About this episode
The episode explores the science behind why paper folds so well, featuring insights from experts and a listener's origami experience.
CrowdScience listener Haruka has been making origami cranes out of paper since she was a child. Creating one out of a cloth napkin, however, was a next-level challenge. It gave her a new appreciation of paper’s excellent foldability, and made her wonder: what is it about paper’s structure that means it remembers its creases? We set out to unfold her question as we peer into paper’s secrets. First stop: Frogmore, the world’s first mechanised paper mill. Here, Dr Steven Mann is on hand to explain the papermaking process, the chemistry of paper, and why that makes for a foldable sheet. Host Caroline Steel tries to make a paper crane, assisted by both listener Haruka and origami teacher Toshiko Kurata, who also introduces us to an array of paper types. Each type folds differently, and, with the help of a trusty microscope, Professor Bill Sampson from the University of Manchester reveals why. Finally, we see just how complex paper folding can get, meeting Professor Tomohiro Tachi from the University of Tokyo, and his invention, The Origamizer. Presenter: Caroline Steel Producer: Cathy Edwards Editor: Ben Motley (Photo: Toshiko Kurata and Caroline Steel with origami creations…
People in this episode
Host: Caroline Steel
Guests: Dr Steven Mann, Toshiko Kurata, Professor Bill Sampson, Professor Tomohiro Tachi
Topics covered
- origami
- paper folding
- papermaking
- material science
- creativity
- education
Keywords
- paper
- foldability
- origami
- creases
- papermaking
- material properties
- Frogmore
- University of Manchester
- University of Tokyo
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Manchester, University of Tokyo, BBC
Places: Frogmore
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