Researchers have discovered a new class of origami patterns, dubbed “bloom patterns,” which resemble idealized flowers and offer promising properties for future engineering uses. Created by Brigham Young University sophomore Zhongyuan Wang, the bloom patterns can be folded into compact shapes, constructed from a single sheet, and scaled up to create larger structures.
Wang’s explorations of paper folding led to collaborations with Professor Larry Howell at B.Y.U. and origami artist Robert Lang in Pasadena, Calif. The team reported their findings in a recent paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
Bloom patterns are rotationally symmetric around their centers, making them ideal for large structures sent to outer space. Their unique properties make them suitable for applications such as satellite deployment and planetary exploration. Wang hopes that his work can have practical benefits for the world, saying, “I love to do origami, but if I can use origami to make practical applications that benefit the world, that will be a dream come true.”
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/science/origami-bloom-patterns.html