Math

Let’s learn about origami-inspired science

The Japanese art of paper folding has inspired new designs for robots, telescopes and more

a red, blue and yellow paper origami crane

The Japanese art of paper folding is called origami — from the Japanese words “oru” (to fold) and “kami” (paper).

Photo by Kosei Saito/Getty Images

By Maria Temming

People have used origami for centuries to transform flat pieces of paper into 2-D and 3-D shapes. In minutes, a beginner can use this Japanese art of paper folding to craft simple birds, flowers and jumping frogs. More advanced patterns can give rise to highly detailed sculptures of all manner of objects.

Scientists have used geometry, algebra and other branches of math to invent new origami designs. Such designs can not only be used to create art. They can lead to new compact and shapeshifting tech.

Take the James Webb Space Telescope, the biggest telescope ever sent to space. It’s so big that it had to be folded up origami-style to fit in a rocket. Engineers have also used origami techniques to make robots that can squeeze through tight spaces. And bots that change shape to do different tasks or move in precise ways to handle fragile objects.

Kirigami, a related art form that combines paper folding and cutting, has also inspired engineers. Some have used this Japanese art to design shoe soles that change shape to increase grip. Others have built kirigami parachutes that automatically open when dropped.

Teen paper folders are pushing this field forward, too. One middle-school student in New York City recently discovered that a certain type of origami fold could support 9,000 times its own weight. That might make it useful for designing pop-up emergency shelters. And a high-schooler in Japan came up with a new way to model complex folds, like those found in origami and ladybug wings. His advance could help engineers build new nature-inspired tech.

Want to know more? We’ve got some stories to get you started:

Origami research takes top prize at 2026 Regeneron ISEF competition One teen won big for his new discovery of how to model the motions of origami folds. (5/18/2026) Readability: 8.5

Cool Jobs: The art of paper folding is inspiring science See how bringing art and math together led to the development of robo-roaches, self-folding papers and medical implants. (8/23/2018) Readability: 7.3

These parachutes unfurl thanks to Japanese paper-cutting techniques Origami isn’t the only Japanese art that has inspired new tech designs. Kirigami, or the art of paper cutting, recently inspired a new parachute design. (12/2/2025) Readability: 7.0

Many origami-like designs are found in nature. For instance, ladybugs neatly fold up their wings when they land using complex, origami-like folds. This video from Science News shows how they do it. 

Explore more

Scientists Say: Algebra

Scientists Say: Geometry

Origami folds let paper support 9,000 times its weight, teen finds

Like an armadillo, a new soft robot rolls up to protect itself

The long-awaited James Webb Space Telescope has a big to-do list

Shape-shifting cuts give shoes a better grip

These robots quickly swap ‘origami’ jackets — and tasks

An origami design helps this robot lift delicate and heavy cargo (from Science News)

Ladybugs fold their wings like origami masters (from Science News)

Activities

Word find

Want to try your hand at origami? Check out these step-by-step beginner designs. Ready to try something a bit more advanced? Create your own origami model of the James Webb Space Telescope with this folding pattern from NASA.

Power Words

More About Power Words

2-D: Short for two-dimensional. This term is an adjective for something in a flat world, meaning it has features that can be described in only two dimensions — width and length. 

3-D: Short for three-dimensional. This term is an adjective for something that has features that can be described in three dimensions — height, width and length. 

algebra: A field of mathematics that describes a way to think about certain relationships that will involve numbers. And not just any particular number, usually, but abstract expressions involving numbers. For instance, instead of saying “1 + 2 = 3” or “3 – 1 = 2,” algebra gives each number a letter to take its place. So it now reads something like a “a + b = c” or “c - a = b.” But any number can substitute for those letters as long as the values on each side of the equal sign are still true. In other words, "a" can be 100 and "b" can be 101 — as long as "c" = 201. Such expressions with different things on either side of an equals sign are known as algebraic equations.

birds: Warm-blooded dinosaurs with wings that first showed up at least 150 million years ago. Birds are jacketed in feathers and produce young from the eggs they deposit in some sort of nest. Most birds fly, but throughout history there have been the occasional species that don’t.

development: in engineering) The growth or change of something from an idea to a prototype.

engineer: A person who uses science and math to solve problems. As a verb, to engineer means to design a device, material or process that will solve some problem or unmet need.

geometry: The mathematical study of shapes, especially points, lines, planes, curves and surfaces. Geometry can also refer to the defined shape of something (such as it had a very spherical geometry).

implant: A device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, to support a damaged biological structure, or to enhance an existing biological structure. Examples include artificial hips, knees and teeth; pacemakers; and the insulin pumps used to treat diabetes. Or some device installed surgically into an animal’s body to collect information on the individual (such as its temperature, blood pressure or activity cycle).

kirigami: A type of Japanese art that (like origami) involves the folding of paper or some other material into ornamental objects or designs. What makes kirigami different is that it also involves making cuts that will affect the object’s design as it folds or bends.

model: A simulation of a real-world event (usually using a computer) that has been developed to predict one or more likely outcomes. Or an individual that is meant to display how something would work in or look on others.

orbit: The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a galaxy, star, planet or moon. One complete circuit around a celestial body.

origami: The traditional Japanese art of paper folding. It starts with a flat sheet of paper. Through folding — and no cutting — the paper can be carefully folded into decorative 3-D structures, such as a bird in flight.

robot: A machine that can sense its environment, process information and respond with specific actions. Some robots can act without any human input, while others are guided by a human.

rocket: Something propelled into the air or through space, sometimes as a weapon of war. A rocket usually is lofted by the release of exhaust gases as some fuel burns. (v.) Something that flings into space at high speed as if fueled by combustion.

telescope: Usually a light-collecting instrument that makes distant objects appear nearer through the use of lenses or a combination of curved mirrors and lenses. Some, however, collect radio emissions (energy from a different portion of the electromagnetic spectrum) through a network of antennas.

About Maria Temming

Maria Temming is the Assistant Managing Editor at Science News Explores. She has bachelor's degrees in physics and English, and a master's in science writing.

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