Manu Prakash: A 50-cent microscope that folds like origami

Perhaps you've punched out a paper doll or folded an origami swan? TED Fellow Manu Prakash and his team have created a microscope made of paper that's just as easy to fold and use. A sparkling demo that shows how this invention could revolutionize healthcare in developing countries ... and turn almost anything into a fun, hands-on science experiment.
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[@lugosky02]

Give this man a nobel prize. Pronto!!!!!

[@ishamahmed]

yup. give him a Nobel prize

[@najemabaakil29]

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a Nobel prize in engineering. However, Dr. Prakash did win the MacArthur Genius Grant a couple years back which is also one of the most prestigious research awards in the USA.

[@randomdude9135]

Yeah

[@indiananimecreator8471]

yes he really deserves a Nobel prize

[@LKINTELLIGENCE]

*Sad, noble is corrupt and biased like oscar.*

[@redmed10]

Why can't all ted and tedx talks be like this. Useful,inspiring, original, succinct and relevant to modern world.

[@StephanAinley]

I want to order one for every student of mine right now.

[@harsham8122]

In India it still costs nearly 500 Rs.

[@karthikkumaran7141]

@@harsham8122 can you say where to buy

[@harsham8122]

@@karthikkumaran7141 Hello sir you can buy from Amazon, a single foldscope costs around 500 ₹ to 600 ₹ ,. But still I feel it costly.

[@sangramjitchakraborty7845]

@@harsham8122 dude a microscope can cost more than 50k rupees and you think 500 is too expensive? A blood test costs more than 500 these days.

[@harsham8122]

@@sangramjitchakraborty7845 , production cost is way more cheaper bro.

[@srimansrini]

Manu Prakash and his team's paradigm-shift invention of 50-cent microscope is a revolutionary idea. It certainly going to make lots of differences and wipe out the problem of diagnosis in the poorest part of the world. The rousing applause and standing ovation for his talk foretells its resounding success on the field. Highly recommended. Particularly people from the health departments of different countries should watch this marvelous technology. Highly recommended.

[@nickverdier9282]

Open School a

[@7_y1ar]

its been 7 years since you made the comment. you can still only buy it online on most countries, especially poor ones

[@armitra]

This is what INNOVATION means to me. Look at what he has done. This will change the face of field medicine and pathology. This guy from India has actually come up with an innovation that is impactful, much needed, actually solves a big problem, cuts down cost, mass producible and fun!

[@crowpaper2882]

this was 5 years ago. why are they not in use everywhere already?

[@birdsama6670]

Exactly

[@minkushkansal8384]

@@birdsama6670 there is another TED talk by him from 2017, it gives us the idea that its going somewhere, also to a lot of kids to make them curious and passionate about science. The link to the video is : kzbin.info/www/bejne/i32xgX98p7mcqLM

[@ArjunSharma-gy1eq]

Capitalism

[@williamsmith6921]

Because they aren't being used in large places like America and the EU they are being used in developing countries

[@crowpaper2882]

@@williamsmith6921 well im in a developing country and ive never seen or heard of it

[@DarshanSingh-ux9dt]

This man needs a noble prize.

[@AK56fire]

Slight correction: Nobel prize needs this man.

[@gladiatoredit2782]

@@AK56fire your grammar teacher wants your location

[@AK56fire]

@@gladiatoredit2782 Apparently, the word play passed you through and through.. Maybe some sort of microscope to get the meaning behind the obvious, would help you.

[@gladiatoredit2782]

@@AK56fire still active after 2 years 😅

[@AK56fire]

@@gladiatoredit2782 haha.. Yes.. It's always a delight to hear about Manu's work..

[@demonsorrows]

These people deserve a Nobel. Amazing. Well done!

[@jaimebenito620]

Truly impressive.

[@MsSBVideos]

That thing costs less than a chocolate bar! Amazing!

[@calanon534]

Yes, and it can save more lives than a chocolate bar. Strategically applied, one chocolate bar might save three or four, maybe five, people from a rampaging human desperately in need of dopamine. This microscope? One can save thousands.

[@dy5t3ctic32]

@@calanon534 lol desperately in need of dopamine

[@oliverbernards2911]

Dope

[@0oBlitzoo]

At that cost, every person in the world should have one. Amazing

[@tsresc]

I got one, 5 years later. XD

[@Xarphor]

That'd still be like $14,000,000,000 Edit: not enough zeroes

[@Leotique]

Well they need a device to zoom in.

[@josephsujai5543]

Proud to be a human. Proud to be an Indian, this is as big as the invention of the light bulb for the developing world

[@ПрикладнаЕкономіка]

common, simple used microscope (and higher quality than this paper microscope) cost just 10 usd and little understanding of his user

[@WaiWu]

This is why I love TED, amazing ideas and people, solving problems that I didn't even know existed. The future is zooming in even closer than I expected.

[@safenders]

this is terrible news for microscope salesmen

[@zeekthehammer269]

soon ted may be able to leak free energy machines\ poor guys that control us with energy are gonna be just as sad as these microscope salesmen lol

[@D4rkTooga]

Just like horsesales-men at the invention of the automobile.

[@safenders]

zeekthe hammer I wish

[@flatplant]

This is great news for origami salesmen

[@lokeshk3871]

Vishwaguru bharatha

[@Skandar0007]

To the 4 microscope companies that disliked this video, deal with it.

[@mykuttiangel]

ha ha...

[@DevanshGuptaChess]

now they are 201

[@honeytgb]

Lol 🤣

[@randomtrucks]

After watching this I can't help but think... Why the hell is our school spending so much money on microscopes?!

[@EmeraldDuo]

It's 25 dollars for one...

[@KevinknPham]

randomtrucks my middle school once got a couple microscopes from a pharmacy because they got new ones and almost threw their old ones away

[@rayr1444]

randomtrucks. Because these are cheap, paper junk. Throwaways, like a plastic water bottle.

[@aradhana1099]

In India the education is such a headache... Leave it...

[@calanon534]

*Microsope Mafia!* Imagine, if you will, a gang of toughs. They're mean, nasty, spit their tea on the ground, and chew their Metamucil raw. Fedoras, pinstripe pants, shined shoes.. and labcoats. "We hear that you're attempting to break our monopoly. While we cannot predict the future, it would be horrible if something unfortunate were to befall you." And they walk away, without ever excusing themselves (how rude).

[@25platypus]

A great invention that may save millions of lives costing only 50 cents and some origami work. Amazing.

[@SLim-ih7lq]

This does bring a smile to my face.

[@tsresc]

"If you want to zoom something, you better do it yourself."

[@sbeast64]

Now your thinking with origami...

[@ExclusiveManual]

DaGingerHeadMan *claps*

[@wizard2907]

This is brilliant, such a great device. I could listen to this for an hour, 10 min, just doesn't do it justice.

[@terrywarren4876]

My packet of 12 Foldscopes arrived in the mail today. I am anxious to start using these portable microscopes in the classroom!

[@palak4366]

Hey Terry, Can you please tell me where did you buy it from? The price mentioned on amazon is much higher than the supposed price.

[@powerofdiscipline]

Palak it's available on Amazon

[@LilOleTinyMe]

Palak I'm guessing they increase the price here so they can sell others at a lost to developing countries.

[@SumitSingh-iz9pw]

It's a demand supply thing ... Things in high demand are sold at high price

[@amazingdude9042]

@@SumitSingh-iz9pw no you fucking moron. Their main aim is to provide it to less developed countries for cheap le even free. All that profit goes into that.

[@WisemanTimes]

Brilliant... I hope many kids are saved with this.

[@WisemanTimes]

Thomas Rufer Yes indeed.. there is always more that can be done.. but the first steps are always needed for the rest to follow. This will allow that first step to happen anywhere that it is needed.

[@AllRise87]

Thomas Rufer Yes, but for many of these diseases, early diagnosis is the best cure.

[@verbal007]

Well-deserved standing ovation.

[@alexpotential3190]

I'm very tempted to thumbs down for the simple reason that I recently purchased a microscope for £109....but I decided to thumbs up for the sake of the human race.

[@hollowsalah]

Alex Potential that's tuff

[@凱-b4u]

that ain't right, it is only like $1 US

[@JohnSmith-hc5iu]

@@KH-lo4qb Just because some people have it worse than me or you, doesn't mean our problems aren't valid. Get off your fucking high horse.

[@Vekcrazah]

John Smith i can sense the humor from this comment a mile away... Im surprised you did not

[@JohnSmith-hc5iu]

@@Vekcrazah The Joke My head

[@IridescentAudio]

best TED in a while

[@sushanthmarathe246]

Low cost technology is the future, every human should enjoy the benefits.. Who would dislike this video? Crazy..

[@IsSac_NOOBton]

Pakistanis

[@shaamsolanki2881]

@@LKINTELLIGENCE Gaumutra drinkers commenting on a science video?

[@ViratKohli-jj3wj]

@@shaamsolanki2881 goat cutter commenting on a Science video?

[@shaamsolanki2881]

@@ViratKohli-jj3wj I'm an atheist but OK, I like mutton and beef.

[@ViratKohli-jj3wj]

@@shaamsolanki2881 I am an atheist too. But I hate Pakistanis.

[@bswj861]

It would be nice if smartphone camera work like a microscope.

[@sarangchoudhari3950]

We can attach this microscope to mobile camera.

[@kamikaze6198]

@@sarangchoudhari3950 or just literally mmakeshift one

[@tecwzrd]

You can build one for about $10 to work with your smartphone to up 175X magnification kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaGwhZ6olMacj7c Or for $65 you can buy the Nurugo Micro for up to 400X magnification kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmPbqoWYpbJna6c www.amazon.com/Nurugo-Micro-Smallest-Smartphone-Microscope/dp/B01K07NJUK

[@somyongkim6748]

There are phone accessories that allow you to use your phone like a microscope.

[@upendrasinhmahida6375]

Yes yes yes.give this genius a noble prize of medicine.he deserves it.this is a genuine Indian brain.god bless him.

[@SAsgarters]

Standing ovation, fuck yeah.

[@atulsharma2521]

Just revolutionary

[@Hoshilover422]

agreed

[@vadagh]

Nobel Prize worthy.

[@jamie4390]

Fantastic development for modern technology, it great to see people changing common expensive outdated tools to cheap developed tools.

[@sugarsyrupp]

I applaud you Manu Prakash. This is amazing

[@anveshvanam]

2019 and this is still not famous and not available to buy at that price too

[@tinybabybread]

It costs 50 cents to _make_ It'll always be sold for more than that

[@Shadowrunner123]

it's 25$ on amazon. Granted, not 50 cents for production, but that's not thousands of dollars.

[@tonysmith6967]

@@Shadowrunner123 It's actually 1.75$ on their website. www.foldscope.com/ People are buying from their website to sell on other platforms for much costlier. You should order from their website only.

[@tonysmith6967]

@@tinybabybread It's actually 1.75$ on their website. www.foldscope.com/ People are buying from their website to sell on other platforms for much costlier. You should order from their website only.

[@tonysmith6967]

It's actually 1.75$ on their website. www.foldscope.com/ People are buying from their website to sell on other platforms for much costlier. You should order from their website only.

[@harryj567]

Probably the BEST INVENTION ever!! 🙏

[@yashpatel3828]

Genius...! Proud to be an Indian ! 😊

[@ultravidz]

The marriage of science and art... unbeatable.

[@pradeep815]

Bold, brilliant and a real genius as a designer and incredibly creative & intelligent person...thank you TED and thank you dear Manu Prakash..Heartiest Congratulations...

[@ahmedharagi7191]

Genius with a great cause.

[@nightshadowblade]

Great idea! You should put this stuff in all kinds of magazines, especially for children.

[@billybobinthehouse12]

Simple, effective and cheap. You don't get to say that often.

[@Leotique]

Manu Prakash is surely one of my Idol if it comes to inventions and being creative. Thank you Manu !!!

[@josepajares5684]

Pure genius.

[@MaxRoudriges]

This video should never get a dislike

[@LETBej]

Finally, a real idea at TED!

[@AkashSingh-nc9zm]

Brilliant!!! I'm just wondering how it's not the most watched TED video..

[@isaac62]

Found this video recently and discovered that this technology must be rerevealed again

[@Veravanwhoop]

I just received the fully functional scope. It is amazing!

[@diljothomas]

Fantastic. It will help to change the public health space - the doorstep healthcare

[@magottyk]

Nice adaption of an old idea. The very first microscopes were a single lens in a flat plate that you held up to your eye.

[@darkseid856]

Those are Simple Microscopes (convex lens) that you are talking about (I guess) But remember that simple Microscopes cannot magnify things to such an extent .

[@asaradhi]

great initiative! how do you keep the scope sterile so that users do not get infected during observation? When do you throw the scope away: No of times used before disposal?

[@zwex4]

I'm blown away at how small we (he) can make such complex technology!

[@TotallyMH729TsMH]

I wish this will get more views. This is needs to be known to more people :)

[@Rabbitsliver]

This should be the standard equipment for every primary, secondary and also tertiary science education everywhere. But why haven't I heard of it anywhere but just on KZbin as of 2019?

[@amangupta-bc4oi]

mind blowing. he really went out of the box to bring such a technology at such a price. thats somethng called "technology for masses". waiting to use it someday. cheers for science.

[@shivansh5579]

and innovative too

[@mirrorflame1988]

Incredible! This would be a great invention that can lead to further inventions reducing the price and complexity of other vital lab equipments!!

[@dondake3409]

Underrated Ted talk.

[@pappaflammyboi5799]

I'll give you a standing ovation too... right where I sit watching this video. Impressive, truly impressive. Thank you.

[@ashoksubra]

Some people make their lives utterly useful to humanity. This is one such effort which is absolutely laudable and commendable. Power to science!

[@utubedano]

OMG! I'm soo blown away!! Absolutely brilliant!!

[@accordiongoose4635]

Imagine what this will do to the other disposable microscope companies! You’ll put them all out of business!

[@TheRealKitWalker]

Manu prakash I love you due and applaud you my dear friend. You're a true friend of humanity and benevolence.

[@PARTHASARATHISAMANTARAY]

It was in june 2012 and we are now in 2014. How come we are not seeing this in distribution.

[@sittialyssatamama2272]

This deserves a nobel prize!!!!!

[@balikakamble1433]

awesome. i really dont know how origami can used for various ways,but this is the best use of origami that really changed extraordinary things. thank you very much.

[@Kabuki87]

+Balika Kamble There are other amazing uses for origami, too. One is the folding of air bags in cars so that when they explosively expand they don't get tangled up in themselves. (this is courtesy of Robert Lang, an engineer and origami artist extraordinaire) Additionally, it is now being used in medical settings with devices that can be placed inside the patient and then unfold themselves into the functional configuration.

[@Newbie12381]

@@Kabuki87 sorry, i am doing a research about origami and this seems interesting, but i dont see much of the application of origami here,so if you know plese reply

[@jayeetamitra2659]

Marvelous...what a finest engineering application he did...truly awesome

[@x2xHalox2x]

This should definitely be in schools. and i'll buy one just for the hecks n its cheap haha

[@joshstewart2505]

But you could buy a third of a hamburger with that money!

[@sunilkumshah8704]

It's 35 $

[@endmysuffering2925]

Its sold for a higher price for people who buy it for no reason. It's sold at a loss to those in need.

[@sikegamingandanimation303]

My mom bought it for 50 bucks.

[@a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i93]

I wonder how many lives you can save with this... Bless u :)

[@prodyumno]

This is simply awesome sir!!!!!!

[@arifakyuz7673]

This is one of the coolest things I have seen!

[@itsmanjutube]

Matter of pride for India and good news for the whole world :) . kudos to this guy :)

[@abdulrasheeddanwar2023]

A revolutionary invention. Congratulations.

[@KC-hd3wi]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AMAZING AND INSPIRING WORK SIR MANU !!!!!!!

[@おじさんe]

折り紙をこんな使い方するとは 着眼点が素晴らしすぎて賞賛の言葉以外見つからない。

[@user-fx2oo3bi9c]

People :Every school need at least one microscope .🧐 This man : Every person need own microscope .😎

[@MimiYuYu]

Bravo!! Family members can process the slides and detect the diseases. Lowered shipping costs and less storage. Great idea. Why the 'thumbs down'?

[@kapildnayar528]

Wow just wow.. wordless right now

[@jingo49]

Manu is a 'God send' to humanity .... so it seems .... kudos to him & his team .... heros all.

[@alvarwinquist4147]

This is a proof that small things can make a big impact! :)

[@midomamdoh4909]

sure

[@silentwhisper8633]

This video from 2014!!!?? Where is he now? Life is truly good against evil. A constant battle to help humans, animals, and Mother Earth. Thank you to ALL the good people, wether smart or not, everyone counts.

[@spongedudeZ]

And to think the Iphone, while fancy is hardly revolutionary, sells for $1000..

[@dawnqwerty]

spongedudeZ but like an Iphone is incredibly more powerful than a microscope

[@masanobumaou]

Thats true. But can u see bacterias with it? Ignoring joke, we should not compare the two, but 1000% for a mobile is still too expensive. It's not that I want an iPhone anytime soon and ever. If it works well a Chinese budget phone is my choice. But I get the point, that is, we should think more how to make revolutionary but cheap things that will help people with low or no income. And don't send them (even if we want to just help) machines that they can't operate because of lack of knowledge.

[@14bqdonk]

@@dawnqwerty Iphone just expensive because of the "brand"

[@14bqdonk]

apple = luxury and makes people proud of using it although its not have many features that other phone brand have that have big difference in terms of price.

[@ograkthemonkeyhunter2743]

@@14bqdonk well, apples luxury factor is just the look, price and UI. There isnt a benefit for iphones compared to similar level android devices.

[@cmishoo]

I just came across this, WOW , absolutely amazing. Who are the 232 A holes that gave this a thumbs down? At what stage is this now?

[@Cortesevasive]

throw away microscopes really ? thats just extra litter on the streets

[@RakeshDutta1]

Disruptive Innovation!! Thumbs Up.

[@sahiba27g]

It's awesome , just 50cents and you have the whole setup to diagnose is a wow

[@sthomastt]

Amazing innovation

[@gmanb5]

This is an amazing invention.

[@amishar3]

I don't know how they give out nobel prize, this for me is a done deal! So impressed!! Thanks You!!!

[@LeonidasGGG]

This is just so awesome, the medical industry will never allow it.

[@JatinGera]

i think medical industry will have no choice or control over something profound as this

[@brachagoldsmith6389]

Absolutely amazing!! Thank you for sharing this.

[@thegoldenanvil124]

I love his accent.

[@bryllenamuag3950]

its weird its been 4 years but it is still not available or known world wide

[@NikhilBalakrishnan]

amazing

[@JIYkp]

Absolutely amazing. We need more of this.

[@SangoProductions213]

Holy crap, this is amazing as fucking hell. microscopes cost so much, and are often clunky to use, and break easily. This is super, super cheap...half a dollar, according to them, maybe a full dollar if they want to get a 1:1 profit, extremely, relatively durable...and appears to be pretty basic to use. (Can't really judge that last part, but it looks that way.) Imagine how much schools can save by switching to these, when one of their old microscopes break down instead of shoveling thousands more dollars a year for them. Not to mention it's pretty damned portable. This could very well revolutionize the couple hundred year-old microscope design.

[@Antwineantoine]

Origami is solving many science problems like this and much more. Looks like the art of origami is the key we need to help us move forward

[@galuhkedaton7520]

save billion of people and someday there will be a movie about you, another indian genius Ps. i'm not an indian

[@ShalahudinAlAyubiZLA]

Wow..... This'll definitely safe millions of lives..... Thank you

[@nicknazeer]

This is awesome

[@axolottadamage]

5 years later and I am only just finding this

[@elmo2you]

WOW! Amazing... The cynic in me just hopes that no powerful industry will decide that this great idea is against their interest, for they often manage to find some way to sabotage/destroy great ideas.

[@vickylance]

5 years ago where is it now?