Why does paper fold so well?

纸张为何折叠得如此得体？

CrowdScience

2026-06-13

26 分钟
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单集简介 ...

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 - Credit:BBC)
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  • We'll start by creating the structural creases.

  • So place your paper with the color side down.

  • Color side down, OK?

  • You're listening to Crowd Science from the BBC World Service, the show inspired by your curiosity.

  • For the paper diagonally.

  • And sometimes by your skills.

  • The corner to corner, ensuring the edges align precisely.

  • Crowdscience listener Haruka is helping me make an origami crane over a video call from Tokyo, Japan.

  • A paper crane is a symbol of longevity and healthy life, so it's special and iconic to us.

  • Origami is a Japanese word that literally translates to paper folding.

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