How an ancient paper-folding art can support 10,000 times its own weight
Explore the transformative potential of origami with 14-year-old Miles Wu. This video demonstrates how simple paper scraps can be engineered into complex structures, moving from festive ornaments to advanced patterns with extraordinary load-bearing capabilities.
In his TED talk, Miles Wu showcases the versatility of origami, an ancient art form that transcends simple decoration. While the practice can produce delicate items like Christmas ornaments and pigeons, its structural potential is far more profound. Wu highlights specific folding patterns capable of supporting a weight 10,000 times greater than the paper itself, illustrating how the geometry of a single sheet can be used to solve modern engineering challenges.
Source: Miles Wu: Origami, the ancient art form solving modern problems
