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Helium-4 is the most abundant isotope of helium. Its nucleus consists of two protons and two neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of approximately 4 atomic mass units. Helium-4 is a stable isotope and does not undergo radioactive decay. It is produced in stars through nuclear fusion, specifically the process where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium. On Earth, helium-4 is primarily obtained from natural gas deposits where it accumulates as a byproduct of radioactive decay of uranium and thorium.

This isotope is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. It has an extremely low boiling point, making it essential for applications requiring cryogenic temperatures, such as in superconducting magnets used in MRI machines and particle accelerators. Due to its inertness, helium-4 is also used in welding, as a lifting gas in balloons and airships, and in leak detection. Its unique quantum mechanical properties at extremely low temperatures lead to the phenomenon of superfluidity, where it can flow without viscosity.