Thread for your unsure discoveries

[dvgrn]

Yes. There are three that produce gliders. One is the Gosper Glider Gun, one is unsalvageable, and one works if the glider gets reflected immediately but not on its own.

The last time this seems to have come up was here, but I'm still having trouble finding EDIT: Aha, found it! the three-queen-bee-combinations stamp collection that I seem to remember from somewhere.

(And my prediction from that first link is holding up so far -- we're almost a third of the way to 10^15, and no Gosper glider gun yet... here's hoping I become wrong as usual, preferably soon.)

[muzik]

3G pi rotator, not sure if usable for an oscillator:

Code: Select all

x = 30, y = 29, rule = B3/S23
2$21bo$20bo$20b3o13$obo23bo$b2o23bobo$bo24b2o3$16b3o$16bo$16b3o!

Some failed attempts which leave behind one still life:

Code: Select all

x = 196, y = 41, rule = B3/S23
8$26bobo$26bo112bo36bobo$26b2o40bo69bo37b2o$68bobo30bo36b3o36bo$68b2o
30bo$100b3o9$5bobo23bobo11bobo23bobo43bobo23bobo$6b2o23bo14b2o23bo8bob
o23bobo9b2o23bo7bobo23bobo$6bo24b2o13bo24b2o8b2o23bo11bo24b2o7b2o23bo$
81bo24b2o44bo24b2o2$21b3o37b3o69b3o$21bo39bo34b3o34bo33b3o$21b3o37b3o
32bo36b3o31bo$96b3o68b3o!

[breaker's glider gun]

I saw a tub stabilizing a long beehive, so I tried to extend that.
unfortunately, that was not to be.
it was not extensible.
so I made this instead:

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 14, rule = B3/S23
4bo$2obobob2o$bobobobo$bobobobo$2obobob2o$bobobobo$bobobobo$2obobob2o
$bobobobo$bobobobo$2obobob2o$bobobobo$bo2bo2bo$2o5b2o!

and this:

Code: Select all

x = 393, y = 14, rule = B3/S23
4bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo
3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo
3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo
3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo
3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo$2obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob2o$bobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$bobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobo$2obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
2o$bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$bobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$2obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobob2o$bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$bobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$2obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobob2o$bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobob
obobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo
bobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobobo$bo2b
o3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3b
o3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3b
o3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3b
o3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3bo3b
o3bo3bo3bo3bo2bo$2o389b2o!

[C28]

p39 G to B

Code: Select all

x = 35, y = 38, rule = B3/S23
2bo$obo$b2o8$3b2o$3b2o6$22b2o3b2o$22bobo2b2o$10b3o10bo$2obo6bobo$ob2o
6bobo$24bo$23b2obo$24bobo$23bo$23bobo$22bo3bo$14b2o7bo2bo$14b2o8b2o$19b
2o7b2o2b2o$19b2o6bo2bo$27bo4b3o$28bob2obo$29bo2$25b2o$25b2o!

edit: neato

Code: Select all

x = 35, y = 37, rule = B3/S23
obo$b2o$bo14$22b2o3b2o$22bobo2b2o$10b3o10bo$2obo6bobo$ob2o6bobo$24bo$
23b2obo$24bobo$23bo$23bobo$22bo3bo$14b2o7bo2bo$14b2o8b2o$19b2o7b2o2b2o
$19b2o6bo2bo$27bo4b3o$28bob2obo$29bo2$25b2o$25b2o!

edit 2: yeah baby

Code: Select all

x = 38, y = 37, rule = B3/S23
3bobo$4b2o$4bo4$2o$bo$bobo$2b2o$6b2o$5bobo$5b2o4$25b2o3b2o$25bobo2b2o
$13b3o10bo$3b2obo6bobo$3bob2o6bobo$27bo$26b2obo$27bobo$26bo$26bobo$25b
o3bo$17b2o7bo2bo$17b2o8b2o$22b2o7b2o2b2o$22b2o6bo2bo$30bo4b3o$31bob2o
bo$32bo2$28b2o$28b2o!

edit 3: p39 glider loop

Code: Select all

x = 116, y = 116, rule = B3/S23
40b2o$40b2o2$37bo$33bob2obo$32b3o4bo$36bo2bo6b2o$33b2o2b2o7b2o$41b2o8b
2o$40bo2bo7b2o$40bo3bo$41bobo$43bo$40bobo$40bob2o$42bo$54bobo6b2obo$54b
obo6bob2o$43bo10b3o$38b2o2bobo$38b2o3b2o4$63b2o$62bobo$62b2o$66b2o$66b
obo$68bo$54bobo11b2o$54b2o$55bo54bo$108bob2o$65bo42bobo$64b2o45bo$64b
obo42bobo$108bo3bo$95b2o11bo2bo$45bo49b2o12b2o$44bo56b2o2b2o7b2o$44b3o
57bo2bo6b2o$96bo3b3o4bo$95bobo3bob2obo$74b2o19b2o8bo$74bobo$30bo43bo33b
2o$28b3o77b2o$27bo$16b2o9b2o7bo$17bo16b2o$16bo7b2o9b2o69b2o$16b2o6bob
o79b2o$25b2o$84b2o11b3o$83b2o12bo$85bo11b3o3$16b3o11bo$18bo12b2o$16b3o
11b2o$89b2o$8b2o79bobo6b2o$8b2o69b2o9b2o7bo$80b2o16bo$79bo7b2o9b2o$88b
o$6b2o77b3o$6b2o33bo43bo$39bobo$10bo8b2o19b2o$9bob2obo3bobo$8bo4b3o3b
o$2o6bo2bo57b3o$2o7b2o2b2o56bo$5b2o12b2o49bo$4bo2bo11b2o$3bo3bo$4bobo
42bobo$4bo45b2o$5bobo42bo$4b2obo$5bo54bo$60b2o$46b2o11bobo$47bo$47bob
o$48b2o$52b2o$51bobo$51b2o4$71b2o3b2o$71bobo2b2o$59b3o10bo$49b2obo6bo
bo$49bob2o6bobo$73bo$72b2obo$73bobo$72bo$72bobo$71bo3bo$63b2o7bo2bo$63b
2o8b2o$68b2o7b2o2b2o$68b2o6bo2bo$76bo4b3o$77bob2obo$78bo2$74b2o$74b2o
!

edit 4: different glider reflector

Code: Select all

x = 38, y = 34, rule = B3/S23
2bo$obo$b2o11$25b2o3b2o$25bobo2b2o$13b3o10bo$3b2obo6bobo$3bob2o6bobo$
27bo$26b2obo$27bobo$26bo$26bobo$25bo3bo$17b2o7bo2bo$17b2o8b2o$22b2o7b
2o2b2o$22b2o6bo2bo$30bo4b3o$31bob2obo$32bo2$28b2o$28b2o!

[GUYTU6J]

I lost the pattern when suddenly quitting Golly on mobile phone...
For a glider stream where every separation is an even number of ticks, a hypothetical reflector consists of a glider-to-century converter and a three-quarters traffic light catalyst placed as in the smallest p46 glider gun. Unfortunately, the first stage is either periodic (as in p4 CC cenark) or stable but dirty (as in CC semi-cenark).

[Herschel of Ostropol]

What are these called?

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 15, rule = Life
7bo$6bobo$7bo2$5b5o$4bobo3bo$bo2b2o4bo2bo$obobo5bobobo$bo2bo4b2o2bo$4b
o3bobo$5b5o2$7bo$6bobo$7bo!

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 20, rule = Life
11bo$10bobo$11bo2$9b5o$9bo4bo$12b2obo$12b2obo2bo$9bo5bobobo$4b2o2bobo
4bo2bo$bo2bo3bo2bo2b2o$obobo4b2o$bo2bob2o$4bo2bo$5bo4bo$6b5o2$8bo$7bo
bo$8bo!

^This I like to call confused eater 5s.

[Wyirm]

What are these called?

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 15, rule = Life
7bo$6bobo$7bo2$5b5o$4bobo3bo$bo2b2o4bo2bo$obobo5bobobo$bo2bo4b2o2bo$4b
o3bobo$5b5o2$7bo$6bobo$7bo!

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 20, rule = Life
11bo$10bobo$11bo2$9b5o$9bo4bo$12b2obo$12b2obo2bo$9bo5bobobo$4b2o2bobo
4bo2bo$bo2bo3bo2bo2b2o$obobo4b2o$bo2bob2o$4bo2bo$5bo4bo$6b5o2$8bo$7bo
bo$8bo!

^This I like to call confused eater 5s.

The first pattern is a billiard table, specifically a variant of glasses, and the second is a known oscillator consisting of two eater 5s, called eating bread.

[C28]

2 two-glider octominos collide to become 2 U-turners

Code: Select all

x = 9, y = 10, rule = B3/S23
2b2o$obo$3o$bo3$7bo$6b3o$6bobo$5b2o!

[AlbertArmStain]

I'm not sure if this p4 periodic 2G to mwss is known?

Code: Select all

x = 17, y = 22, rule = B3/S23
8bo4bo$9bob2o$7b3o2b2o2$7bo$2b2obo3bo$2bo$3b2o$3o2b7o$o2bo6b2o$b2o8b2o
$12bo2$12b3o$8bo2b4o$6b3o6bo$5bo4b6o$6b5o5bo$8bo2b5o$11bo$13bo$12b2o!

[C28]

transparent block

Code: Select all

x = 20, y = 7, rule = B3/S23
2o$bo$bobo$2b2o15bo$18b2o$12b2o3b2o$12b2o4b2o!

[wwei47]

Is this puffer engine known? I originally found it in 2020 by accident while searching for 2c/4s with JLS, but when checking against jslife-moving-master, noticed that there was a smaller puffer with identical output. Dismissing my puffer as uninteresting, I stuck it into a file with a bunch of other spaceships. I was reminded of this puffer again today during a spaceship search, and was able to find it in the file:

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 22, rule = B3/S23
4b3o5b3o$4bo2bo3bo2bo$4bo9bo$4bo9bo$5bobo3bobo2$8b3o$7bo3bo$7bo3bo$6bo
5bo$b3o11b3o$o2bo3bo3bo3bo2bo$3bo4b3o4bo$3bo3b5o3bo$obo2bo2b3o2bo2bobo
$5bo7bo$7b5o$bo5bo3bo5bo$3o4b2ob2o4b3o$ob2ob2o5b2ob2obo$b3ob9ob3o$b2o
3bo5bo3b2o!

[C28]

queen bee stablized by pendechlathons

Code: Select all

x = 22, y = 19, rule = B3/S23
9bo$7bobo$6bobo$5bo2bo$6bobo$2bo4bobo9bo$b3o5bo8b3o$obobo12bobobo$obo
bo12bobobo$b3o14b3o$2bo16bo3$2bo16bo$b3o14b3o$obobo12bobobo$obobo12bo
bobo$b3o14b3o$2bo16bo!

the way the beehives are deleted reminds me of beacon

[xpsd]

queen bee stablized by ...

And of course this - stabilized by QBs - may be known:

Code: Select all

x = 24, y = 24, rule = LifeHistory
9.2BABAB$7.4BA3BAB$4.BA9BA4B$3.B2A5BA4BA4B$3.3A9BA5B$2.BA7BA3BA6B$2.
2A2B3.2BABAB3.4B$.B3AB12.5B$.5B12.B3AB$7B10.B2AB2AB$7B10.B2AB2AB$2A3B
2A10.B5AB$B5AB10.2A3B2A$B2AB2AB10.7B$B2AB2AB10.7B$.B3AB12.5B$.5B12.B
3AB$2.4B3.BABA2B3.2B2A$2.6BA3BA7BAB$3.5BA9B3A$3.4BA4BA5B2AB$4.4BA9BAB
$7.BA3BA4B$9.BABA2B!

I think there was somewhere a file with all possible interactions of two - & three ? - QBs

[C28]

queen bee stablized by ...

And of course this - stabilized by QBs - may be known:

Code: Select all

x = 24, y = 24, rule = LifeHistory
9.2BABAB$7.4BA3BAB$4.BA9BA4B$3.B2A5BA4BA4B$3.3A9BA5B$2.BA7BA3BA6B$2.
2A2B3.2BABAB3.4B$.B3AB12.5B$.5B12.B3AB$7B10.B2AB2AB$7B10.B2AB2AB$2A3B
2A10.B5AB$B5AB10.2A3B2A$B2AB2AB10.7B$B2AB2AB10.7B$.B3AB12.5B$.5B12.B
3AB$2.4B3.BABA2B3.2B2A$2.6BA3BA7BAB$3.5BA9B3A$3.4BA4BA5B2AB$4.4BA9BAB
$7.BA3BA4B$9.BABA2B!

I think there was somewhere a file with all possible interactions of two - & three ? - QBs

the queen bees stabilizing each other is known.
anyway, statorless version of eureka

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 40, rule = B3/S23
b3o7b3o2$o3bo5bo3bo$o3bo5bo3bo2$b3o7b3o3$b3o7b3o2$o3bo5bo3bo$o3bo5bo3b
o2$b3o7b3o7$3b3o3b3o$3bobo3bobo$3b3o3b3o4$b3o7b3o2$o3bo5bo3bo$o3bo5bo
3bo2$b3o7b3o3$b3o7b3o2$o3bo5bo3bo$o3bo5bo3bo2$b3o7b3o!

[Mr. T]

Loafer eater; known? For shure!?

Code: Select all

x = 43, y = 13, rule = B3/S23
19b2o19b2o$3b2o14b2o19b2o$3b2o13bo2bo17bo2bo$19b3o18b3o$21bo20bo$15bo
20bo$14bob2o2bo14bob2o2bo$13bo2b2obobo12bo2b2obobo$14b3o2bobo13b3o2bob
o$2b2o$bobo$bo$2o!

Loafer-Beehive-reaction

Code: Select all

x = 15, y = 9, rule = B3/S23
12b2o$12b2o$11bo2bo$12b3o$14bo$bo6bo$obo4bob2o2bo$obo3bo2b2obobo$bo5b
3o2bobo!

[Jormungant]

well, a single eater does the job, so I guess even if it is "known", it is not optimal (unless one has some weird spatial constraint...)

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
$b2o$2bo$2bobo$3b2o10b2o$15b2o$14bo2bo$15b3o$17bo$11bo$10bob2o2bo$9bo
2b2obobo$10b3o2bobo!

the above has a better recovery time as well. That being said the interaction with the hive is neat ^^, I though one could derive a loafer to G there, but I guess one already exist, and it uses the same reaction you shared, more or less:

Sure looks like it! Has anyone tried 'catalyst' or 'ptbsearch' on these? A two- or three-catalyst search is almost guaranteed to produce a clean loafer-to-glider conversion from one of these, and a Herschel output wouldn't be at all surprising.

I didn't have any luck immediately on searches starting with two blocks, though I might certainly have missed something. But a four-catalyst search starting with just a loafer eventually turned up a clean loafer-to-glider converter:

Code: Select all

#C stable loafer-to-glider converter -- recovery time 237 ticks
x = 65, y = 20, rule = B3/S23
8bo$7bobo$7bobo$5b3ob2o9bo$4bo13b3o$5b3ob2o6bo$7bob2o6b2o$2b2o$3bo$3bo
bo$4b2o$23b2o2bob2o26b2o4b2o$22bo2bo2b2o26bo2b2ob3o$23bobo31bobo$24bo
33bo$30bo33bo$bo26b3o31b3o$obo24bo33bo$2o26bo33b2o$29b2o32bo!

...

[otismo]

well, a single eater does the job, so I guess even if it is "known", it is not optimal (unless one has some weird spatial constraint...)

Code: Select all

x = 19, y = 15, rule = B3/S23
$b2o$2bo$2bobo$3b2o10b2o$15b2o$14bo2bo$15b3o$17bo$11bo$10bob2o2bo$9bo
2b2obobo$10b3o2bobo!

the above has a better recovery time as well. That being said the interaction with the hive is neat ^^, I though one could derive a loafer to G there, but I guess one already exist, and it uses the same reaction you shared, more or less:

Sure looks like it! Has anyone tried 'catalyst' or 'ptbsearch' on these? A two- or three-catalyst search is almost guaranteed to produce a clean loafer-to-glider conversion from one of these, and a Herschel output wouldn't be at all surprising.

I didn't have any luck immediately on searches starting with two blocks, though I might certainly have missed something. But a four-catalyst search starting with just a loafer eventually turned up a clean loafer-to-glider converter:

Code: Select all

#C stable loafer-to-glider converter -- recovery time 237 ticks
x = 65, y = 20, rule = B3/S23
8bo$7bobo$7bobo$5b3ob2o9bo$4bo13b3o$5b3ob2o6bo$7bob2o6b2o$2b2o$3bo$3bo
bo$4b2o$23b2o2bob2o26b2o4b2o$22bo2bo2b2o26bo2b2ob3o$23bobo31bobo$24bo
33bo$30bo33bo$bo26b3o31b3o$obo24bo33bo$2o26bo33b2o$29b2o32bo!

...

@ J :

Can we not put an oscillator next to that eater that either interacts directly or maybe perturbs a pre-TL to get our Glider ?

( my Loafers will be custom-periodic for that one... )

Thank You !

Cheers !

[dani]

10-cell methuselahs lasting 18088, 22713, and 25371 generations respectively:

Code: Select all

x = 39, y = 78, rule = B3/S23
3o2b2o$3bo$5bo75$36b3o!

Code: Select all

x = 105, y = 90, rule = B3/S23
3o2b2o$3bo$5bo85$104bo$104bo$104bo!

Code: Select all

x = 118, y = 12, rule = B3/S23
115b3o8$3o$o2bo$4bo$5bo!

Normally I wouldn't post these, but the Wiki says the longest lasting 10-cell pattern is Bunnies 10a at 17425 generations. I don't know if this type of thing is not noted because it's trivial, or because it's formerly unknown.

What is the longest lasting known 10-cell pattern including these 7+3's? I'm sure there's one that dips into the 30k+ range...

EDIT: The wiki page for 52513M lists a 26-cell variant called 52444, but I noticed that the TL predecessor is 5 cells, and advancing it 2 ticks preserves its lifespan while knocking 1 cell off its initial population:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 35, rule = B3/S23
4b2o$2b2o2$bo$bo$bo8$3bobo$4bo$4bo9$7bo$7b2o$6bo3$o8b2o$b2o6bo2$bo$b2o
$o!

[Ian07]

EDIT: The wiki page for 52513M lists a 26-cell variant called 52444, but I noticed that the TL predecessor is 5 cells, and advancing it 2 ticks preserves its lifespan while knocking 1 cell off its initial population:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 35, rule = B3/S23
4b2o$2b2o2$bo$bo$bo8$3bobo$4bo$4bo9$7bo$7b2o$6bo3$o8b2o$b2o6bo2$bo$b2o
$o!

This form was actually found by MathAndCode on October 23 (with an incorrect version of the pattern posted on September 7). For some reason, when updating RLE:52448m in October, I pasted a 26-cell version involving a more convoluted TL predecessor. Not sure where that came from.

[dani]

8-cell 0, 1, 2, and 9-cell 3, 4, 5, -generation predecessors of switch engine:

Code: Select all

x = 47, y = 68, rule = B3/S23
3o$obo$3o$obo$3o16$3o18bo18b2o$bo2bo16bo2bo17bo$5bo14bobobo17bo$2bobo
38b4o$24b2o16$3o$obo$3o$2bo$2bo16$2o18bo21bo$20b2o18bo$bo39bo$2b2obobo
13b3o17bo$24bo$4bobo15b2o16bob3o2$43bo!

In particular the bottom row seems undocumented. I don't doubt someone has found these before.

[dani]

10-cell unstable SE+H predecessor:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = B3/S23
5bo$4b3o$4b2o$bo2bo$2o!

11-cell unstable SE+H predecessor from a few generations back:

Code: Select all

x = 11, y = 6, rule = B3/S23
9b2o$10bo$2o8bo$bo4bo2$5b3o!

EDIT: 11 cells, produces a block which quickly kills the engine:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 21, rule = B3/S23
3o$bo3$4b3o$6bo14$5b2o$5bo!

EDIT 2 2022-03-27: 9-cell precursor to the first pattern:

Code: Select all

x = 7, y = 5, rule = B3/S23
2obo$o3bo$5bo$5bo$4bobo!

[Jormungant]

It seems there is already one of these 180 reflector, but here is alternative reflection that could be used for a caber tosser:

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 67, rule = LifeHistory
7$2.B$2.2B$2.3B$2.4B$3.4B$4.4B$5.4B$6.4B$7.4B$8.4B$9.4B$10.2BCB45.7B
2C$11.2B2C43.8B2C$12.2C2B41.10B$13.4B41.8B$14.4B39.9B$15.4B37.10B$16.
4B35.6B2C2B$17.4B34.5BC2BCB.2CB$18.4B30.B2.5BC3B5C5B2C$19.4B27.10BCBC
BC.8B2C$20.4B26.12B3.C9B$21.4B23.8B3CB6.8B$22.4B22.4B2CBC3B6.9B.B$23.
4B19.6BC4BC6.16B$24.4B18.7B3C2B5.19B$25.4B16.13B3.22B$26.4B15.2B2C8B
3.24B$27.4B15.BCBC7B.26B$28.4B10.BC.BC2BC5B3.25B$29.4B8.BC3B3C4B3.26B
$30.4B7.2C2BC2BC3B4.14B2.10B.B$31.4B6.3CB2C5B2.13B5.16B$32.4B7.4C19B
5.18B$33.4B7.22B3.7B3C10B$34.4B7.5BC12BCB3.2BC6BC2BC8B$35.4B6.3B2CB2C
10BCB.3BCBC9BC7B$36.4B5.3B2CB2C11BC4BCBC6BCBC8B$37.4B4.4BCB3C35B$38.
10B3C38B$39.B.5B.42B$38.51B$38.51B$38.26BCBC22B$40.B2C19B2C2B2C21B$
40.B2C7BC11B2C3B2C20B$41.9B2C10B2C2B2C21B$44.4BC14B2CB2C21B$44.4B2CB
2CB.9B2C23B$45.3B2C2BC36B$45.5B2C37B$46.19B3C21B$48.17BCBC21B$48.17B
3C21B$49.40B$52.37B$52.37B$53.36B$53.36B$54.35B!

[GUYTU6J]

It seems there is already one of these 180 reflector, but here is alternative reflection that could be used for a caber tosser:

Code: Select all

x = 93, y = 67, rule = LifeHistory
7$2.B$2.2B$2.3B$2.4B$3.4B$4.4B$5.4B$6.4B$7.4B$8.4B$9.4B$10.2BCB45.7B
2C$11.2B2C43.8B2C$12.2C2B41.10B$13.4B41.8B$14.4B39.9B$15.4B37.10B$16.
4B35.6B2C2B$17.4B34.5BC2BCB.2CB$18.4B30.B2.5BC3B5C5B2C$19.4B27.10BCBC
BC.8B2C$20.4B26.12B3.C9B$21.4B23.8B3CB6.8B$22.4B22.4B2CBC3B6.9B.B$23.
4B19.6BC4BC6.16B$24.4B18.7B3C2B5.19B$25.4B16.13B3.22B$26.4B15.2B2C8B
3.24B$27.4B15.BCBC7B.26B$28.4B10.BC.BC2BC5B3.25B$29.4B8.BC3B3C4B3.26B
$30.4B7.2C2BC2BC3B4.14B2.10B.B$31.4B6.3CB2C5B2.13B5.16B$32.4B7.4C19B
5.18B$33.4B7.22B3.7B3C10B$34.4B7.5BC12BCB3.2BC6BC2BC8B$35.4B6.3B2CB2C
10BCB.3BCBC9BC7B$36.4B5.3B2CB2C11BC4BCBC6BCBC8B$37.4B4.4BCB3C35B$38.
10B3C38B$39.B.5B.42B$38.51B$38.51B$38.26BCBC22B$40.B2C19B2C2B2C21B$
40.B2C7BC11B2C3B2C20B$41.9B2C10B2C2B2C21B$44.4BC14B2CB2C21B$44.4B2CB
2CB.9B2C23B$45.3B2C2BC36B$45.5B2C37B$46.19B3C21B$48.17BCBC21B$48.17B
3C21B$49.40B$52.37B$52.37B$53.36B$53.36B$54.35B!

It reminds me of gmc_nxtman's post, but that post does not have any same-lane 180-degree reflection. Another reflecting reaction that has been used in the moving glider loop leads to a 96×50 caber tosser, which does not beat my last 64×73 record using one from this thread. For comparison, here they are:

Code: Select all

x = 96, y = 160, rule = B3/S23
17b3o$15b7o6bo$14b9o4bo$13bo7b3o2b2o$14b3o6bo3bo2bo$15b2o11b3o$18bo10b
o$19bo18b2o$20bo17b2o4$obo$3o$2o15bo$17bo$16bo$3bo13b2o$bobo12bo2bo$b
3o12bobo$4bo$5o12bo$15bo2bo$16b4o$18b2o$16bo$15b2o29bo$15bo2bo$16b3o
24b3o$17bo27bo$44bo2$5b2o$5b2o2$49bo3bo$44bo2b2obobob2o2bo$42b2obobo2b
obo2bobob2o$42b2o3bobo3bobo3b2o$44b2o2bo5bo2b2o$13b2o$13b2o$27b2o$17bo
10bo$15bobo10bobo$16b2o11b2o4$44b2o2bo5bo2b2o$42b2o3bobo3bobo3b2o$11b
2o8b3o5b2o11b2obobo2bobo2bobob2o$7bo3b2o7bo8bo14bo2b2obobob2o2bo$3b2ob
2o12bo2bo3bobo19bo3bo$2bobobo11b2o3bo3b2o$3b2ob2o9bo4bo18bo$4b2o11bo3b
obo17bo$2bob3o10bo4bo17bo$2obo4b3o7b2o4bo9b2o16b2o4bo$20bo3bo10bo12bo
3b2o3bob2o$20bo3bo10bobo9bobo7bo$21b3o12b2o8b2ob2o8bo$27b2o12bo5bo2bo
5b3o$14b2o11bobo10bob2o4bobo5bo$14b2o13bo10bob2o5bo8bo2b2o$29b2o10bobo
11b4o4bo$41b2o12bo3bo2bo$41b4o16bo$43b2o$36b2o7bo$35bobo7bo3b2o$35bo8b
o4b2o$34b2o32$84bob2o$84bo2b2o$86bo4$32b2o$22bo3b2o4b3o$22bob2o2bo6bo$
22bo2b5o2b4o$26b3o3b3o$25b3o$25b2o17b2o$25bo18b2o3$5bo71bo11bo$4bobo
70b2o9b2o$4bo2b2o$2b7o14bo52bo13bo$bo2bo3bo14bo28b2o21b2obo3bobo3bob2o
$3o2b7o11bo28b2o24bo3bobo3bo$2b3o2bo8bo60bo3bo3bo3bo$3b2ob2o8bo61bo9bo
$4b3obo2bo39b2o23bobo9bobo$5b3ob2o13b2o22b3obo6b2o15b2o11b2o$8bo13b2ob
o22b6o6bo15bo13bo$21bo3bo26bo7bobo$21bo2b2o18b2o3bo2bo8b2o13bo13bo$22b
3o20b2o2bo2bo23b2o11b2o$23bo21b2o29bobo9bobo$45bo32bo9bo$77bo3bo3bo3bo
$78bo3bobo3bo$37bo5b2o16b2o12b2obo3bobo3bob2o$36bob2o3b2o16bo14bo13bo$
36bo17bo4bobo$11b2o25bo14b3o3b2o16b2o9b2o$11b2o22b3o14b5o15b2o3bo11bo$
35bo15b2o3b2o14bobo$37bo2b2o10b5o15bo$34b4o4bo10b3o10b2o16b2o$34bo3bo
2bo12bo12bo16b2o3bo$40bo26bobo19bob2o$68b2o9b2o8bo3b2o$19b2o38b2o18bob
o$19b2o25b2o11bobo19b2o7b2o3bo$46b2o13bo10b3o12bob3o$61b2o12b2o9bob2o
3b3o$70b2obob3o9bobo4b2o$74bo2b2o$73b2ob3o$68bo6bob2o$67bob2ob2o7b2o$
67bo7b2o4b2o$66b2o!

(Note: When considering smallest initial bounding box for a caber tosser, I need to rule out predecessor tricks with this requirement: you should be able to return to the initial phase by taking one of the infinitely many future states, deleting a number of outputs and translating the spaceship back, without modifying either gun's or spaceship's phase.)

On this topic, can a glider be reflected 180-degrees at the rear end of one or more copies of 58P5H1V1 as an "elementary conduit"? To my surprise c/5 diagonal rake on LifeWiki does not contain a simple option apart from the one-time turner boat.

[dani]

I think I found a new orbit for Puffer 2. I can't find it mentioned here anywhere, but I feel it might be known:

Code: Select all

x = 14, y = 18, rule = B3/S23
10b4o$9bo3bo$13bo$9bo2bo3$9b2o$bo6bo2bo$4o4bo2bo$4o3b2ob2o$3bo4b2o4$
10b4o$9bo3bo$13bo$9bo2bo!

It's p100. The only thing that I could find similar is this other, related p100 orbit by Scorbie from 2016 in Useless Discoveries:

And a new cleaner p100 orbit of the puffer train:

Code: Select all

x = 18, y = 14, rule = B3/S23
b3o11b3o$o2bo10bo2bo$3bo4b3o6bo$3bo4bo2bo5bo$2bo4bo8bo3$6bo3bo$6bob2o$
6bo2$6bob2o$6bo3b2o$9bo2bo!

Notice that it doesn't create Big S at the edges. I'm not sure how Scorbie would have found this and not the other one, but IDK.

If my discovery is already known I'll go ahead and throw both of them on the Puffer 2 page on the wiki for completeness, but attribution might be an issue.

EDIT: As the below post states it's known by pentadecathlon.com. I'll be sure to check there next time!

[praosylen]

I think I found a new orbit for Puffer 2. I can't find it mentioned here anywhere, but I feel it might be known:

Code: Select all

rle

It's p100. The only thing that I could find similar is this other, related p100 orbit by Scorbie from 2016 in Useless Discoveries:

And a new cleaner p100 orbit of the puffer train:

Code: Select all

rle

Notice that it doesn't create Big S at the edges. I'm not sure how Scorbie would have found this and not the other one, but IDK.

If my discovery is already known I'll go ahead and throw both of them on the Puffer 2 page on the wiki for completeness, but attribution might be an issue.

Both of these are previously known, actually... pentadecathlon.com has a nice catalog of orbits for well-known puffer engines, like Puffer 2 here (I don't know for sure how up to date or comprehensive it is, but it has a lot of things).