For millions of years, glass has existed naturally. Volcanic eruptions, meteor impacts, and lightning strikes all contribute to the formation of obsidian, a type of natural glass. Ancient humans saw the value in this brittle material, using it to craft sharp-edged tools and weapons. Fast-forward to today, and we see glass in nearly every aspect of our lives—from windows and lenses to smartphones and lab equipment. The defining quality of glass, however, has always been its brittleness—until now.

Today, we expect so much more from this material. We want it to be strong, transparent, scratch-resistant, thin, flexible—and most importantly, unbreakable. So, is there a future for unbreakable glass? In Veritasium’s latest video, “The Quest To Make Unbreakable Glass,” Dr. Derek Muller explores just how far humanity has come in enhancing this ancient material, diving into the science behind modern advancements like Gorilla Glass.