Most of us encounter helium in balloons, but the gas has far more valuable uses than just to inflate party favors.

Helium is an inert gas that is a key component in weather balloons, MRI machines, welding, and many more industries. But it is also very rare, with the only known sources found simply as byproducts of oil and gas drilling. There are occasionally helium shortages that drive up the price of the precious gas. Helium is viewed as a dwindling resource to researchers and people in the medical community, who rely on it for MRI's and other important items like the Large Hadron Collider.

Researchers have even gotten to a point where they've started speaking out against the use of helium in party balloons.

But now there might be a reason to breathe a little bit easier.