Origami began as a folding tradition with unknown origins, and its best-known model is the paper crane

arts, ideas & societyWikipedia

Origami began as a folding tradition with unknown origins, and its best-known model is the paper crane

the gist

Origami is the art of folding a flat sheet of paper into a three-dimensional sculpture, usually without cuts or glue. The word is Japanese, but the practice is found in many cultures and its exact origin is unknown. In Japan, a distinction is drawn between ceremonial folding, called origata, used in gift wrapping and rituals, and recreational origami, which is what most people mean by the term. Traditional Japanese folding was practised at least from the Edo period (1603 to 1868), and it often allowed cuts and non-square sheets. The best-known model is the paper crane, built from a small set of basic folds combined in many ways.

how it works

Origami works by combining a small set of basic folds such as the valley fold, mountain fold and reverse fold. Each fold creates creases that let the flat paper change shape in a predictable way. Designers plan the crease pattern in advance, so complex models come from careful arrangement of simple moves.

so what

Origami shows how a few simple folds can produce complex forms, a principle now used in engineering, from folding stents to packaging and even folded structures in biology such as DNA. Its modern version, which bans cuts and glue, is a rule set that was not always there.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗