What Happens If You Throw Sand Into a Jet Engine?

In this deep‐dive, Derek Muller and friends walk you through how jet engines crank out thrust—right down to the anatomy of compressor stages and the magic of high-pressure turbines. You’ll see why these beasts are so huge, how nickel-based superalloys (with their Gamma-prime crystal structures) keep turbine blades from melting at 2,000°F, and the ultra-precise casting techniques Rolls-Royce uses to grow single-crystal blades that shrug off heat and stress.

Then comes the fun part: sand ingestion. You’ll learn what happens when grit meets spinning blades—how edge dislocations, material hardening, and clever design choices help engines survive—and why you (definitely) shouldn’t try this at home. Along the way, expert interviews, animations, and behind-the-scenes at Rolls-Royce show exactly how science keeps us flying safely through even the dustiest skies.

Watch on YouTube