a National Science Foundation-Maine EPSCoR Award under the Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network (SEANET).

Amy Deveau being interviewed by WCSH's Lindsey Mills in the chemistry lab
Amy Deveau being interviewed by WCSH's Lindsey Mills in the chemistry lab
Scientists estimate the helium supply will run out in the next 25 or so years
Scientists estimate the helium supply will run out in the next 25 or so years

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The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.