Cyclic Cellular Automaton

Fisch-Gravner-Griffeath model — rotating spiral waves from simple local rules

Each cell is in state 0..Nāˆ’1. A cell advances to state (s+1) mod N if at least threshold neighbors are in state (s+1) mod N. Starting from random noise, beautiful rotating spirals (cyclic "waves") spontaneously emerge (Griffeath, 1988). The waves compete: larger spirals absorb smaller ones. More states → more colors, more complex patterns.