Veritasium: What happens if you throw sand into a jet engine?

Summary

Veritasium’s latest video (sponsored by KiwiCo) takes you on a whirlwind tour of jet engines—from basic airflow and gigantic compressor stages to the nitty-gritty of edge dislocations and crystal structures. You’ll learn how engineers go from molten metal to single-crystal turbine blades at Rolls-Royce, and why those blades can survive temperatures hotter than molten lava.

Along the way, the team chats with professors and industry experts, tours precision-casting facilities, and even tests what happens when you throw sand into a running jet engine. It’s a fun, informal deep dive into the science, manufacturing tricks, and real-world tests that keep modern turbines humming.

Watch on YouTube