At just 14, Miles Wu of New York City has proven that a simple sheet of paper, if folded with mathematical precision, can hold more than 9,000 times its own weight. His passion for origami inspired him to test 54 variations of the Miura-Ori fold, in a project that earned him first place and a $25,000 grand prize at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge (Thermo Fisher JIC).
He hopes that these origami principles will one day contribute to designs in both temporary emergency shelters and permanent architectural structures, offering lightweight, collapsible, and remarkably strong designs for real-world use.
The national competition, run by Society for Science, reaches more than 60,000 middle school students across the United States and U.S territories through hundreds of affiliated local science fairs, encouraging them to explore and innovate in science, technology, engineering, and math. Out of more than 2,000 top-performing applicants from 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico; just 30 finalists were selected, with Miles Wu among them, to compete in Finals Week in Washington, D.C.
“Miles’ story shows what’s possible when curiosity and character meet opportunity,” says Meron Mathias, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Through programs like the Thermo Fisher JIC, we’re expanding access to STEM experiences for students of all backgrounds to build a generation of innovators who will lead with creativity, compassion, and purpose.”
If you are wondering what the Miura-fold is here is a quick demonstration from Miles Wu himself.
The Journey: Turning Curiosity into Discovery
Wu’s fascination with origami began at age eight, during the pandemic, when he found both solace and challenge in the precision of folding. Three years later, he attended the OrigamiUSA Annual Conferenc, where meeting world-class artists inspired him to see origami not just as art, but as applied science.
“Origami is especially fun for me because I find ways it can overlap with my other interests, like birding, studying insects and now, science research,” he explained.
Wu’s scientific influences include renowned origamist and former NASA physicist Robert J. Lang, MIT professor Erik Demaine; Cornell researcher Itai Cohen, who studies the Miura-Ori fold; and Princeton’s Glaucio H. Paulino, who teaches origami engineering. Their work guided him toward an origami-engineering fusion project, a field that blends art, geometry, and structural mechanics.
Working from his family’s New York City apartment, Wu turned the living room into a makeshift lab. Between stacks of paper and sets of weights, he tested the strength of folded structures by gradually increasing loads until collapse. Though challenging, he said the process of analyzing his data was deeply rewarding. His findings were remarkable: one configuration of the Miura-Ori fold supported more than 9,000 times its own weight. Wu also discovered that shorter, tighter patterns, specifically one-inch-high folds with smaller panels, produced stronger, more stable structures than taller ones with larger panels.
Project Poster
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge
Competing and Winning
At the Thermo Fisher JIC, Wu competed against 29 of his peers, many of whom conducted their research in professional labs with advanced mentoring. His project, carried out entirely from home with minimal resources, stood out for its creativity, rigor, and originality.
“Miles’ remarkable blend of scientific creativity, leadership and collaboration highlights the type of talent Society for Science is proud to support,” said Maya Ajmera, President & CEO, Society for Science and Executive Publisher, Science News.
Here Miles Wu talks about his project and the experience of competing.
“Going into the competition, I really didn’t expect to win anything and was just happy to meet other finalists and compete in team challenges together. But it’s really been an honor to have competed among so many impressive projects,” Wu says. “This competition has taught me that I can conduct meaningful research, even as a kid with limited access and experience. It has shown me that it’s always worth following your curiosity and interests in science, because you don’t know where they could lead you.”
Looking Ahead
Wu isn’t finished exploring the science of folding. He hopes to continue his research with access to advanced tools such as a hydraulic press and a computer numerical control (CNC) milling machine.
“I conducted this project entirely without access to specialized equipment,” he explained. “Having these things at my disposal would make my experimentation much more precise and efficient.”
For now, Wu would like to see his winning design further developed with the help of others and applied toward applications to support people in need.
“I would love to work on prototyping a temporary Miura-Ori structure that could actually be used in real-life emergencies,” he said. “It would truly be a dream for me to work with a mentor who studies origami engineering.”
Outside the lab, Wu’s creativity continues to make an impact. He designs and shares his own origami creations on Instagram (@origamimilesnyc ) and previously raised $2,000 for the Wild Bird Fund by selling origami pigeons. He hopes to publish a book featuring his original designs in the future.