Ian Sample

Late last week, it looked as if maybe the Strait of Hormuz might finally reopen.

But over the weekend, talks between the US and Iran ended without an agreement.

President Trump's response?

To announce a blockade.

Once again, oil prices have jumped up and the world faces a worsening energy shock.

But it isn't just fossil fuels that are stuck.

Another crisis is brewing.

At least 30% of the world's supply of helium passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Not just for birthday balloons, helium is a critical element in all kinds of areas, from MRI machines to the Large Hadron Collider and even deep-sea diving.

It's also integral to the AI boom.

Without it, no chips.

So today, the invisible gas that's powering modern technology, and what happens if we run out?

I'm the Guardian science editor, Ian Sample, and this is Science Weekly.

Maddy, the war in Iran has had an unexpected, for the most of us at least, impact.

Helium shortages.

Give me a primer on helium and why it's so important.

So we use helium across all kinds of different and critical applications.

Certainly liquid helium is a bit of a fixture in laboratories.

And where do we actually get helium from?

I know it's in the atmosphere, but where do we get it from?