What do Pikachu, SpongeBob, and Snoopy all have in common? Balloon versions have soared over New York City during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
This is thanks to helium, a gas lighter than air. Helium is inert, so it doesn’t easily react with other elements, says chemist Justin Douglas at the University of Kansas. It won’t catch fire or cause an explosion. That makes helium useful in many industries—from health care to space travel.
Helium is mined from natural gas deposits. “It’s actually one of the most non-renewable resources on the planet because it’s so hard to capture,” says Douglas. Since it has so many uses, the demand for helium is high—sometimes greater than what’s available. That’s why some experts worry about running out. Macy’s uses about 12.5 million pounds of helium each year. But the company has been looking for ways to save helium—and the fun.
One method it came up with is to use both helium and regular air, says Kathleen Wright, who helps plan the parade. In 2023, engineers designed new balloons with chambers. Some chambers are filled with helium and others with regular air. The helium chambers keep the balloons airborne using a fraction of the resource! “Americans have cherished the parade for generations,” says Wright. By using less helium, Macy’s hopes to keep the parade afloat for generations to come.