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Why is paper so foldable?

Origami is the art of folding paper, but what makes paper remember its creases?

Haruka has been making origami cranes out of paper since she was a child, but creating one out of a cloth napkin 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 that makes it remember its creases?

CrowdScience sets out to unfold her question, armed with an array of paper products. We peer into paper’s microscopic structure, test different materials’ foldability, and discover how folding paper gives it exciting new properties.

Presented by Caroline Steel
Produced by Cathy Edwards for the Âé¶¹Éç World Service

Release date:

27 minutes

On radio

Fri 19 Jun 2026 19:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 19 Jun 2026 19:32GMT
  • Mon 22 Jun 2026 01:32GMT
  • Mon 22 Jun 2026 04:32GMT
  • Mon 22 Jun 2026 08:32GMT
  • Mon 22 Jun 2026 12:32GMT

Podcast