Difference between revisions of "Lifeline Volume 8"
(New page: __NOTOC__{{LifeLine|vol=8|date=December 1972}} <center><pre>A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR ENTHUSIASTS OF JOHN CONWAY'S GAME OF LIFE O OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO O OOOOO O O OOOOO O O...) |
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• Editor and Publisher - [[Robert T. Wainwright]] •</center> | • Editor and Publisher - [[Robert T. Wainwright]] •</center> | ||
==Page 1== | |||
[[Conway's Game of Life|Life]] is enjoying a revival of activity as evidenced by recent reader response containing many amazing new discoveries. Specific among these are included a basically new type of [[puffer train]] which can be used to generate all kinds of objects including [[glider|gliders]](!), some exotic collisions involving only gliders and [[block]]s which may be used to assemble new types of [[spaceship]] [[gun]]s as well as build the logical circuitry for a Life computer, and many exciting [[oscillator]]s including a [[predecessor]] for the [[tumbler]]! Some of this material is contained herein; however, additional time will be required in order to present all the findings in such a way so that they will compliment and reinforce work previously reported. | [[Conway's Game of Life|Life]] is enjoying a revival of activity as evidenced by recent reader response containing many amazing new discoveries. Specific among these are included a basically new type of [[puffer train]] which can be used to generate all kinds of objects including [[glider|gliders]](!), some exotic collisions involving only gliders and [[block]]s which may be used to assemble new types of [[spaceship]] [[gun]]s as well as build the logical circuitry for a Life computer, and many exciting [[oscillator]]s including a [[predecessor]] for the [[tumbler]]! Some of this material is contained herein; however, additional time will be required in order to present all the findings in such a way so that they will compliment and reinforce work previously reported. | ||
...to be | {| style="width: 100%" | ||
| 'Buckinghams Combine' revisited . . . | |||
|- | |||
| [[File:Lifeline vol08 101.png]] | |||
|} | |||
This profusion of material sent in as well as the torrent of reader replys [sic] from [[Martin Gardner]]'s recent plug in Scientific American have really affected my plans to issue LIFELINE. However, with Number Eight now published and mailed, we are again back on schedule and I will resume the regular quarterly publication with Number Nine in March 1973. On the last page of this issue you will find a LIFESAVER form required for renewal of your LIFELINE subscription. | |||
==Page 2== | |||
===Class E, Evolutionaries, Exercises, Events, Et cetera . . .=== | |||
[[File:Lifeline vol08 201.png|right]] | |||
[[Paul Schick]] of Madison, Wi. notes the following interaction involving a [[block]] and a [[boat]] which in eight generations form a [[block]] and a [[beehive]]. The [[block]] and [[beehive]] in turn interacts as described on page five of [[Lifeline Volume 3|LIFELINE Number Three]] to form another [[block]] and [[beehive]]. (EN: also [[Lifeline Volume 6|No.6]],p.2) | |||
===Class I, Still Lifes and Stable Forms . . .=== | |||
==== LIFEXPLAINATIONS [sic] by [[Paul Dietz]] of Ellicott City, Md. ==== | |||
[[File:Lifeline vol08 202.png|right]] | |||
I have noticed a surprising phenomenon in Life regarding the [[block|smallest and most compact stable object]]. In all cases where a single bit is placed on one or more corners of a [[block]], a new stable configuration is formed the next generation. Also to be noted is the fact that the size of the resulting object in all cases is equal to four (the size of the block) plus the total number of bits placed on the corners. These are shown at the right. | |||
EN: this generality also applies in at least three instances involving bit-pairs thereby adding credibility to Dietz's Lifexplaination [sic]. Can you identify these? | |||
==== Ten-bit Still Lifes by [[V. Everett Boyer]] of San Diego, Ca. ==== | |||
[[File:Lifeline vol08 203.png|right]] | |||
There are at least 25 [[:Category:Strict still lifes with 10 cells|stable objects of size ten]], but these two are especially easy to miss. Will those who committed themselves to only 24 check their lists! | |||
EN: I have checked my list and it still contains only 24 objects! | |||
===Class II, Oscillators . . .=== | |||
The eight objects shown on the ocver page of LIFELINE Number Eight were discovered and sent in by [[David Buckingham]], [[Mark Niemiec]], and [[Peter Raynham]] of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. These were chosen by the writer from those sent in by this ingenious prolific group who have now reported over fifty new oscillators of periods greater than two! Since each of the obejcts shown on the cover are easy to track, I will leave for the reader the enjoyment of determining their periods which incidentally are all different. Like the collection presented on the cover of [[Lifeline Volume 5|LIFELINE Number Five]] this arrangement as shown will reappear again only after 2,520 generations. Details, credits etc. next issue. | |||
[[File:Lifeline vol08 204.png|right]] | |||
[[Paul Schick|Schick]] has submitted an arrangement of two simple objects which when properly bounded, on a small finite surface will evolve into a <u>[[tumbler]]</u>! Shown here is a row of sixteen bits with one bit removed.(cont. on page 5) | |||
==Page 3== | |||
Reader Article . . . | |||
===<u>Progress on the "Life Codex"</u>=== | |||
by [[Hugh W. Thompson]] | |||
[[Bob Wainwright]] has mentioned my work on my "Life Codex" several times in LIFELINE. Now that its format and ultimate scope have firmed up, I think it is appropriate for me to step to stage center and describe the thing in detail. | |||
The Codex itself simply contains pictures of the "Life" objects, from three cells on up, arranged by number of cells, with a sequence number assigned to each object. A sample page is shown (see page 5 ). The complete "Life Codex Number" (LC#) of an object is the number of cells, followed by the sequence number in parentheses. Thus our old friends "[[R-pentomino|r]]" and "[[Pi-heptomino|π]]" have the prosaic designations of 5(9) and 7(101), respectively; the "[[beehive]]" is 6(485). The Codex divides logically, but not physically, into two segments: a "fixed" portion and a "random" portion. The fixed portion consists of objects to which I have assigned sequence numbers, in a more or less logical manner, before their histories were known. It includes all possible objects from 3 to 6 cells, the 3031 7-cell "[[tango]]es", the 369 [[octomino]]es plus a few other 8-cell [[tango]]es, the 1285 [[nonomino]]es, about 100 [[decomino]]es, the straight [[n-omino]]es (n-rows) for n = 11 thru 22, and all simple objects discussed in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and LIFELINE, a total of roughly 12,700 objects. (By "simple" objects I specifically exclude such esoterics as [[glider gun]]s, [[billiard-table]] configurations, [[fuse]]s, [[agar]]s, etc.) The random portion consists of objects which occur as descendants of the "fixed" objects, those sent to me by other contributors, directly or thru [[Bob Wainwright|Bob]], any which show up in future issues of LIFELINE, and any others which look interesting. These are sequenced on a first-come-first-served basis. This random portion, of course, is growing by leaps and bounds as I add more life histories, so that the total Codex consists of nearly 23,000 objects to date (Jan. 10th), and will likely be well over 30,000 by the time the Codex is "finished". | |||
(A note about the word "tango" which I used above. This is a term coined by [[Curt Gibson]] to denote a kingwise-connected object, probably derived from the word "tangent". I would like to see it become common usage, since it is short, colorful and convenient. Gibson's word for a spatially-connected object, "incontinuo", is less pithy but could also be useful.) | |||
The Codex has four companion volumes. The first, the Life History and Cross-Reference, lists each object by LC#, followed by the LC#'s of its successive generations until one of three things happens: (1) an object occurs (or a pattern) whose history has already been recorded; (2) a stable object or pattern occurs in 50 generations or less; (3) at least 20 generations have been recorded for a [[methusaleh]] (51 gens. or more). Option (2) includes objects which die, since an empty universe is about as stable as you can get. Then follows an indication of the eventual terminus – stable object or pattern, death, or methusaleh constellation – and the LC# of the first ancestor of the | |||
==Page Scans== | ==Page Scans== | ||
Revision as of 11:28, 7 October 2015
| Lifeline Volume 8 | ||
| ||
| Published in | December 1972 | |
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Volume 7 | |
| Succeeded by | Volume 9 | |
| This page is a transcript of Volume 8 of the Lifeline newsletter |
|---|
| This article may contain spelling mistakes and/or errors that will not be corrected -- it is preserved in this way for history's sake |
A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR ENTHUSIASTS OF JOHN CONWAY'S GAME OF LIFE O OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO O OOOOO O O OOOOO O O O O O O OO O O O O OOO OOO O O O O O OOO O O O O O O O OO O OOOOO OOOOO O OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO O O OOOOO• Editor and Publisher: Robert T. Wainwright •NUMBER 8DECEMBER 1972
A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR ENTHUSIASTS OF JOHN CONWAY'S GAME OF LIFE O OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO O OOOOO O O OOOOO O O O O O O OO O O O O OOO OOO O O O O O OOO O O O O O O O OO O OOOOO OOOOO O OOOOO OOOOO OOOOO O O OOOOO Number 8 DECEMBER 1972• Editor and Publisher - Robert T. Wainwright •
Page 1
Life is enjoying a revival of activity as evidenced by recent reader response containing many amazing new discoveries. Specific among these are included a basically new type of puffer train which can be used to generate all kinds of objects including gliders(!), some exotic collisions involving only gliders and blocks which may be used to assemble new types of spaceship guns as well as build the logical circuitry for a Life computer, and many exciting oscillators including a predecessor for the tumbler! Some of this material is contained herein; however, additional time will be required in order to present all the findings in such a way so that they will compliment and reinforce work previously reported.
| 'Buckinghams Combine' revisited . . . |
|
This profusion of material sent in as well as the torrent of reader replys [sic] from Martin Gardner's recent plug in Scientific American have really affected my plans to issue LIFELINE. However, with Number Eight now published and mailed, we are again back on schedule and I will resume the regular quarterly publication with Number Nine in March 1973. On the last page of this issue you will find a LIFESAVER form required for renewal of your LIFELINE subscription.
Page 2
Class E, Evolutionaries, Exercises, Events, Et cetera . . .
Paul Schick of Madison, Wi. notes the following interaction involving a block and a boat which in eight generations form a block and a beehive. The block and beehive in turn interacts as described on page five of LIFELINE Number Three to form another block and beehive. (EN: also No.6,p.2)
Class I, Still Lifes and Stable Forms . . .
LIFEXPLAINATIONS [sic] by Paul Dietz of Ellicott City, Md.
I have noticed a surprising phenomenon in Life regarding the smallest and most compact stable object. In all cases where a single bit is placed on one or more corners of a block, a new stable configuration is formed the next generation. Also to be noted is the fact that the size of the resulting object in all cases is equal to four (the size of the block) plus the total number of bits placed on the corners. These are shown at the right.
EN: this generality also applies in at least three instances involving bit-pairs thereby adding credibility to Dietz's Lifexplaination [sic]. Can you identify these?
Ten-bit Still Lifes by V. Everett Boyer of San Diego, Ca.
There are at least 25 stable objects of size ten, but these two are especially easy to miss. Will those who committed themselves to only 24 check their lists!
EN: I have checked my list and it still contains only 24 objects!
Class II, Oscillators . . .
The eight objects shown on the ocver page of LIFELINE Number Eight were discovered and sent in by David Buckingham, Mark Niemiec, and Peter Raynham of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. These were chosen by the writer from those sent in by this ingenious prolific group who have now reported over fifty new oscillators of periods greater than two! Since each of the obejcts shown on the cover are easy to track, I will leave for the reader the enjoyment of determining their periods which incidentally are all different. Like the collection presented on the cover of LIFELINE Number Five this arrangement as shown will reappear again only after 2,520 generations. Details, credits etc. next issue.
Schick has submitted an arrangement of two simple objects which when properly bounded, on a small finite surface will evolve into a tumbler! Shown here is a row of sixteen bits with one bit removed.(cont. on page 5)
Page 3
Reader Article . . .
Progress on the "Life Codex"
Bob Wainwright has mentioned my work on my "Life Codex" several times in LIFELINE. Now that its format and ultimate scope have firmed up, I think it is appropriate for me to step to stage center and describe the thing in detail.
The Codex itself simply contains pictures of the "Life" objects, from three cells on up, arranged by number of cells, with a sequence number assigned to each object. A sample page is shown (see page 5 ). The complete "Life Codex Number" (LC#) of an object is the number of cells, followed by the sequence number in parentheses. Thus our old friends "r" and "π" have the prosaic designations of 5(9) and 7(101), respectively; the "beehive" is 6(485). The Codex divides logically, but not physically, into two segments: a "fixed" portion and a "random" portion. The fixed portion consists of objects to which I have assigned sequence numbers, in a more or less logical manner, before their histories were known. It includes all possible objects from 3 to 6 cells, the 3031 7-cell "tangoes", the 369 octominoes plus a few other 8-cell tangoes, the 1285 nonominoes, about 100 decominoes, the straight n-ominoes (n-rows) for n = 11 thru 22, and all simple objects discussed in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and LIFELINE, a total of roughly 12,700 objects. (By "simple" objects I specifically exclude such esoterics as glider guns, billiard-table configurations, fuses, agars, etc.) The random portion consists of objects which occur as descendants of the "fixed" objects, those sent to me by other contributors, directly or thru Bob, any which show up in future issues of LIFELINE, and any others which look interesting. These are sequenced on a first-come-first-served basis. This random portion, of course, is growing by leaps and bounds as I add more life histories, so that the total Codex consists of nearly 23,000 objects to date (Jan. 10th), and will likely be well over 30,000 by the time the Codex is "finished".
(A note about the word "tango" which I used above. This is a term coined by Curt Gibson to denote a kingwise-connected object, probably derived from the word "tangent". I would like to see it become common usage, since it is short, colorful and convenient. Gibson's word for a spatially-connected object, "incontinuo", is less pithy but could also be useful.)
The Codex has four companion volumes. The first, the Life History and Cross-Reference, lists each object by LC#, followed by the LC#'s of its successive generations until one of three things happens: (1) an object occurs (or a pattern) whose history has already been recorded; (2) a stable object or pattern occurs in 50 generations or less; (3) at least 20 generations have been recorded for a methusaleh (51 gens. or more). Option (2) includes objects which die, since an empty universe is about as stable as you can get. Then follows an indication of the eventual terminus – stable object or pattern, death, or methusaleh constellation – and the LC# of the first ancestor of the
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