Superfluidity is an unusual state characterised by the complete absence of viscosity. Superfluids exist only at low temperatures and possess a number of strange characteristics. For example, when placed in an open container a superfluid will gradually flow up and over the sides of the container due to film flow. All Bose-Einstein and fermionic condensates are superfluids however there are also two Helium-based superfluids. These Helium-based superfluids were created prior to Bose-Einstein and fermionic condensates and are noteworthy because of the similarities they share with Bose-Einstein and fermionic condensates.

In 1938, Pyotr Kapitsa, John Allen and Don Misener discovered superfluidity amongst Helium-4 atoms (which are bosons) by cooling them to a temperature of less than 2.17 kelvin. Like a Bose-Einstein condensate the Helium-4 superfluid arose because of the collapse of a significant number of bosons into the same quantum state. However the Helium-4 superfluid was formed from liquid Helium-4 as opposed to a Bose gas and therefore could not be considered a Bose-Einstein condensate.

In 1971, Douglas Osheroff, David Lee and Robert Richardson discovered superfluidity amongst Helium-3 atoms (which are fermions) by cooling them to a temperature of less than 2.6 millikelvin. Like a fermionic condensate this Helium-3 superfluid arose because pairing between the fermions allowed them to collapse into a single quantum state. However the Helium-3 superfluid was formed from liquid Helium-3 as opposed to a fermi gas and therefore could not be considered a fermionic condensate.