Game Of Life

The History

The "Game of Life", invented by British mathematician John Conway in 1970, is an iconic example of a cellular automaton, a mathematical model of a discrete universe governed by simple rules. Composed of an infinite two-dimensional grid of square cells, each of which can be alive or dead, the game is based on four simple rules that determine the future state of each cell based on the current state and the number of living neighboring cells. Despite its simplicity, the "Game of Life" has proven to be surprisingly complex, with patterns that can evolve unpredictably, simulating biological phenomena, such as organism growth and cellular reproduction, and inspiring further research in a wide range of fields, from computer science to theoretical biology.

The Four Rules

The Game of Life takes place on a square grid where each cell can be alive or dead, with the following rules:

• A living cell with fewer than two living neighbors dies from isolation.
• A living cell with two or three living neighbors survives to the next generation.
• A living cell with more than three living neighbors dies from overpopulation.
• A dead cell with exactly three living neighbors becomes alive, as if by reproduction.

Set up the simulation by clicking on cells or pressing RANDOM and then launch it by pressing START. Remember that if you draw while the simulation is active, cells can disappear immediately, so before drawing, press STOP

Emergent Patterns

In the "Game of Life", there are various cell configurations that frequently emerge during the evolution of the game. Among the most common are "still lifes", cell configurations that do not change over time, such as the "block" and "beehive", which maintain their unchanged shape. Then there are "oscillators", patterns that repeat periodically, such as the "blinker" and "toad", which oscillate between two or more configurations. Some of the most interesting configurations are "spaceships", patterns that move across the grid, such as the "glider" and "spaceship", which can travel long distances without changing shape. Start by drawing a row of three, five, or seven elements in the center, and see how the simulation evolves.

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