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Questions & Help Mar 21, 2026 at 5:23 AM

Iran war halts Qatar helium output, threatening global tech supply chains

Posted by Shadow328

https://apnews.com/article/iran-chips-semiconductor-helium-exports-war-fe934332f7c83bb722ca87db22cd57d0
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StretchExtension Mar 21, 2026 +194
It really goes to show how fragile global energy infrastructure and supply chains actually are.
194
Malaix Mar 21, 2026 +131
Kicker is we saw this happen from covid and learned nothing from it. Trump voters just blamed Biden for the GLOBAL supply chain failure. I guess it was just easier to rant about being ass hurt over 2020 instead of learning about the world.
131
Whatsthatbro365 Mar 21, 2026 +38
Now we have JD Vance mocking other countries having more extensive fuel
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the_hucumber Mar 21, 2026 +24
As someone from another country i don't see any benefits of being allied with America. Trump tarriffed our trade, mocked our politicians and soldiers, then made all our gas bills higher. China just wants me to buy their shit. They've never made it so I can't see my aging parents because transport is so expensive.
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CyberneticSaturn Mar 21, 2026 +1
China is absolutely willing to literally abduct citizens from your country as well if they piss them off. The great powers are now all the same now. If you focus on anything, focus on building blocs between smaller countries.
1
Mustardo123 Mar 21, 2026 +8
You may be right, but part of the problem with Trump is that he pushes people towards China. I don’t blame people for thinking like this.
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the_hucumber Mar 21, 2026 +8
China seems to want stability. America is doing it best to throw the world into chaos. Also didn't America just abduct Venezuela's leader and his wife? Remember that? Whatever happened to them, have they had a fair trial?
8
Still-Cash1599 Mar 21, 2026 +9
Not as willing as the US. China also isn't ran by a cartel of pedophiles.
9
kilters Mar 21, 2026 +1
Possibly not but look into organ harvesting.
1
KeyedFeline Mar 21, 2026 +25
Biden took a lot of steps to ensure the supply production of domestic chips but trump destroyed it all as soon as he was in office
25
Loggerdon Mar 21, 2026 +4
If they don’t see a direct connection between Trumps Iran War and Iran bombing Qatar I don’t think they can be taught anything.
4
Aunon Mar 21, 2026 +2
Even if we did learn anything, is 5-6 years enough time to change the energy sector in a way to adequately protect yourself from recent events?
2
Whatsthatbro365 Mar 21, 2026 +54
One plant baasically producing the only supply of helium for chip making in the most volatile place on earth
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StretchExtension Mar 21, 2026 +45
Well, it's the most volatile place on earth BECAUSE it has all the tasty petroleum products. Look up Operation AJAX.
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the_hucumber Mar 21, 2026 +7
To be fair who could have predicted Americans were stupid enough to elect an absolute moron into the Whitehouse and then the entire military and government leadership would enable his ever escalating distractions for being a pedophile traitor.
7
bl4ckhunter Mar 21, 2026 +1
These are the same Americans that elected Bush twice, it was entirely predictable, the world just didn't *want* to believe they would actually do it because taking measures to prepare would have been costly and inconvenient so here we are.
1
the_hucumber Mar 21, 2026 +1
I remember during Bush how the stereotype of Americans was that they were too stupid to tie their own shoelaces, and how much that changed during Obama. But now they're not just dumb but evil.
1
count023 Mar 21, 2026 +14
If only we had learned that 5 years ago when the last global catastrophe brought the supply chain to a halt.
14
Brilliant_Object_847 Mar 21, 2026 +6
We’re going to get a monkeys paw answer to not having anymore global supply chain halts
6
orlybatman Mar 21, 2026 +3
It's why wars are supposed to be a last resort. Not something you do "just for fun", to quote Trump.
3
cupidstrick Mar 21, 2026 +1
Who knew?
1
quarter_cask Mar 21, 2026 +1
it really shows how dumb the orange pedo is
1
RLewis8888 Mar 21, 2026 +1
You'd think people could understand that after a recent pandemic.
1
plan_with_stan Mar 21, 2026 +43
It’s brutal how many single points of failure our economy has….
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NexusNickel Mar 21, 2026 +17
No no. That's all the WINNING Trump promised in 2024. It's not failures, it's so much winning. /s
17
Nisseliten Mar 21, 2026 +5
You just can’t understand how much winning is going on, because of all the 5D chess going on that only trump knows!
5
the_hucumber Mar 21, 2026 +4
You mean the president of USA?
4
2this4u Mar 21, 2026 +3
Not really. If people didn't go around starting pointless wars it would work as well as it has for the past 20-30 years with everyone benefiting from specialisation. No one in the nations being attacked nor traditionally thought of as destabilising regimes has caused this, it's self harm by Israel and the USA.
3
Malaix Mar 21, 2026 +169
Well. At least the tech bros are suffering along with the rest of us in the world they built.
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ThePensiveE Mar 21, 2026 +36
Don't worry, they profit from this.
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MoreGaghPlease Mar 21, 2026 +28
War creates great suffering. Shipping delays are not a form of suffering.
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idontessaygood Mar 21, 2026 +9
The most common application of helium is Cryogenics, so medicine (MRI machines) and scientific research.
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AccomplishedBrain309 Mar 21, 2026 +4
Its used for making computer chips , precision welding for aerospace , aviation , and weapons. They use liquid nitrogen for cryogenics, its common.
4
-yourselff Mar 21, 2026 +3
suffering…-5% of someone’s Meta stock is considered suffering now jfc
3
BigBoyYuyuh Mar 21, 2026 +4
Wealthy people freak out even if they lose $1. Mr Krabs, while a cartoon character, is exactly what the wealthy are.
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Filias9 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Tech bros will rank up prices. They will make big bucks on this.
1
FrozenToonies Mar 21, 2026 +58
Helium is really rare. Using it for party balloons should be illegal even as a dilution gas for hydrogen.
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TheoremaEgregium Mar 21, 2026 +31
Somebody said that the helium for balloons is of a lesser purity and couldn't be used for medical/high-tech purposes anyway. Wonder if that's true. At least we're not filling whole Zeppelins any more.
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bearburner Mar 21, 2026 +23
Balloon grade helium is typically the byproduct or leftovers of the medical and scientific refinement process. It’s possible to refine it to be medical and scientific grade but usually this is only cost effective in bulk
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say-it-wit-ya-chest Mar 21, 2026 +2
So what happens to your voice if you inhale medical/scientific grade helium?
2
fiendishrabbit Mar 21, 2026 +3
Nothing different. It doesn't matter for that purpose or in those amounts. It's the other stuff, which can be present in balloon grade helium, that might do weird stuff if you use it for applications that require higher purities (ranging from it's use in deep dive breathing mixes, chromatography, semiconductor manufacturing, welding etc).
3
Nisseliten Mar 21, 2026 +2
You seriously piss off some dogs.
2
Saurian42 Mar 21, 2026 +7
Back to hydrogen for zeppelins.
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TheoremaEgregium Mar 21, 2026 +3
I sometimes wonder how dangerous hydrogen party balloons would be. Maybe not too bad?
3
Eeny009 Mar 21, 2026 +5
Balloons are typically used in association with birthday candles.
5
Accidental-Genius Mar 21, 2026 +2
There’s only one way to find out!
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Z3B0 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Just explosive balloons. Nothing critical.
1
ChiefBlueSky Mar 21, 2026 -4
Helium is flammable not explosive. Just a fire ball, not a boom (which would only come from the balloon popping)
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FrozenToonies Mar 21, 2026 +8
Helium is not flammable at all. It’s a noble gas and inert.
8
Mustardo123 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Just a bunch of flammable balloons surrounded by screaming children, what could go wrong!
1
issm Mar 21, 2026
One balloon going up isn't too bad. The problem is they chain react.
0
thehousewright Mar 21, 2026 +2
The Goodyear blimp is still around.
2
[deleted] Mar 21, 2026 -2
[deleted]
-2
gyarrrrr Mar 21, 2026 +2
The only way *anything* gets less pure is by having something else mixed in with it.
2
ZonaDesertRat Mar 21, 2026 +17
Gee, if only the US hadn't shut down it's helium reserve... I wonder what political party thought that was a good idea......
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Pippihippy Mar 21, 2026 +4
It was practically unanimous, only 4 total vetos between BOTH the house and senate.
4
Let_us_proceed Mar 21, 2026 +1
You mean votes?
1
BakedPotatoOne Mar 21, 2026 +7
If I had a dollar for every time I read "tech supply chain" in a headline, I would be able to afford one ram stick
7
Left_Lack_3544 Mar 21, 2026 +3
I thought trump said he won ?
3
takesthebiscuit Mar 21, 2026 +3
Nice to see some lighter news
3
mido_sama Mar 21, 2026 +3
Oh no AI is getting more expensive
3
RadicalOrganizer Mar 21, 2026 +1
Good. Bring down the tech bros.
1
Larkalis Mar 21, 2026 +1
And my Kirov Airships! "Helium Mix Critically Suboptimal!"
1
Buster_xx Mar 21, 2026 +1
This will hose the hard drive marjett
1
OneEquivalent5236 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Oh goody, more unintended consequences
1
sophia_az Mar 21, 2026 +1
Evergreen can do the funniest thing at the most narrow waterway...
1
Nasha210 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Operation Epstein Fury for the win!
1
jackrabbit323 Mar 21, 2026 +1
They can do that? -Trump probably
1
Link182x Mar 21, 2026 +1
Santi’s mom in the show “Stick” was right!
1
AlloAll0 Mar 21, 2026 -1
The US has plenty of oil, gas and helium reserves. The US is crashing the world economy on purpose. Why? The US is bankrupt. Change my mind.
-1
ChicagoBiHusband Mar 21, 2026 +1
But how will we inflate all the pink and blue balloons to release at the gender reveal parties??
1
Panda_tears Mar 21, 2026 +1
Why not just put it into big balloons and fly it over?
1
Brock_Youngblood Mar 21, 2026 -8
Buy less party balloons and calm down.
-8
Mustardo123 Mar 21, 2026 +3
Woah a troll account, cool.
3
duncandun Mar 21, 2026 +2
no, buy more.
2
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