MIT researchers have built a mathematical framework that converts the inner workings of natural objects, such as pine cones, into mix-and-match building blocks for adaptive materials that can be 3D printed. The work, published August 17, 2026 in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, runs from biological mechanics through mathematically validated designs to executable print code.
Pine cones open in dry air and close when it’s damp because humidity first changes cellulose fibers, then laminas, tissue layers, and finally the whole organ. The framework models each level as a separately validated block, uses category theory to keep transitions valid, and maps each natural block to a synthetic counterpart. Fabrication specs come out as machine-ready instructions.
“What really excites me about this work is going beyond bio-inspiration to what we could call ‘bio-derivation,’ where we move past observing a unique behavior to capturing the relationships and mechanisms that are actually producing that behavior, and then finding a systematic way to translate them into an engineered system,” said Lee Marom, an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering and architecture and the paper’s lead author.
Researchers also mapped humidity-driven twisting in a wheat awn, then mixed blocks from both plants to 3D-print an actuator that twists when heated. Tests matched the prediction. Potential uses include moisture-responsive shingles, soft robotic grippers that don’t need complex electronics, and airplane wings that change shape with temperature.
The researchers plan to tackle objects with more complex mechanics and fold artificial intelligence into the pipeline to speed discovery of new adaptive materials.
Source: news.mit.edu
