What happens if you throw sand into a jet engine?

This video takes you on a whirlwind tour of jet engines—from the basic principles of airflow and massive turbines down to the microscopic world of nickel superalloys and edge dislocations. You’ll peek inside Rolls-Royce’s casting facility, learn why turbine blades can withstand scorching temperatures, and discover how single-crystal crystals and gamma-prime phases keep everything from melting. Along the way, Derek Muller (Veritasium) and Henry Van Dyck break down crystal structures, grain selection, and the history of jet propulsion—all leading up to the ultimate experiment: chucking sand into a running engine.

Sprinkled with behind-the-scenes thanks to experts at Cambridge, Bochum and Rolls-Royce (plus Patreon love), this episode blends slick animations, real factory footage and a sprinkle of geeky fun. Whether you’re curious about astronaut training giveaways, KiwiCo science kits or just want to see what sand does to a multi-million-dollar turbine, it’s a high-speed ride through modern materials science—and it’s surprisingly satisfying.

Watch on YouTube