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Imagine a house that could fit in a backpack or a wall that could become a window with the flick of a switch. Harvard researchers have designed a new type of foldable material that is versatile, tunable and self-actuated. The structure is inspired by an origami technique called snapology, and is made from extruded cubes with 24 faces and 36 edges.
Like origami, the cube can be folded along its edges to change shape, size and volume. It can fold flat to withstand the weight of an elephant without breaking, and pop right back up to prepare for the next task.Image credit: Image courtesy of Johannes Overvelde/Harvard SEAS
