Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, Japan, and colleagues, have taken the art of origami to new heights. Or technically, new smalls: the team managed to create microscopic origami folds using tissue cultures:
The team created flat origami designs by cutting thin plastic sheets. Then they grew cells that crossed the seams of the tiny plates. The first clips in this video use animal connective tissue cells, which typically help wounds heal, to make the patterns bend when nudged. But in later examples, the flexible joints fold automatically when rat heart cells are used.
The team hopes the process could eventually help create artificial blood vessels as well as other biological tissue.
New Scientists has the video clip you should watch: Link