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The Unfolding Evolution Of Origami

Terri D'Arcangelo
Robert J. Lang's Yellow Jacket.

How do you make a 100-meter telescope that folds down to three meters so you can tuck it inside a space vehicle? How do you make a heart stent that folds out inside the human body? In each case, researchers have turned to masters of origami, the thousand-year-old art of paper folding.

On this show, we'll hear how paper folding went from a quaint, simple hobby, to an extensive work of art that achieves hundreds of intricate folds. We'll also hear how origami is used beyond the art world, in mathematics, science, and technology.

Watch the PBS documentary, "Between The Folds."

See Robert J. Lang's TED Talk, "The Math & Magic of Origami".

Email Colin@wnpr.org, or tweet us: @wnprcolin.

GUESTS:

  • Robert J. Lang is one of the world’s leading masters of the art and mathematics of origami
  • Erik Demaine is a professor of Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he received a MacArthur Fellowship as a “computational geometer tackling and solving difficult problems related to folding and bending"

This episode originally aired on March 13, 2014

Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
Chion Wolf is the host of Audacious with Chion Wolf on Connecticut Public, spotlighting the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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