A Brief Illustrated Glossary of Terms in Conway's Game of Life

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Alan Hensel has taken the trouble of compiling an extensive glossary, which he has included as an ascii text file in his Life pattern archive. This glossary is extracted here for your convenience. Technical revisions suggested by Achim Flammenkamp and Al Hensel were added to this version on 7-Nov-95.

If your Internet connection is reasonably fast and you're not using a text-only browser like lynx, you might want to check out a fancier version of this very same glossary with in-line images of the patterns.

This glossary was compiled by Al Hensel, with indispensable help from John Conway, Dean Hickerson, David Bell, Bill Gosper, Bob Wainwright, Noam Elkies, Nathan Thompson, Harold McIntosh, and Dan Hoey.


101
 ....**......**.... (p5)
 ...*.*......*.*...
 ...*..........*...
 **.*..........*.**
 **.*.*..**..*.*.**
 ...*.*.*..*.*.*...
 ...*.*.*..*.*.*...
 **.*.*..**..*.*.**
 **.*..........*.**
 ...*..........*...
 ...*.*......*.*...
 ....**......**....

A for All
 ....**.... (p6)
 ...*..*...
 ...****...
 .*.*..*.*.
 *........*
 *........*
 .*.*..*.*.
 ...****...
 ...*..*...
 ....**....
 
acorn
 .*.....
 ...*...
 **..***

agar - any pattern that can periodically tile the Life universe,
  either as a still life or as an oscillator.

aircraft carrier
 **.. (p1)
 *..*
 ..**

airforce
 .......*...... (p7)
 ......*.*.....
 .......*......
 ..............
 .....*****....
 ....*.....*.**
 ...*.**...*.**
 ...*.*..*.*...
 **.*...**.*...
 **.*.....*....
 ....*****.....
 ..............
 ......*.......
 .....*.*......
 ......*.......

ants
 **........**...**...**...**...**...**.. (p5 wick)
 ..**.**.....**...**...**...**...**...**
 ..**...**...**...**...**...**...**...**
 **.....**.**...**...**...**...**...**..
 .....**................................
 
aVerage
 .....*..... (p5)
 ....*.*....
 .....*.....
 ...........
 ...*****...
 ..*..*..*..
 .*.**.**.*.
 .*.*...*.*.
 **.*...*.**
 *..*.*.*..*
 ..*.....*..
 ...*****...
 .....*.....

b-heptomino
 .*..
 ***.
 *.**

b-heptomino shuttle, p46 shuttle, twin bees shuttle
 .................*........... (p46)
 **...............**........**
 **................**.......**
 .................**..........
 .............................
 .............................
 .............................
 .................**..........
 ..................**.........
 .................**..........
 .................*...........
 
B track - a type of Life object in which one or more b-heptominos
  are perturbed by oscillators so as to travel in a loop.

babbling brook - an oscillator whose rotor forms a chain, with each
  cell adjacent only to its 1 or 2 neighbors in the chain.

bakery - 4 loaves:
 ....**.... (p1)
 ...*..*...
 ...*.*....
 .**.*...*.
 *..*...*.*
 *.*...*..*
 .*...*.**.
 ....*.*...
 ...*..*...
 ....**....

barber pole - a section of an oscillator or spaceship in which each
  generation of the section looks the same, except for a sideways
  shift.

barberpole - any length extension of this p2 oscillator:
 .....** (p2)
 ......*
 ...*.*.
 .......
 .*.*...
 *......
 **.....

barge
 .*.. (p1)
 *.*.
 .*.*
 ..*.

beacon
 **.. (p2)
 *...
 ...*
 ..**

beehive
 .**. (p1)
 *..*
 .**.

beehive and dock, beehive on big table
 **..** (p1)
 *....*
 .****.
 ......
 ...**.
 ..*..*
 ...**.

beehive with tail
 .*... (p1)
 *.*..
 *.*..
 .*...
 ..***
 ....*

bi-loaf, half bakery, loaf on loaf
 .*..... (p1)
 *.*....
 *..*...
 .**.*..
 ...*.*.
 ...*..*
 ....**.

biblock
 **.** (p1)
 **.**

big S, S-spiral
 ....**. (p1)
 ...*..*
 ...*.**
 **.*...
 *..*...
 .**....

billiard table - any oscillator that is built inside a stable
  border.  Examples: hertz oscillator, pressure cooker, hustler.

bipole, short barberpole - this length of the barberpole:
 **... (p2)
 *.*..
 .....
 ..*.*
 ...**

blinker
 ... (p2)
 ***
 ...

blinker ship - an object which travels while growing larger by
  leaving an increasing trail of blinkers, but which leaves no
  permanent exhaust.  Example:
 ...........*..*...............
 ..........*...................
 ..........*...*...............
 ..**......****................
 .****.........................
 **.**.........................
 .**.....**.***................
 .......*.....**.......*....***
 ......**.......*......*....*.*
 .......*.....**.......*....***
 .**.....**.***................
 **.**.........................
 .****.........................
 ..**......****................
 ..........*...*...............
 ..........*...................
 ...........*..*...............

block
 ** (p1)
 **

block and dock, block on big table
 **..** (p1)
 *....*
 .****.
 ......
 ...**.
 ...**.

block on table
 **... (p1)
 .*...
 .*.**
 **.**

blocker
 .......*.* (p8)
 ......*...
 **..*....*
 **.*..*.**
 .....**...

boat
 .*. (p1)
 *.*
 .**

boat-bit - a memory device in which a bit of information is
  represented as the presence or absence of a boat adjacent to a
  snake (or eater or beacon or ...)

boat on boat, boat-tie, bow tie, bi-boat
 .*.... (p1)
 *.*...
 .**...
 ...**.
 ...*.*
 ....*.

bookends
 **...** (p1)
 *.*.*.*
 ..*.*..
 .**.**.

boss
 .....*..... (p4)
 ....*.*....
 ....*.*....
 ...**.**...
 ..*.....*..
 .*.*.*.*.*.
 .*.*...*.*.
 **.*...*.**
 *..*.*.*..*
 ..*.....*..
 ...**.**...
 ....*.*....
 ....*.*....
 .....*.....

brain
 .**........ (c/3)
 *..*.....**
 ***...***..
 *..*.****..
 .***...*...
 .*..***....
 ...*....**.
 ...*****.*.
 ...........
 ...*****.*.
 ...*....**.
 .*..***....
 .***...*...
 *..*.****..
 ***...***..
 *..*.....**
 .**........

breeder - 1: any pattern that grows quadratically by creating
  multiple copies of a second object, each of which creates multiple
  copies of a third object.  2: Bill Gosper's original breeder.

bunnies
 *.....*.
 ..*...*.
 ..*..*.*
 .*.*....

burloaferimeter
 .....*..... (p7)
 ....*.*....
 ...*.*.*...
 ...*.*.*...
 **.*.*.*.**
 **.*....*.*
 ....****...
 ...........
 ....**.....
 ....**.....

butterfly effect, sensitive dependence on initial conditions - the
  idea that just a small change in initial conditions, such as a
  butterfly flapping its wings halfway around the world, can create
  a large difference in outcomes, such as next month's weather.

caber tosser - a gun of variable period created by bouncing a glider
  off of a receding spaceship.  See life pattern CORDTOSS.

caterer
 .....*.. (p3)
 ****...*
 ...*...*
 .......*
 ....*...
 .....**.

cell - the fundamental spatial unit operated on by the rules of a
  cellular automaton during one generation.

cellular automaton - a simulated universe (such as Conway's Game of
  Life) in which every point's state depends on the states of nearby
  neighbors at an earlier generation.

census - an accounting of the types of patterns that a larger
  pattern consists of.

centinal
 **................................................** (p100)
 .*................................................*.
 .*.*.....................**.....................*.*.
 ..**........*............**............**.......**..
 ...........**..........................*.*..........
 ..........**.............................*..........
 ...........**..**......................***..........
 ....................................................
 ....................................................
 ....................................................
 ...........**..**......................***..........
 ..........**.............................*..........
 ...........**..........................*.*..........
 ..**........*............**............**.......**..
 .*.*.....................**.....................*.*.
 .*................................................*.
 **................................................**

chemist
 .......*....... (p5)
 .......***.....
 ..........*....
 .....***..*..**
 ....*.*.*.*.*.*
 ....*...*.*.*..
 .**.*.*.*.*.**.
 ..*.*.*...*....
 *.*.*.*.*.*....
 **..*..***.....
 ....*..........
 .....***.......
 .......*.......

Cheshire cat - this famous pattern has been intentionally omitted
  because it is stupid and everybody hates it.

cis-mirrored R-bee
 .**. (p1)
 *..*
 ***.
 ....
 ***.
 *..*
 .**.

cis-boat with tail, down boat with tail
 ....* (p1)
 ..***
 .*...
 *.*..
 .**..
 
clock
 ..*. (p2)
 **..
 ..**
 .*..

cloverleaf, Achim's p4
 ...*.*... (p4)
 .***.***.
 *...*...*
 *.*.*.*.*
 .*******.
 .........
 .*******.
 *.*.*.*.*
 *...*...*
 .***.***.
 ...*.*...

confused eaters
 *.......... (p4)
 ***........
 ...*.......
 ..*........
 ..*..*.....
 .....*.....
 ...*.*.....
 ...**..**..
 .......*.*.
 .........*.
 .........**

Conway's Game of Life - a classic game invented by the British
  mathematician John Horton Conway in 1970.  It is one of the
  simplest cellular automata simulations ever invented, but its
  richness is surprising.  The rules are as follows:
  
  - The game is played on a 2-dimensional grid.  Each square, or
      "cell", is binary (either "on" or "off").
  - If a cell is off and has 3 neighbors (out of 8), it will become
      alive in the next clock tick.
  - If a cell is on and has 2 or 3 neighbors, it survives;
      otherwise, it dies on the next clock tick.

Cordership - a c/12 diagonally moving spaceship constructed from
  switch engines.

cross
 ..****.. (p3)
 ..*..*..
 ***..***
 *......*
 *......*
 ***..***
 ..*..*..
 ..****..

dart
 ........*. (c/3)
 .......*.*
 ......**..
 .........*
 .....*...*
 ..*..*....
 .*.*..****
 *..*......
 .*.*..****
 ..*..*....
 .....*...*
 .........*
 ......**..
 .......*.*
 ........*.

dead spark coil, JC
 **...** (p1)
 *.*.*.*
 ..*.*..
 *.*.*.*
 **...**

diamond ring
 ......*...... (p3)
 .....*.*.....
 ....*.*.*....
 ....*...*....
 ..**..*..**..
 .*....*....*.
 *.*.**.**.*.*
 .*....*....*.
 ..**..*..**..
 ....*...*....
 ....*.*.*....
 .....*.*.....
 ......*......

domino spark - a 2-bit spark, orthogonally connected, such as the
  one on the heavyweight spaceship.

double wing, moose antlers
 **.....** (p1)
 *.......*
 .***.***.
 ...*.*...
 ....*....

eater - any still life that can repair itself from some attacks.

eater, fishhook - this eater, which eats gliders and fish:
 **.. (p1)
 *.*.
 ..*.
 ..**

elevener, intentionless
 ....** (p1)
 .....*
 ..***.
 ..*...
 *.*...
 **....

familiar fours - sets of four equal things that tend to crop up.
  Examples: traffic lights, honeyfarm, blockade, fleet, bakery.

father pattern - any pattern that precedes a given pattern by
  exactly 1 generation.

fencepost - anything used to stabilize the end of a wick.

figure 8, big beacon
 ***... (p8)
 ***...
 ***...
 ...***
 ...***
 ...***

fleet - 4 ships:
 ....**.... (p1)
 ....*.*...
 .....**...
 .......**.
 **.....*.*
 *.*.....**
 .**.......
 ...**.....
 ...*.*....
 ....**....

flip-flop - any period 2 oscillator, esp. those whose second
  generation is a mirror image of the first.

flipper - any oscillator or spaceship that forms its mirror image at
  half its period.

flotilla - a group of spaceships, some of which are being supported.

fourteener, 14-ner
 ....**. (p1)
 **..*.*
 *.....*
 .*****.
 ...*...

fumarole
 ...**... (p5)
 .*....*.
 .*....*.
 .*....*.
 ..*..*..
 *.*..*.*
 **....**

fuse - a way for a wick to burn from one end.

garden of eden, GOE - a pattern that has no father pattern.

generation - the smallest fundamental unit of time, during which the
  rules of a cellular automaton are applied once.

glider
 ..* (c/4)
 *.*
 .**

glider gun - any pattern that grows forever by emitting gliders.

Gosper gun, original glider gun
 .........................*..........
 ......................****....*.....
 .............*.......****.....*.....
 ............*.*......*..*.........**
 ...........*...**....****.........**
 **.........*...**.....****..........
 **.........*...**........*..........
 ............*.*.....................
 .............*......................

gourmet
 ..........**........ (p32)
 ..........*.........
 ..*.**.**.*.....**..
 ..**.*.*.*......*...
 ........*........*..
 ................**..
 ....................
 ...........*....**..
 *.........*.*..*.*..
 ***......**.**..*...
 ...*.............***
 ..*.*..............*
 ..**................
 ....................
 ..**................
 ..*........*........
 ...*......*.*.*.**..
 ..**.....*.**.**.*..
 .........*..........
 ........**..........

grammar - a set of rules used to describe an infinite number of ways
  that one can connect a set of parts to build one large oscillator,
  still-life, or spaceship.

grandfather pattern - any pattern that can precede a given pattern
  by exactly 2 generations.

gray counter
 ....*.... (p4)
 ...*.*...
 ....*....
 .........
 ..*****..
 .*.....*.
 *.*...*.*
 .*.....*.
 ..*****..
 .........
 ....*....
 ...*.*...
 ....*....

great on-off
 ..**.... (p2)
 .*..*...
 .*.**...
 **.*.**.
 ....**.*
 .......*
 ....***.
 ....*...

gun - any pattern that grows forever by emitting spaceships.

HashLife - a Life algorithm that achieves remarkable speed by
  storing sub-patterns in a hash table, and using them to skip
  forward, sometimes thousands of generations at a time.  HashLife
  takes tremendous amounts of memory and can't show patterns at
  every step, but can quickly calculate the outcome of a pattern
  that takes millions of generations to complete.

hassler - an oscillator that can alternately change a properly
  placed object, and then change it back.

hat
 ..*.. (p1)
 .*.*.
 .*.*.
 **.**

heavyweight emulator
 .......**....... (p4)
 ..**.*....*.**..
 ..*..........*..
 ...**......**...
 ***..******..***
 *..*........*..*
 .**..........**.
 
heavyweight spaceship, HWSS, big fish
 .****** (c/2)
 *.....*
 ......*
 *....*.
 ..**...

heavyweight volcano
 .........*.......................... (p5)
 ........*.*.........................
 ......***.*.........................
 .....*....**.*......................
 .....*.**...**......**..............
 ....**.*.**.........*.*.............
 .........*.*****......*..*.**.......
 ..*.**.**.*.....*....**.*.**.*......
 .....**.....****........*....*......
 *...*.*..*...*.*....**.*.****.**....
 *...*.*..**.*.**.**....*.*....*.*...
 .....**...***.**.*.***.*..***...*...
 ..*.**.**.**.............*.*..*.*.**
 ...........*......*.*.*.*..**.*.*.*.
 ....**.*.*.**......**.*.*.*...*.*.*.
 .....*.**.*..*.......*.**..****.**..
 .....*....*.*........*...**.........
 ....**....**........**...*..*.......
 ...........................**.......

Heisenburp device - a Life object which can detect the passage of a
  glider without affecting the glider's path or timing.

Hertz oscillator
 ...**.*.... (p8)
 ...*.**....
 ...........
 ....***....
 ...*.*.*.**
 ...*...*.**
 **.*...*...
 **.*...*...
 ....***....
 ...........
 ....**.*...
 ....*.**...

hexlife - an alternative game similar to Conway's, which is played
  on a hexagonal grid.  No set of rules has yet emerged as uniquely
  interesting.

HighLife - an alternate set of rules similar to Conway's, but with
  the additional rule that 6 neighbors generates a birth.  Most of
  the interest in this variant is due to the replicator that evolves
  from:
 ***.
 ...*
 ...*
 ...*

honeyfarm - 4 beehives:
 ......*...... (p1)
 .....*.*.....
 .....*.*.....
 ......*......
 .............
 .**.......**.
 *..*.....*..*
 .**.......**.
 .............
 ......*......
 .....*.*.....
 .....*.*.....
 ......*......

hustler
 .....**.... (p3)
 .....**....
 ...........
 ...****....
 *.*....*...
 **.*...*...
 ...*...*.**
 ...*....*.*
 ....****...
 ...........
 ....**.....
 ....**.....

induction coil - any pattern used to stabilize a border.  Example:
 .**.... (p1)
 .*..*..
 ..***..
 .......
 *******
 *..*..*

inductor - an oscillator of one or two-way orthogonal symmetry which
  depends on mutual symmetry to exist.  Examples: pulsar, tumbler.

integral sign
 ...** (p1)
 ..*.*
 ..*..
 *.*..
 **...

jam
 ....**. (p3)
 ...*..*
 .*..*.*
 *....*.
 *......
 ..***..

keys
 .*........*. (p3)
 *.***..***.*
 .*..*..*..*.
 ....*..*....

kickback reaction
 ....*.*
 ***..**
 ..*..*.
 .*.....

Kok's galaxy
 ******.** (p8)
 ******.**
 .......**
 **.....**
 **.....**
 **.....**
 **.......
 **.******
 **.******

light bulb
 .**.*.. (p2)
 .*.**..
 .......
 ..***..
 .*...*.
 .*...*.
 ..*.*..
 *.*.*.*
 **...**

lightspeed wire - a wick that can burn non-destructively at the
  speed of light, which might be useful for sending a signal or
  constructing oscillators with periods not currently attainable.
  Unfortunately, no way has been found to return a signal to its
  starting point, either by reflecting it or bending it around a
  corner.  Example:
 ...*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*...
 ...**********************************************************...
 ................................................................
 .**************************************************************.
 *.................................*.......*..........*.........*
 ****.**.*..*****..***************....*****....*******...********
 ....*...**.....**.......*.......*........*............*.........
 ******..*..*****..*****....******....*****....*******...********
 *......................*.........*........*..........*.........*
 .**************************************************************.
 ................................................................
 ...**********************************************************...
 ...*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*..*...

lightweight emulator
 ..**.*..*.**.. (p4)
 ..*........*..
 ...**....**...
 ***..****..***
 *..*......*..*
 .**........**.

lightweight spaceship, LWSS, small fish
 .**** (c/2)
 *...*
 ....*
 *..*.

line puffer - a puffer whose output comes from a long row of cells
  generated orthogonal to the direction of motion of the puffer.
  Some types of line puffers appear to be extensible and have
  arbitrarily large periods, but this has not been proven.

loaf
 .*.. (p1)
 *.*.
 *..*
 .**.

long barge
 .*... (p1)
 *.*..
 .*.*.
 ..*.*
 ...*.

long boat
 .*.. (p1)
 *.*.
 .*.*
 ..**

long ship
 **.. (p1)
 *.*.
 .*.*
 ..**

loop
 *... (p1)
 ***.
 ...*
 **.*
 *.*.

lumps of muck, LoM, blockade - 4 blocks:
 **.....................
 **.....................
 .......................
 .......................
 .**.................**.
 .**.................**.
 .......................
 .......................
 .....................**
 .....................**

mango, dove, cigar
 .**.. (p1)
 *..*.
 .*..*
 ..**.

mazing
 ...**.. (p4)
 .*.*...
 *.....*
 .*...**
 .......
 ...*.*.
 ....*..

methuselah - any small "seed" pattern that does not stabilize for a
  very long time.  Not used to describe objects that are known to
  grow forever.  Originally defined as a pattern having a population
  of at most 10 and a Life-span of at least 100.  Examples: acorn,
  bunnies, rabbits.

middleweight emulator
 .......*....... (p4)
 ..**.*...*.**..
 ..*.........*..
 ...**.....**...
 ***..*****..***
 *..*.......*..*
 .**.........**.

middleweight spaceship, MWSS, medium fish
 .***** (c/2)
 *....*
 .....*
 *...*.
 ..*...

middleweight volcano
 ...*******... (p5)
 .***.***.***.
 *....***....*
 .****.*.***.*
 ...........*.
 *.**.*.*.*...
 **.*.*.*.**..
 ....*..*.*...
 .....**..*...
 .........**..

MIT oscillator, cuphook
 ....**... (p3)
 ...*.*...
 ...*.....
 **.*.....
 **.*..*..
 ....**.*.
 .......*.
 .......**

mold
 .**... (p4)
 *..*..
 *.*..*
 .*....
 ..**.*
 ....*.

monogram, JHC
 **...** (p4)
 .*.*.*.
 .**.**.
 .*.*.*.
 **...**

negentropy
 ......**.... (p2)
 ......**....
 ............
 ....****..**
 **.*..*.*..*
 .*.*...**.*.
 *..*....*.**
 **..****....
 ............
 ....**......
 ....**......

octagon II
 ...**... (p5)
 ..*..*..
 .*....*.
 *......*
 *......*
 .*....*.
 ..*..*..
 ...**...

Orion
 ...**......... (c/4)
 ...*.*........
 ...*..........
 **.*..........
 *....*........
 *.**......***.
 .....***....**
 ......***.*.*.
 .............*
 ......*.*.....
 .....**.*.....
 ......*.......
 ....**.*......
 .......*......
 .....**.......

oscillator - any pattern that reappears in the same position after a
  certain number of generations.

paperclip, drain trap
 ..**. (p1)
 .*..*
 .*.**
 **.*.
 *..*.
 .**..     

pedestle
 .....*..... (p5)
 ....*.*....
 .*..**.....
 .***.......
 .....***...
 ...**...*..
 ..*....*..*
 .*.*.*.*.**
 .*.*...*.*.
 **.*.*.*.*.
 *..*....*..
 ..*...**...
 ...***.....
 .......***.
 .....**..*.
 ....*.*....
 .....*.....

penny lane
 ...**.....**... (p4)
 ...*.......*...
 **.*.......*.**
 **.*.*****.*.**
 ....*..*..*....
 .....*****.....
 ...............
 .......*.......
 ......*.*......
 .......*.......

pentadecathlon, PD
 ..*....*.. (p15)
 **.****.**
 ..*....*..

period - the number of generations it takes for an oscillator to
  repeat, or a spaceship to be displaced exactly.  Often the
  notation pN is used, for example, p2 for period 2. Also, pN/m when
  symmetry is involved, where m is the number of translations, for
  example, p6/2 describes a period 6 flipper.

phoenix - any pattern whose cells all die in every generation, and
  yet lives forever.  Example:
 ...*.... (p2)
 ...*.*..
 .*......
 ......**
 **......
 ......*.
 ..*.*...
 ....*...

pi heptomino
 ***
 *.*
 *.*

pond
 .**. (p1)
 *..*
 *..*
 .**.

pond on pond, bi-pond
 .**.... (p1)
 *..*...
 *..*...
 .**.**.
 ...*..*
 ...*..*
 ....**.
 
population - the number of live ("on") cells of an object.

predecessor - any pattern that can precede a given pattern by any
  number of generations.

pressure cooker
 .....*..... (p3)
 ....*.*....
 ....*.*....
 ...**.**...
 *.*.....*.*
 **.*.*.*.**
 ...*...*...
 ...*...*...
 ....***....
 ...........
 ...*.**....
 ...**.*....

pseudo-barberpole
 ..........** (p5)
 ...........*
 .........*..
 .......*.*..
 ............
 .....*.*....
 ............
 ...*.*......
 ............
 ..**........
 *...........
 **..........

puffer, puffer train - any pattern that moves, leaving a trail.

pulsar, CP-pulsar, pulsar CP 48-56-72
 ..***...***.. (p3)
 .............
 *....*.*....*
 *....*.*....*
 *....*.*....*
 ..***...***..
 .............
 ..***...***..
 *....*.*....*
 *....*.*....*
 *....*.*....*
 .............
 ..***...***..

pushalong - a tagalong on the front end of a spaceship.  Example:
 ..***.*..... (c/2)
 .****.*.....
 **..........
 .*.*........
 ..****.*....
 ...***......
 ............
 ............
 ......*****.
 ......*....*
 ......*.....
 .......*...*
 .........*..

pyrotechneczum
 .......*........ (p8)
 .....*****......
 ....*.....*.....
 .*..*..***.*....
 *.*.*.*....*..*.
 .*..*....*.*.*.*
 ....*.***..*..*.
 .....*.....*....
 ......*****.....
 ........*.......

quad, barberpole intersection
 **..** (p2)
 *..*.*
 .*....
 ....*.
 *.*..*
 **..**

quapole, quadpole, barberpole of length 4 - this length of the
  barberpole:
 **..... (p2)
 *.*....
 .......
 ..*.*..
 .......
 ....*.*
 .....**

queen bee
 *....
 ****.
 .****
 .*..*
 .****
 ****.
 *....

queen bee shuttle, p30 shuttle
 ..........*........... (p30)
 ..........****........
 **.........****.....**
 **.........*..*.....**
 ...........****.......
 ..........****........
 ..........*...........

r-pentomino
 .**
 **.
 .*.

R2D2
 ...**... (p8)
 ...**...
 ........
 .******.
 *......*
 ***...**
 ........
 ********
 *......*
 ...**...
 ...**...

rabbits
 *...***
 ***..*.
 .*.....

rake - any puffer that leaves a trail of spaceships.

relay - an oscillator in which gliders or spaceships travel in a
  loop.

rephaser
 ...**...
 ...**...
 ........
 ........
 .**..**.
 *.*..*.*
 ..*..*..

replicator - a Life object which repeatedly forms copies of itself.
  Such things are known to be possible in Life, but no example is
  known.  But in the HighLife variant, there is a simple replicator.

revolver
 **....** (p2)
 .*....*.
 .*.**.*.
 ..*..*..
 ...*....
 .....*..
 .**.....
 .....**.
 ..*.....
 ....*...
 ..*..*..
 .*.**.*.
 .*....*.
 **....**

roteightor
 .*............ (p8)
 .***........**
 ....*.......*.
 ...**.....*.*.
 ..........**..
 ..............
 .....***......
 .....*..*.....
 .....*........
 ..**..*...*...
 .*.*......*...
 .*.......*....
 **........***.
 ............*.

rotor - the active cells in an oscillator.

sawtooth - a pattern whose population is unbounded, but doesn't tend
  uniformly to infinity.  The population returns to its minimum
  value at intervals, producing a zig-zag graph.
  
Schick engine
 .....**** (c/2)
 ....*...*
 ........*
 **..*..*.
 ***......
 **..*..*.
 ........*
 ....*...*
 .....****

scorpion
 ...*... (p1)
 .***...
 *...**.
 *.*.*.*
 .**.*.*
 .....*.

scrubber
 ....*...... (p2)
 ..***......
 .*.........
 .*..***....
 **.*...*...
 ...*...*...
 ...*...*.**
 ....***..*.
 .........*.
 ......***..
 ......*....

search program - a program which can find certain interesting Life
  objects much more quickly than a person can manually.  Search
  programs have found new oscillators, spaceships, and collisions.

shillelagh
 **... (p1)
 *..**
 .**.*

ship
 **. (p1)
 *.*
 .**

ship on boat, boat-ship-tie
 **.... (p1)
 *.*...
 .**...
 ...**.
 ...*.*
 ....*.

shiptie, ship on ship, bi-ship, half fleet
 **.... (p1)
 *.*...
 .**...
 ...**.
 ...*.*
 ....**

shuttle, piston - any oscillator in which some part moves back and
  forth.  Examples: queen bee shuttle, b-heptomino shuttle.

siesta
 ...........**... (p5)
 ...**.....*.*...
 ...*.*....*.....
 .....*...**.*...
 ...*.**.....***.
 .***.....*.*...*
 *...*.*.....***.
 .***.....**.*...
 ...*.**...*.....
 .....*....*.*...
 ...*.*.....**...
 ...**...........

sinking ship
 ...** (p1)
 ....*
 ...*.
 *.*..
 **...

skewed quad
 .**.... (p2)
 .*...**
 ..*.*.*
 .......
 *.*.*..
 **...*.
 ....**.

smiley
 **.*.** (p8)
 ...*...
 *.....*
 .*****.
 .......
 .......
 ***.***

snacker
 **................** (p9)
 .*................*.
 .*.*............*.*.
 ..**............**..
 .......*....*.......
 .....**.****.**.....
 .......*....*.......
 ..**............**..
 .*.*............*.*.
 .*................*.
 **................**
 
snake
 *.** (p1)
 **.*

snake pit
 *.**.** (p2)
 **.*.*.
 ......*
 ***.***
 *......
 .*.*.**
 **.**.*

sombreros
 ...**........**... (p6)
 ...*.*......*.*...
 .....*......*.....
 ...*.**....**.*...
 .***..........***.
 *...*.*....*.*...*
 .***..........***.
 ...*.**....**.*...
 .....*......*.....
 ...*.*......*.*...
 ...**........**...

space dust - a section of an oscillator or spaceship which is
  composed of an almost random mixture of live and dead cells.  Such
  objects are very hard to construct.

spacefiller - any pattern that grows quadratically by filling space
  with still life.
  
spaceship - any pattern that moves, leaving no trail.

spark - any piece of an oscillator or spaceship which dies out,
  without further interacting with the oscillator or spaceship that
  created it, but can interact with other objects before dying.

spark coil, grapser
 **....** (p2)
 *.*..*.*
 ..*..*..
 *.*..*.*
 **....**

Sparky
 ..........*.................... (c/4)
 ..........*...............**...
 ......**.*.***..........**...*.
 *.**.**.**..*.*...**.****......
 *...**..*.**..***..*.**..**...*
 *.**....***.*.***......**..*...
 ........**.*...............*..*
 *.**....***.*.***......**..*...
 *...**..*.**..***..*.**..**...*
 *.**.**.**..*.*...**.****......
 ......**.*.***..........**...*.
 ..........*...............**...
 ..........*....................

speed of light, light speed, c - traveling at one cell per
  generation.  Slower speeds are usually written as fractions of c.

spiral
 **....* (p1)
 .*..***
 .*.*...
 ..*.*..
 ...*.*.
 ***..*.
 *....**

star
 .....*..... (p3)
 ....***....
 ..***.***..
 ..*.....*..
 .**.....**.
 **.......**
 .**.....**.
 ..*.....*..
 ..***.***..
 ....***....
 .....*.....

stator - the unchanging cells in an oscillator.

still life - oscillators of period 1; stable patterns.

stretcher - any pattern that grows by stretching a wick or agar.

switch engine:
 .*.*..
 *.....
 .*..*.
 ...***

synthesis, glider synthesis - method of generating a pattern using
  gliders only.

table on table, ][, pair of tables
 *..* (p1)
 ****
 ....
 ****
 *..*

tagalong - a dependent part of a spaceship that can be removed
  without destroying the spaceship.

technician finished product
 .....*..... (p5)
 ....*.*....
 ....**.....
 ..**.......
 .*...***...
 *..**...*.*
 .**....*.**
 ...*.*.*...
 ...*...*...
 ....***....
 ......*.*..
 .......**..

ternary reaction - a reaction in which 2 gliders on one path and 1
  glider on a perpendicular path destroy each other.  This is
  commonly used to double the period of a glider gun.

test tube baby
 **....** (p2)
 *.*..*.*
 ..*..*..
 ..*..*..
 ...**...

toad
 .*** (p2)
 ***.

toadsucker - a hassler that sucks a toad.  Example:
 ...*....*.. (p60)
 .**.****.**
 ...*....*..
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 .....***...
 ....***....
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 ...........
 ..*....*...
 **.****.**.
 ..*....*...

toaster, lightweight volcano
 ...**..**... (p5)
 .***.**.***.
 *..........*
 .****..****.
 ....*..*....
 .**......**.
 .*..*..*..*.
 ..***..***..
 ............
 ****.**.****
 *..**..**..*

traffic circle
 .....................**....**................... (p100)
 .....................*.*..*.*...................
 .......................*..*.....................
 ......................*....*....................
 ......................*....*....................
 ......................*....*....................
 ........................**.....**...............
 ...............................***..............
 ...............................**.*.............
 .................................*.*............
 .........................***....*..*............
 .................................**.............
 .........**............*.....*..................
 ........*..*...........*.....*..................
 ......*..*.*...........*.....*..................
 ..........*.....................................
 ......*.**...............***....................
 .......*.....*..................................
 .............*..................................
 **...........*..................................
 *..***..........................................
 .**......***...***............................**
 ......*...................................***..*
 ......*......*...............................**.
 .**..........*........*..................*......
 *..***.......*......**.**............*...*......
 **....................*............**.**.....**.
 .....................................*....***..*
 ..............................................**
 ................................................
 ......................................*.*.......
 ....................***..................*......
 .....................................*..*.......
 ..................*.....*...........*.*.*.......
 ..................*.....*...........*..*........
 ..................*.....*............**.........
 .............**.................................
 ............*..*....***.........................
 ............*.*.*...............................
 .............*.***..............................
 ...............***..............................
 ......................**........................
 ....................*....*......................
 ....................*....*......................
 ....................*....*......................
 .....................*..*.......................
 ...................*.*..*.*.....................
 ...................**....**.....................

traffic jam - a traffic light hassler.  Example: traffic circle.

traffic lights - 4 blinkers:
 ....*.... (p2)
 ....*....
 ....*....
 .........
 ***...***
 .........
 ....*....
 ....*....
 ....*....

trans-boat with tail, up boat with tail
 ...** (p1)
 ..*.*
 .*.*.
 .*...
 **...

trice tongs
 **..... (p3)
 **..*..
 ..**.*.
 ..*..*
 .*...**
 ..***..
 ....*..

tripole, short barberpole - this length of the barberpole:
 **.... (p2)
 *.*...
 ......
 ..*.*.
 .....*
 ....**

tub
 .*. (p1)
 *.*
 .*.

tub with tail
 .*... (p1)
 *.*..
 .*.*.
 ...*.
 ...**

tubber
 ....*.*...... (p3)
 ....**.*.....
 .......***...
 ....**....*..
 **.*..**..*..
 .*.*....*.**.
 *...*...*...*
 .**.*....*.*.
 ..*..**..*.**
 ..*....**....
 ...***.......
 .....*.**....
 ......*.*....

tumbler
 .**.**. (p14)
 .**.**.
 ..*.*..
 *.*.*.*
 *.*.*.*
 **...**

turtle
 .***.......*.. (c/3)
 .**..*.**.**..
 ...***....*...
 .*..*.*...*...
 *....*....*..*
 *....*....*..*
 .*..*.*...*...
 ...***....*...
 .**..*.**.**..
 .***.......*..

twinhat, twin peaks
 ..*...*.. (p1)
 .*.*.*.*.
 .*.*.*.*.
 **.*.*.**
 ....*....

two eaters
 **....... (p3)
 .*.......
 .*.*.....
 ..**.....
 .....**..
 .....*.*.
 .......*.
 .......**

unit Life cell - a pattern with two states, which is determined by
  its previous state and the previous state of its neighbors, using
  exactly the rules used to compute it; that is, it simulates its
  own universe.  None have been constructed in Conway's Life yet.
  
unix
 .**..... (p6)
 .**.....
 ........
 .*......
 *.*.....
 *..*..**
 ....*.**
 ..**....

very long barge, long long barge
 .*.... (p1)
 *.*...
 .*.*..
 ..*.*.
 ...*.*
 ....*.

very long boat, long long boat
 .*... (p1)
 *.*..
 .*.*.
 ..*.*
 ...**

very long ship, long long ship
 **... (p1)
 *.*..
 .*.*.
 ..*.*
 ...**

volcano - a p5 oscillator with a useful spark.

wick - a long repetitive line of stable patterns or oscillators that
  can easily burn if ignited at one end.

wicktrailer - an extensible tagalong for a spaceship.


Back to Paul's Page of Conway's Life Miscellany