What to watch
- The first few generations look compact, then the reaction spreads.
- A large board is needed to avoid boundary effects.
- The final ash contains still lifes, oscillators, and six escaping gliders.
Methuselahs
R-pentomino
A five-cell seed that takes over one thousand generations to stabilize.
The R-pentomino is the classic proof that small initial conditions can create unexpectedly long histories: five cells in a 3 x 3 box eventually stabilize with 116 cells and six escaping gliders.
Why this 3 x 3 seed matters
The R-pentomino begins with only five live cells inside a 3 x 3 bounding box. That tiny seed stays active for 1,103 generations before stabilizing into 116 live cells and 6 escaping gliders, so it is the cleanest small example of a methuselah on the site.
Methuselahs5 cells3 x 3 box1,103 generations lifespanfinal: 116 cells, including 6 gliders
- Category
- Methuselahs
- Period
- Long-lived seed
- Movement
- bounded
- Population
- 5 cells
- Bounding box
- 3 x 3
- Lifespan
- 1,103 generations
- Final state
- 116 cells, including 6 gliders
- Known since
- 1970
How to use it
Use it to teach emergent complexity from very small seeds.
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 R-pentomino
What is the 3x3 methuselah in Conway's Game of Life?
The usual answer is the R-pentomino. It begins as five live cells in a 3 x 3 box and stabilizes after 1,103 generations with 116 cells and 6 gliders.
Why is the R-pentomino called a methuselah?
It starts very small but stays active for an unusually long time before settling into final ash and escaping gliders.
What board size should I use for the R-pentomino?
Use a roomy board so debris and gliders are not clipped by the boundary. The live lab starts on a wide board for that reason.