AkaSci 🛰️1d ago

The war on Iran has created a shortage of Helium, which plays a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing and in medical equipment such as MRI machines.

Helium is mostly produced as a byproduct of LNG production.

Following retaliation strikes by Iran, Qatar has halted most of its LNG production in the country, which has led to a suspension of helium production as well. Qatar supplies a third of the world’s helium.

https://lnginnorthernbc.ca/2026/03/22/war-in-iran-creates-shortage-of-helium-vital-for-semiconductors/
#UsPol
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Show threadAkaSci 🛰️

Insightful commentary by Shanaka Anslem Perera on the disruption of Helium production due to the war on Iran and its effect on semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor economies.

"Helium cools the extreme ultraviolet lithography systems that print transistors at 3 nm. It purges etching chambers of contamination. It tests wafer seals. There is no substitute. Without helium, the EUV machines that print every advanced chip on the planet stop."

https://substack.com/@shanakaanslemperera/posts
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Mar 22 at 2:24pmWeb
Show threadAkaSci 🛰️1d ago

More on Helium by Shanaka Anslem Perera -

"The war hit uranium first. Then oil. Then nitrogen. Then water. Then plastic. Then medicine. Then sulfur. Now helium. Eight layers. Each one deeper. Each one closer to the infrastructure that sustains modern civilisation. The chip that processes your data, the magnet that scans your body, and the rocket that launches your satellite all depend on an atom that leaves the planet when you lose it."

https://nitter.net/shanaka86/status/2034555938854846773#m
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Show threadAkaSci 🛰️1d ago

More on supply-chain disruption from Baron's -
Energy
Helium
Aluminum
Fertilizers
Semi-conductors
Pharmaceuticals

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/it-s-not-just-oil-the-iran-war-sparked-a-supply-chain-mess-that-s-hitting-tech-medicine-and-more/ar-AA1YZwlU
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Show threadBill Zaumen7h ago
@AkaSci And even for helium, there's some nuances not mentioned much in the news reports. When used for cooling to very low temperatures, you need both helium-3 and helium 4, and helium-3 is hard to find. While helium-3 is a bit lighter, helium-3 atoms are fermions whereas helium-4 atoms are bosons. This has a significant impact on how these isotopes behave at very low temperatures.
Show threadDr. Sobek1d ago

@AkaSci Uranium ? What was this about ? (Because I have not heard anything about Uranium, and the gulf is not amongst the key producers there).

(Canada, Oz, Niger, Russia, Mongolia Kazakhstan are not in the vicinity of that conflict).

Show threadNazani1d ago
@Sobex @AkaSci While Iran has uranium mines, there's a good chance their enriched uranium is buried deep under rubble. Retreiving it would require long-term work with earth-moving equipment. So obviously Marines can't go in & grab it.
Show threadDr. Sobek1d ago
@Nazani @AkaSci Well, but at the same time, this is not damaging int Uranium international supply. (Unlike the other things in the list).
Show threadMidgePhoto1d ago
@AkaSci
Where is John Carter when the war is affecting Helium?
Show threadCurioso 🍉 🇺🇦 (jgg)1d ago

@AkaSci

This underscores the idiocy of dilapidate the gigantic National Helium Reserve the US had not so long ago.

Show threadLouis A. M. 🇨🇦1d ago
@AkaSci Helium is an atom⚛️ , not a molecule...
Show threadBernie Luckily Does It1d ago
@AkaSci @Npars01 Good news! The US Helium Reserve was sold off in 2024!
Show threadBill Zaumen22h ago

@AkaSci One bit of good news: Chinese researchers have developed a material that can reach a temperature of 106 mK, & they could at least show it in a demo, & it has no moving parts.

The bad news - it is not yet commercially available, and sometimes there are issues that don't show up in an initial test.

U.S. specific "bad news": China is ahead of us regarding this technology. Ideally we'd congratulate them, but in the current political climate, that's not likely.

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/china-develops-new-ultra-cold-alloy-that-can-reach-273-c-without-helium-could-enable-compact-cooling-for-superconducting-quantum-chips-military-equipment-and-beyond

China develops new ultra-cold alloy that can reach -273°C without helium — could enable compact cooling for superconducting quantum chips, military equipment, and beyond

Compact cryogenic cooling systems incoming?

Tom's Hardware