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He

Helium

Atomic Mass

4.0026

Element Profile

HELIUM

Noble gas

WatchGenesis 12 ActiveQ2 2026 Reviewed

Helium is important for cryogenics, MRI systems, semiconductor manufacturing, space systems, and scientific instruments.

Launch Engine

Periodic Context

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Helium connects to cryogenics, semiconductor fabrication, MRI, and space systems.

Fiji: modeled context not active yetTanzania: modeled context not active yetW. Sahara: modeled context not active yetCanada: modeled context not active yetUnited States of America: modeled supply contextKazakhstan: modeled context not active yetUzbekistan: modeled context not active yetPapua New Guinea: modeled context not active yetIndonesia: modeled context not active yetArgentina: modeled context not active yetChile: modeled context not active yetDem. Rep. Congo: modeled context not active yetSomalia: modeled context not active yetKenya: modeled context not active yetSudan: modeled context not active yetChad: modeled context not active yetHaiti: modeled context not active yetDominican Rep.: modeled context not active yetRussia: modeled supply contextBahamas: modeled context not active yetFalkland Is.: modeled context not active yetNorway: modeled context not active yetGreenland: modeled context not active yetFr. S. Antarctic Lands: modeled context not active yetTimor-Leste: modeled context not active yetSouth Africa: modeled context not active yetLesotho: modeled context not active yetMexico: modeled context not active yetUruguay: modeled context not active yetBrazil: modeled context not active yetBolivia: modeled context not active yetPeru: modeled context not active yetColombia: modeled context not active yetPanama: modeled context not active yetCosta Rica: modeled context not active yetNicaragua: modeled context not active yetHonduras: modeled context not active yetEl Salvador: modeled context not active yetGuatemala: modeled context not active yetBelize: modeled context not active yetVenezuela: modeled context not active yetGuyana: modeled context not active yetSuriname: modeled context not active yetFrance: modeled context not active yetEcuador: modeled context not active yetPuerto Rico: modeled context not active yetJamaica: modeled context not active yetCuba: modeled context not active yetZimbabwe: modeled context not active yetBotswana: modeled context not active yetNamibia: modeled context not active yetSenegal: modeled context not active yetMali: modeled context not active yetMauritania: modeled context not active yetBenin: modeled context not active yetNiger: modeled context not active yetNigeria: modeled context not active yetCameroon: modeled context not active yetTogo: modeled context not active yetGhana: modeled context not active yetCôte d'Ivoire: modeled context not active yetGuinea: modeled context not active yetGuinea-Bissau: modeled context not active yetLiberia: modeled context not active yetSierra Leone: modeled context not active yetBurkina Faso: modeled context not active yetCentral African Rep.: modeled context not active yetCongo: modeled context not active yetGabon: modeled context not active yetEq. Guinea: modeled context not active yetZambia: modeled context not active yetMalawi: modeled context not active yetMozambique: modeled context not active yeteSwatini: modeled context not active yetAngola: modeled context not active yetBurundi: modeled context not active yetIsrael: modeled context not active yetLebanon: modeled context not active yetMadagascar: modeled context not active yetPalestine: modeled context not active yetGambia: modeled context not active yetTunisia: modeled context not active yetAlgeria: modeled context not active yetJordan: modeled context not active yetUnited Arab Emirates: modeled context not active yetQatar: modeled context not active yetKuwait: modeled context not active yetIraq: modeled context not active yetOman: modeled context not active yetVanuatu: modeled context not active yetCambodia: modeled context not active yetThailand: modeled context not active yetLaos: modeled context not active yetMyanmar: modeled context not active yetVietnam: modeled context not active yetNorth Korea: modeled context not active yetSouth Korea: modeled supply contextMongolia: modeled context not active yetIndia: modeled context not active yetBangladesh: modeled context not active yetBhutan: modeled context not active yetNepal: modeled context not active yetPakistan: modeled context not active yetAfghanistan: modeled context not active yetTajikistan: modeled context not active yetKyrgyzstan: modeled context not active yetTurkmenistan: modeled context not active yetIran: modeled context not active yetSyria: modeled context not active yetArmenia: modeled context not active yetSweden: modeled context not active yetBelarus: modeled context not active yetUkraine: modeled context not active yetPoland: modeled context not active yetAustria: modeled context not active yetHungary: modeled context not active yetMoldova: modeled context not active yetRomania: modeled context not active yetLithuania: modeled context not active yetLatvia: modeled context not active yetEstonia: modeled context not active yetGermany: modeled supply contextBulgaria: modeled context not active yetGreece: modeled context not active yetTurkey: modeled context not active yetAlbania: modeled context not active yetCroatia: modeled context not active yetSwitzerland: modeled context not active yetLuxembourg: modeled context not active yetBelgium: modeled context not active yetNetherlands: modeled context not active yetPortugal: modeled context not active yetSpain: modeled context not active yetIreland: modeled context not active yetNew Caledonia: modeled context not active yetSolomon Is.: modeled context not active yetNew Zealand: modeled context not active yetAustralia: modeled context not active yetSri Lanka: modeled context not active yetChina: modeled supply contextTaiwan: modeled supply contextItaly: modeled context not active yetDenmark: modeled context not active yetUnited Kingdom: modeled context not active yetIceland: modeled context not active yetAzerbaijan: modeled context not active yetGeorgia: modeled context not active yetPhilippines: modeled context not active yetMalaysia: modeled context not active yetBrunei: modeled context not active yetSlovenia: modeled context not active yetFinland: modeled context not active yetSlovakia: modeled context not active yetCzechia: modeled context not active yetEritrea: modeled context not active yetJapan: modeled supply contextParaguay: modeled context not active yetYemen: modeled context not active yetSaudi Arabia: modeled context not active yetN. Cyprus: modeled context not active yetCyprus: modeled context not active yetMorocco: modeled context not active yetEgypt: modeled context not active yetLibya: modeled context not active yetEthiopia: modeled context not active yetDjibouti: modeled context not active yetSomaliland: modeled context not active yetUganda: modeled context not active yetRwanda: modeled context not active yetBosnia and Herz.: modeled context not active yetMacedonia: modeled context not active yetSerbia: modeled context not active yetMontenegro: modeled context not active yetKosovo: modeled context not active yetTrinidad and Tobago: modeled context not active yetS. Sudan: modeled context not active yet
United States

Helium production and storage history

Qatar

Major helium supply

Europe / Japan / South Korea

Semiconductor and medical demand

Map Legend

Critical concentration
Production / source node
Processing / manufacturing

Key Takeaway

Helium risk is different from metals: it is a non-renewable gas recovered from natural gas and essential to cryogenic systems.

Modeled intelligence. Not government data.

Helium

Element Intelligence

How Helium functions across real-world systems and future Periodic Engine economy layers.

Element Overview

Helium is an inert noble gas used where ultra-low temperatures, leak detection, and controlled atmospheres matter.

OverviewMaterial Input

Sector Exposure

Helium connects semiconductors, MRI systems, space systems, cryogenics, research, fiber optics, and advanced manufacturing.

Industry ExposureSystems

Supply Risk

Helium risk comes from limited recoverable sources, natural-gas dependence, storage constraints, and concentrated supply.

Supply RiskProcessing

Engine Utility

Helium functions as a strategic enabling material for systems that require cryogenic or inert-gas performance.

Engine InputDependency

Future Token Role

Helium tokens can represent cryogenic capacity, MRI availability, semiconductor process support, and space-system supply exposure.

Supply ClaimEconomy Layer

Comparative Relevance

Helium is less visible than battery metals, but more difficult to substitute in cryogenic and high-purity applications.

ComparativeGenesis 12

Modeled Intelligence Scorecard

Overall Score

83/100

High

Reviewed

Supply Risk

85/100

High

Elevated

Strategic Value

78/100

High

Future Relevance

82/100

High

Substitution Risk

90/100

High

Hard to replace

Industry Exposure

High

Specialized systems

Policy Sensitivity

Medium

Monitored

Confidence

Medium

Reviewed

Scores are modeled intelligence scores, not official government scores.•Source-backed methodology.•Reviewed Q2 2026.

Pro

Reviewed Evidence Context

Reviewed Pro evidence summaries behind this element profile.

Helium (He)

Claim support summaries

See how reviewed public-safe context supports element intelligence.

Confidence and review status

Understand confidence levels and latest review signals.

Source discipline context

Broad source categories that inform the evidence.

Evidence summaries support interpretation of modeled intelligence. They do not expose scoring formulas, source-to-score mapping, reviewer notes, or internal source architecture.

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Evidence summaries support interpretation, not official ratings.

Fact Box

Chemistry

Atomic Number2
Atomic Mass4.0026 u
Group18
Period1
Blocks-block
State at 20°CGas
Melting Point-272.2 °C (under pressure)
Boiling Point-268.93 °C
Density0.0001785 g/cm³
Electron Configuration1s²
CAS Number7440-59-7
Key Isotopes³He, ⁴He

Fact Box

Strategic

Modeled StatusWatch
Genesis 12 StatusActive
Overall Score82 / 100
Supply Risk85 / 100
Substitution Risk88 / 100
Strategic Value78 / 100
Future Relevance82 / 100
Primary IndustriesHealthcare, Semiconductors, Space, Research
ReviewedQ2 2026
ConfidenceMedium

Why Helium Matters

Helium matters because it enables systems that need very low temperatures, inert atmospheres, high-purity gas, and leak detection, including MRI machines, semiconductor manufacturing, space systems, fiber optics, and research.

MRI Systems

Cooling superconducting magnets

Semiconductors

Controlled atmospheres and cooling

Space Systems

Purging, pressurization, leak detection

Research

Superconductivity and quantum systems

Manufacturing

Fiber optics, welding, specialty processes

Uses & Strategic Relevance

MRI cooling

Cools superconducting magnets in MRI scanners.

Fabrication process gas

Inert and cooling gas in semiconductor manufacturing.

Cryogenics and pressurization

Coolant and pressurant for cryogenic and aerospace systems.

Leak detection

Tracer gas for detecting leaks in sealed systems.

Supply-Chain Risk

Production ConcentrationHigh
Processing ConcentrationMedium High
Import ExposureHigh for many users
By-product DependenceHigh, recovered from natural gas streams
Recycling MaturityLimited but important in high-value systems
Substitution DifficultyHigh
Policy SensitivityMedium

Risk Summary

Limited number of major production sources.

Supply-Chain Flow

source

Natural-gas extraction

United States

source

Natural-gas extraction

United States

source

Natural-gas extraction

United States

source

Natural-gas extraction

United States

processing

Cryogenic separation

Qatar

Helium exposure is tied to natural gas fields, storage, liquefaction, logistics, and recovery systems.

Company Relationships

Strategic Company Relationships

Public-safe company relationships connected to Helium across materials, components, devices, and downstream applications.

Company relationships are modeled intelligence relationships based on public source categories and reviewed context. They are not supplier certifications, official ratings, or confirmation of direct procurement relationships.

LIND

Linde

Distributor•Distribution

Public limited

Publicly described Helium distribution participant; modeled relationship signal connecting Linde to Helium through distributor context in the materials graph.

HeHeliumUnited KingdomOil & Gas / Industrial

Confidence

Medium

Source

Public company filings

Last reviewed June 2026

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Source-linked evidence is available by briefing for eligible companies.

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Substitution Difficulty

Use CasePossible Substitute(s)TradeoffDifficulty
MRI cryogenicsHelium recycling, low-helium systemsSystem redesign, capital cost, limited substitutionHigh
Semiconductor manufacturingArgon, nitrogen in some stepsProcess-specific, purity and thermal tradeoffsHigh
Space systemsNitrogen, hydrogen, other gases in limited usesApplication-specific safety and performance limitsHigh
Leak detectionHydrogen/nitrogen mix, other methodsSensitivity and safety tradeoffsMedium High
Research cryogenicsClosed-cycle cryocoolersCost, complexity, performance limitationsHigh

Connected Elements

Elements often analyzed alongside Helium.

SiSiliconHelium is a process and cooling gas in chip fabrication.GeGermaniumFiber opticsGaGalliumSemiconductorsTaTantalumElectronicsAlAluminumSpace, industryCuCopperMRI, powerLiLithiumEnergy storageREERare EarthsMRI, magnets

How to Read This Profile

Periodic Engine modeled intelligence scores combine public source data, industry insights, supply-chain analysis, and technology relevance to assess strategic importance and risk.

Source Categories

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

IEA

International Energy Agency

EU Commission

EU Commission

PubChem

Chemical database

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Industry

Industry reports & associations

View Methodology
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Aluminum (Al)

Atomic Number 13