Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have introduced a new class of metamaterials based on 'collapsible scissored surfaces,' completing a trilogy of design principles that also includes kirigami and origami. The work, led by Professor L. Mahadevan of the Soft Math Lab, was published in Nature on June 24, 2026.
These metamaterials consist of rigid plates connected by hinges in a scissor-like pattern, allowing them to collapse and expand in multiple directions. Unlike traditional materials that deform through stretching or bending, these structures change shape by folding along predefined creases, enabling transformations from flat sheets to complex three-dimensional forms.
The team demonstrated prototypes that can morph into spheres, saddles, and other curved surfaces. Potential applications include deployable space structures, adaptive building facades, and medical stents that expand on demand. The principle builds on earlier work from the same lab on kirigami (cutting) and origami (folding) metamaterials.
Mahadevan noted that the collapsible scissored surfaces offer a unique combination of strength and flexibility, with the ability to lock into stable configurations. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the Simons Foundation.
