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

TL;DR

Ever wondered what happens if you hurl sand into a jet engine? Veritasium takes you from the first jet engines to today’s Rolls-Royce precision-cast blades, breaking down how nickel-based superalloys (γ′ phase), single-crystal structures and clever casting tricks keep turbines from melting—even when temperatures soar past 1,000 °C. Along the way you’ll get a primer on edge dislocations, crystal selection, and why those massive fans really are huge.

In the grand finale, Derek Muller actually tosses sand at a running engine to show how abrasive particles can erode blades—and why all that engineering matters. Packed with expert interviews, animations, and behind-the-scenes access at the casting facility, it’s a fun crash course in materials science and jet-power resilience.

Watch on YouTube