Iran war cuts off helium from Qatar, and shortages will start to bite in a few weeks, threatening chip supply chains that fuel the AI boom

https://lemmy.zip/post/61171244

Iran war cuts off helium from Qatar, and shortages will start to bite in a few weeks, threatening chip supply chains that fuel the AI boom - Lemmy.zip

> Qatar supplies a third of the world’s helium, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the nation had to halt production shortly after the war erupted three weeks ago. Archived version: https://archive.is/newest/https://fortune.com/2026/03/21/iran-war-helium-shortage-qatar-chip-supply-chains-ai-boom/ [https://archive.is/newest/https://fortune.com/2026/03/21/iran-war-helium-shortage-qatar-chip-supply-chains-ai-boom/] — Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.

Hold on to your phones like they were the very last ones ever made. No helium = no computing at all.

Hard drives use helium. Aluminum/tig and other Welding uses helium, all chip making processes use helium, laser cutters use helium, fusion energy LOL, uses helium like a total bitch. Some chemistry uses helium.

We are soooo fucked.

Party balloons… Some use hydrogen and methane… Right?

And then we have dumb uses for helium:

Helium-icon microscopes, an alternative to scanning electron microscopes.

Leak detection is needed to check Air Conditioners…let that sink in!!!