Earwigs take origami to extremes to fold their wings

The insects’ springy wing joints are inspiring robotics design

earwig

WINGING IT  Earwigs don’t normally reveal their wings, but the folded-up appendages unfurl on demand and lock into place until refolded.

Jakob Faber/ETH Zürich

To quickly unfurl and refold their wings, earwigs stretch the rules of origami.