What you see here is not just any paper crane. It represents a groundbreaking innovation that could transform the way we reuse spacecraft, design advanced suits, and even generate energy for electronic devices. This innovation is deeply rooted in the ancient art of origami.
Let’s begin with the concept of metamaterials. These are artificial materials engineered to possess properties not found in nature. They are crafted with repeating structures that enable them to manipulate the flow of electromagnetic or physical waves. The extraordinary properties of metamaterials, such as bending light or exhibiting superconductivity, arise from their structure rather than their composition. This allows engineering teams, like those at the University of Washington, to create seemingly impossible properties using simple materials like acrylic and paper.
This particular design draws inspiration from the mathematical principles of origami. While origami has been practiced in Japan since at least the 17th century, there are surprisingly few studies on the dynamics of these intricate shapes that can transform from a flat sheet into complex forms. Consider a Möbius strip, for instance. How many sides does it have? Is it two-dimensional or three-dimensional? These questions highlight the principles of origami that are now being applied to space telescopes, deep-sea robotics, drug delivery systems, and artificial muscles.
In this instance, aeronautical engineers have developed a stunning modular structure using shapes known as TCOs, or Triangulated Cylindrical Origami. Unlike typical metamaterials that become rigid under compression, this structure exhibits “strain-softening behavior.” Essentially, the engineers have discovered a method to transform a compression wave—a forceful push—into a tension wave—a pulling force.
This structure, based on the arrangement of its planes, creases, and tension points, can effectively reverse a physical force using everyday materials and geometric principles. As demonstrated in this 3D model, when a compression wave impacts the structure, it generates an opposing tensile wave that significantly softens the impact.
Imagine the possibilities: football helmets or airbags crafted from this material, or its use in construction zones vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes. If we can efficiently convert kinetic, electromagnetic, or thermal energy into electrical energy, we might eventually eliminate the need for conventional batteries. The ability to convert one form of kinetic energy into its opposite is a crucial step in this direction.
One of the most thrilling potential applications of this technology is in recyclable spacecraft. Since SpaceX’s Falcon 9 demonstrated the feasibility of controlled re-entry, descent, and landing, engineers have been captivated by the idea of reusable rockets, which could make space exploration more affordable and accessible than ever before.
It’s remarkable that an ancient craft like origami is leading to incredible innovations in 21st-century technology. For more insights into space origami, explore this episode of Focal Point, which discusses how NASA engineers designed a starshade that can fit inside a rocket but unfold to the size of a baseball field. Stay tuned to Seeker for all your materials science updates, and share in the comments which meta-invention excites you the most.
Engage in a hands-on workshop where you will create simple origami models and explore their potential as metamaterials. Experiment with different paper structures to understand how their geometric properties can influence physical behaviors like wave manipulation.
Participate in a challenge to solve mathematical puzzles using origami principles. Explore concepts such as the Möbius strip and other complex shapes to gain a deeper understanding of the mathematical elegance behind origami and its applications in technology.
Collaborate in teams to design and build a model using Triangulated Cylindrical Origami (TCO) structures. Test your model’s ability to convert compression waves into tension waves, and present your findings on its potential applications in real-world scenarios.
Join a brainstorming session to discuss and develop innovative ideas for future applications of origami-inspired metamaterials. Consider fields such as aerospace, robotics, and sustainable energy, and propose novel solutions that leverage the unique properties of these materials.
Attend a seminar featuring guest speakers from the field of aerospace engineering. Learn about the latest advancements in space origami, including NASA’s starshade project, and discuss the potential impact of these technologies on future space missions.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
—
What you’re looking at is no standard paper crane. It is a breakthrough development that could one day allow us to reuse spacecraft, build advanced suits, or even harvest energy for electronics, and it all relies on the ancient art of origami.
Let’s start at the beginning. This is a metamaterial. A metamaterial is an artificial substance engineered to exhibit properties that we haven’t found in nature so far. They’re designed with repeating structures that allow them to direct and control the flow of electromagnetic or physical waves through them. Metamaterials have incredible properties, like light-bending abilities or superconductivity, that come from their structure rather than their substance. This means that engineering teams, like the one at the University of Washington, can create reality-bending properties from something as simple as acrylic and paper.
This design in particular draws from the mathematical concepts of origami. While the ancient art of paper-folding has been understood and utilized in Japan since at least the 17th century, there are remarkably few studies about the dynamics of these complex shapes that can fold and unfold from a two-dimensional sheet. You might think about a Möbius strip, for example. How many sides does it have? Is it two- or three-dimensional? Take that idea further, and you’ll find the principles of origami at the core of space telescopes, deep-sea robotics, drug delivery systems, and artificial muscles.
In this case, these aeronautical engineers created a beautiful modular structure using shapes they call TCOs, which stands for Triangulated Cylindrical Origami. Unlike other metamaterials, which typically harden under compression, this structure exhibits “strain-softening behavior.” This essentially means that the engineers found a way to turn a compression wave—a push or heavy impact—into a tension wave—a pull.
This structure, based on the arrangement of its planes, creases, and tension points, can literally reverse a physical force using everyday materials and geometry. As you can see in this 3D model, as the impact from the compression wave travels through this structure, it creates an opposite force ahead of it: the tensile wave. This happens so quickly that the tensile wave actually opposes the impact, softening it significantly.
Imagine applications like football helmets or airbags made from this material. Consider how useful it could be in construction areas prone to natural disasters, like earthquakes. If we can find ways to efficiently convert kinetic, electromagnetic, or thermal energy into electrical energy, we might be able to move away from conventional batteries entirely. The conversion of one kind of kinetic energy into its opposite is a significant step in this direction.
One of the most exciting potential applications of this technology is recyclable spacecraft. Since SpaceX’s Falcon 9 demonstrated that controlled re-entry, descent, and landing is possible, engineers have been fascinated with the idea of reusable rockets that would make space exploration cheaper and more accessible than ever before.
It’s impressive that an ancient craft is paving the way for incredible innovations in 21st-century technology. For more on space origami, check out this episode of Focal Point on how NASA engineers created a starshade that can fit in a rocket but unfold to the size of a baseball field. Don’t forget to subscribe to Seeker for all your materials science news, and let us know in the comments what meta-invention you’re most excited about.
—
This version removes informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s meaning.
Origami – The mathematical study of paper folding, which can be used to solve complex problems in geometry and engineering. – Researchers are exploring how origami principles can be applied to design foldable solar panels in space engineering.
Metamaterials – Artificially structured materials engineered to have properties not found in naturally occurring materials, often used to manipulate electromagnetic waves. – Metamaterials have been used to create lenses that can focus light beyond the diffraction limit, a breakthrough in optical physics.
Mathematics – The abstract science of number, quantity, and space, which can be applied to various fields such as physics and engineering. – Mathematics is essential for modeling the behavior of particles in quantum physics.
Engineering – The application of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. – Engineering students often use calculus to determine the stress on materials in structural analysis.
Waves – Oscillations that transfer energy through space or matter, fundamental to the study of sound, light, and other physical phenomena. – Understanding the properties of waves is crucial for developing technologies like ultrasound imaging.
Superconductivity – A phenomenon where a material can conduct electricity without resistance, often occurring at very low temperatures. – The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity has the potential to revolutionize power transmission systems.
Kinetic – Relating to or resulting from motion, often used in the context of kinetic energy, which is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. – The kinetic energy of a moving car is proportional to the square of its velocity, a principle used in crash safety engineering.
Energy – The quantitative property that must be transferred to an object to perform work or to be converted into heat, often measured in joules. – In thermodynamics, energy conservation is a fundamental principle that governs the behavior of closed systems.
Structures – Arrangements or organizations of parts to form an entity, often analyzed in engineering to ensure stability and integrity. – The analysis of load-bearing structures is a critical component of civil engineering.
Geometry – The branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, and solids. – Non-Euclidean geometry plays a significant role in the theory of general relativity, describing the curvature of space-time.
