What happens if you throw sand into a jet engine?

This Veritasium video dives deep into how jet engines survive scorching temperatures and why they’re so massive—from the basics of air compression and combustion to the nickel superalloys and single-crystal turbine blades that keep them from melting. You’ll tour Rolls-Royce’s precision casting facility, learn about edge dislocations and crystal structures, and get a front-row seat to a dramatic “sand in the intake” experiment.

Along the way, Derek Muller and Henry Van Dyck sprinkle in fun history (shout-out to Frank Whittle’s first engine), explain why turbine blades are cast the way they are, and share expert insights from Cambridge, Bochum, and beyond. There are also sponsor plugs (KiwiCo, Science Alert sweepstakes), a tabletop game launch, and a full credits roll if you’re curious who made this high-octane video happen.

Watch on YouTube