What to watch
- It begins as a compact seven-cell h-like shape.
- It stabilizes after 128 generations.
- Its role as a signal object makes it more important than its short lifespan alone suggests.
Methuselahs
Herschel
A seven-cell methuselah and important signal object in Life circuitry.
The Herschel is both a small methuselah and a reusable engineering object. Many conduits and signal constructions are described by how they transform Herschels.
Herschel is a small methuselah and signal object
Herschel starts with seven cells in a 3 x 4 bounding box and stabilizes after 128 generations. It is also a standard object used to describe Life conduits.
Methuselahs7 cells3 x 4 box128 generations lifespanfinal: 22 cells
- Category
- Methuselahs
- Period
- Long-lived seed
- Movement
- bounded
- Population
- 7 cells
- Bounding box
- 3 x 4
- Lifespan
- 128 generations
- Final state
- 22 cells
- Known since
- 1970
How to use it
Use it to move from beginner methuselahs into the vocabulary of conduits and engineered Life reactions.
Explore the complete 3×3 seed experiment
Open the pattern in the lab, reduce the speed, and use single-step mode when a phase change is hard to see. The green preview marks births in the next generation; red outlines mark live cells that will die.
Fast answers
Common questions about Herschel
Is Herschel a methuselah?
Yes. Herschel is a seven-cell methuselah with a 3 x 4 bounding box and 128-generation lifespan.
Why is Herschel important in Life engineering?
Many conduits are described by how they accept, delay, turn, or output Herschels, so it is a useful bridge from pattern viewing to Life circuitry.
How is Herschel related to B-heptomino?
A Herschel occurs during the evolution of the B-heptomino, which makes the two patterns natural next experiments.
Next experiments
Compare nearby patterns
Move between similar structures to see which facts change: box size, lifespan, extinction, motion, and final ash.
B-heptomino
A common seven-cell methuselah that produces a Herschel during its evolution.
- Size
- 4 x 3
- Lifespan
- 148 generations
R-pentomino
A five-cell seed that takes over one thousand generations to stabilize.
- Size
- 3 x 3
- Lifespan
- 1,103 generations
Acorn
A seven-cell seed with a famously long chaotic evolution.
- Size
- 7 x 3
- Lifespan
- 5,206 generations
Edna
A 149-cell methuselah that pushed automated soup lifespans past 31,000 generations.
- Size
- 20 x 20
- Lifespan
- 31,192 generations