Folding Tech: Using Origami and Nature to Revolutionize Technology

Kenney, Karen Latchana

ISBN 10: 1541533046 ISBN 13: 9781541533042

Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books ™, 2020

Synopsis

Space probes, self-assembling robots, and crash-absorbing cars all have one thing in common: their use of folding technologies.

To develop these technologies, engineers are inspired by a pair of unusual sources―origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, and their own backyards, where nature uses folds to squeeze large surfaces, such as ladybug wings and tree leaves, into tiny areas.

Combined, origami and nature are inspiring a revolution in technology. Learn about origami’s ancient history and how it has become a tool for engineers to solve some of the most complicated challenges in architecture, technology, and medicine. You’ll learn the intricate mathematical laws behind basic origami folds, practice your origami skills with DIY paper folding projects, and discover the amazing complexities of NASA’s Mars INSIGHT lander and PUFFER technology using the Lerner AR augmented reality app.

From a nanorobot that delivers drugs inside the body to a space telescope lens that packs tightly onto a rocket and unfolds to the size of a soccer field, this new field of science is full of amazing possibilities. Engineers are only just beginning to discover what they can do with folding technology. Join them as they explore the connection between art, mathematics, and nature!

About this title

About the Author

Karen Latchana Kenney is an Indian-Irish author and editor, born near the equator in Guyana, and raised far north in Minnesota. She writes both fiction and nonfiction stories about scientific wonders and discoveries, immigrant and biracial experiences, momentous historical events, and civil rights struggles. Her books have received several starred reviews and have been named a 2025 Minnesota Book Awards Finalist, a 2025 Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Finalist, a 2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor book, and a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. She lives in Minnesota with her designer-musician husband and mathematician–robot-building son, where they explore all the wild places they can find. Find her online at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com.

Reviews

Gr 8 Up-Kenney details the history of origami and other folding methods and how these techniques can help solve problems in modern engineering, architecture, technology, and medicine. The text points out that math is the language of the universe, and it has ties to the natural and artificial worlds. Some ideas are repeated throughout the text, such as how the pattern of the Fibonacci sequence can be found in nature, but these are treated as classically understood ideas rather than fresh discoveries. Including contemporary scientific ideas alongside historic theories adds depth to this work, allowing readers to connect concepts from 17th-century paper folding to innovations in upcoming space missions. A variety of art is included, which ranges from traditional Japanese paintings to color photographs. The diversity of art supplements the connection between historical art and contemporary practice. The visual representations of the origami instructions are well drawn and easy to follow. VERDICT This title highlights the "A" in STEAM and is sufficiently meaty in its scientific presentation. The sample origami projects also make this title a great resource to bridge science and origami in the home and classroom.-Lisa Bosarge, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimoreα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books ™
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1541533046
• ISBN 13: 9781541533042
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 104