Despite its nickname, demonstration B4-33: Egg Crusher is not intended to crush eggs at all! Instead, it shows the extraordinary strength of these humble curved structures.

The beauty of an arch, whether constructed to hold up a bridge or roof or grown naturally in a bird, is its ability to distribute force evenly. So long as all forces are applied to an egg gradually and symmetrically across the egg, rather than abruptly or at a single point (as happens when you crack it against the edge of your kitchen counter), it can withstand a surprising amount of weight!

 Check it out in action here in this new video featuring Brad Conrad, Director of the Society of Physics Students.