- Story Ideas - Send Corrections Helium is an inert gas in the
periodic table. It and hydrogen were abundant when the earth was
formed but they have diffused into the atmosphere since, and
there is now a concern about a “shortage” of helium in the
future. Helium is used in blimps, balloons, special welding,
research. Today, liquid helium is essential for MRI (magnetic
resonance imaging). Basic research on resonance imaging was done
in the 1950s but Ray Damadian developed its use on humans in the
1970s. This required a magnetic field large enough to surround a
human body. This size and power were not available using normal
electromagnets. Damadian turned to superconducting magnets. The
writer worked with Damadian at SUNY on superconducting alloys as
produced by KBI, Boyertown, in the 1970s. Superconductors are
special alloys that have zero resistance to electron flow (DC
electricity) at very low temperatures, near absolute zero, which
is zero degrees Kelvin (minus 460 degrees F). Niobium titanium
(NbTi) is use