Found by Achim Flammenkamp in 1988, but not widely known
about until its independent discovery (and naming) by Dean Hickerson
in September 1989. Compare with mold. In fact this is really very
like caterer. In terms of its 7×7 bounding box it ties with
trice tongs as the smallest p3 oscillator.
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.