The unbearable lightness of helium may not be such a problem after all

Helium gas -- essential for MRI scanners, semiconductor manufacture (and according to some, party balloons) -- may not be on the verge of running out after all. Previous studies had raised concerns that we were getting close to a world shortage of helium, but a new study shows that in many areas of North America, there is the potential for undiscovered quantities of helium to be associated with natural gas fields.