If you take helium gas and you cool it at atmospheric pressure to 4.2 K in becomes a liquid. Keep cooling to 2.2 K and the helium enters its superfluid phase, called helium II. Superfluid helium has several very useful properties and is used in science and technology in multi-tonne quantities today. In particular, helium II is an exceptionally good conductor of heat and this combined with its low temperature means that the superfluid is ideal for cooling components made from superconducting materials.

While you may know it as the substance that allows balloons to defy gravity, the uses of helium extend far beyond mere amusement. In scientific research, helium is indispensable—used in everything from cooling the powerful magnets in MRI machines to enabling the Large Hadron Collider to delve into the mysteries of particle physics. You rely on its unique properties often without even realising it, as it quietly underpins a multitude of technologies woven into the fabric of daily life. Yet, as we stand on the brink of new scientific revelations, it’s crucial to understand why the scarcity of this unsung hero could pose a threat to innovation and what steps the global community must take to ensure its availability for future generations.