helium

The United States is on the verge of a crisis over a key strategic resource it once almost completely controlled.

It's a resource that's invisible, but critical to science and industry. MRI machines can't function without it.

Large research labs use it to conduct cutting-edge studies in areas such as particle accelerators and research magnets. It's also essential to scientists conducting research in a wide range of fields, including chemistry, biology, biophysics, nanotechnology, and astrophysics.

It is used in the production of everything from LCD screens to fiber-optic cables to the silicon chips used in PCs, cars, smartphones, and scores of other gadgets.

And all this just scratches the surface.

Trouble is, we're now experiencing a shortage and steadily increasing consumption means the world could completely run out of it in as little as 25 years.

That's a problem because in most cases there is no adequate substitute for it.

What is this critical strategic resource?...

Believe it or not, it's helium. And in this case it about quite a bit more than party balloons.