Helium gas powering the world’s most advanced semiconductor processes is suddenly in short supply, threatening to slow down production of the chips driving the AI boom

Lots of people count on helium. From MRI machines and semiconductor manufacturing to pressurizing rockets and detecting leaks, helium is used globally for much more than party balloons. So when there’s a shortage,

“Over the past decade, helium has become more scarce and more expensive,” one scientist who relies on the element told Newsweek.

At the same time, Iran is blocking the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping channels, through which Qatar exports both natural gas and helium. Losing 30% of global helium could have major consequences for science, medicine and industry.

The Iran war has scattered the highly concentrated helium supply chain, knocking out a significant share of global production for a practically irreplaceable element. Why it matters: Helium does more than fill party balloons: It's critical for cooling highly advanced tech and integral to chip production and medical imaging.

The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is affecting not only oil, but the global helium supply. The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz is not just blocking oil shipments. NPR's Lilly Quiroz reports it's also disrupting the flow of about one-third of the world's supply of helium.

With a third of the global supply offline because of the war in Iran, gas companies are scrambling to assure critical A.I. chip makers there will be no disruptions.

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Helium is something most people associate with balloons. But a Kansas geologist says it’s actually a critical resource tied to health care, technology and national security. And rising tensions with Iran could disrupt the global supply, creating ripple effects at home.

Another commodity from crude oil is liquefied petroleum gas, which is a mix of propane, butane and other gases often used for home appliances and manufacturing. Shortages in India have already forced millions of people to cook with coal, firewood and cow dung, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

It's not just oil and gas that are affected by the Iran war. All sorts of shortages and price spikes are starting to pop up that stand to affect people's daily lives.