Cellular automata are self-operating systems where cells on a grid update in discrete time steps according to a set of rules based on the states of neighboring cells. John Conway invented the Game of Life, a famous 2D cellular automaton where cells are either alive or dead and change states based on how many neighboring cells are alive. Common patterns in the Game of Life include static shapes, oscillators that repeat patterns over time, and gliders that move across the grid.

1. Cellular automataAbhranil Das1st year, IISER Kolkata

2. Definitionadj.consisting of or containing a cell or cells n. pl. au·tom·a·tons or au·tom·a·ta1. A self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot.2. One that behaves or responds in a mechanical way.cel·lu·larau·tom·a·ton

3. Definition1D grid2D grid

4. John Conway Born in 1973 in England, inventor of the Game of Life. Currently Professor of Mathematics, Princeton University.

5. The Game of LifeAny live cell with 0-1 neighbours dies from underpopulation.Any live cell with 4 or more neighbours dies from overcrowding.Any live cell with two or three neighbours stays alive.Any blank cell with exactly three live neighbours becomes a new live cell.

6. Any live cell with 0-1 neighbours dies from underpopulation.Any live cell with 4 or more neighbours dies from overcrowding.Any live cell with two or three neighbours stays alive.Any blank cell with exactly three live neighbours becomes a new live cell.The Game of Life

7. Common Patterns: Static

8. Common Patterns: Oscillators

9. Common Patterns: Gliders

10. r-pentominoGuess the number of generations after which this shape will become uninteresting?

11. Common Objects: Methuselah

12. The Termite AutomatonEach termite moves in a random direction, just like Brownian motion.If it collides against a woodchip and is not carrying any woodchip at that time, it picks up that woodchip, then again goes off with it in a random direction.If it collides with a woodchip while it’s carrying one, it puts down its woodchip there, then heads off again in a random direction.

14. CreditsStumbleUponwww.stumbleupon.comMath.com: Wonders of Mathwww.math.com/students/wonders/life/life.htmlWikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/cellular_automataen.wikipedia.org/wiki/conway%27s_game_of_lifeStarlogoeducation.mit.edu/starlogo