This is by far the most active polyomino with less than
six cells: all the others stabilize in at most 10 generations, but
the R-pentomino does not do so until generation 1103, by which time
it has a population of 116, including six gliders.
At generation 774, an R-pentomino produces a queen bee which lasts
17 more generations before being destroyed, enough time for it to
flip over. This observation led to the discovery of the
Gosper glider gun.
Game of Life Explanation
The Game of Life is not your typical computer game. It is a cellular
automaton, and was invented by Cambridge mathematician John Conway.
This game became widely known when it was mentioned in an article
published by Scientific American in 1970. It consists of a grid of
cells which, based on a few mathematical rules, can live, die or
multiply. Depending on the initial conditions, the cells form various
patterns throughout the course of the game.
Rules
For a space that is populated:
Examples
Each cell with one or no neighbors dies, as if by solitude.
Each cell with four or more neighbors dies, as if by
overpopulation.
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