Mathematicians And Artists Use Algorithms To Make Complicated Paper Origami

September 1, 2008 — Mathematicians design new figures in a traditional art form called origami, using modern techniques. Innovations developed in pursuit of the art find application in multiple fields, including applied mathematics and engineering. One application is the use of folding algorithms to pack air bags.

Can a piece of paper save your life? You probably don't know one modern invention was derived from the science of origami, the ancient art of paper folding.

"What first got me as a kid was the idea that you can create all these different shapes from such a simple starting material -- an uncut sheet of paper," says origami artist and engineer Robert Lang, Ph.D.

Origami is the traditional technique of Japanese paper folding. Modern science agrees there's a lot they couldn't do with out this ancient art form.

"Science, technology, space, automotive, medicine -- all these different fields have benefited from origami," Dr. Lang says.

Dr. Lang is one of America's greatest origami artists. He can fold just about anything from a single sheet of paper. He's honored that his art can also be effective for education and invention.

"There has been some testing that shows that after students have done origami, that they have a higher appreciation or understanding of various mathematical geometric concepts," he says.

It's an ancient science that uses mathematics for modern day miracles. The twists and bends in an origami turtle may just make their way into your cell phone's circuit board. And how can a paper scorpion actually save your life? The origami algorithms used to fold bugs are the same ones behind the invention of the air bags in your car.

More on this at ScienceDaily.com.