Bend & Snap: Origami Inspires New Ways to Fold Curved Objects

A new mathematical rule explains how simple, 3D curved surfaces — such as domes or saddles — can be folded and snapped into new positions or to form different structures. As such, understanding how to bend materials smoothly or snap them quickly could enable more efficient mechanical designs, said Arthur Evans, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "There's a lot of math behind how you can fold flat things," Evans told Live