Talks to Watch

How life emerges from a simple particle motion law: Introducing the Primordial Particle System

497K views · Dec 10, 2016 · 16:01 · 1 HN recommender · 4 mentions · discussed 2019–2021

Researchers from the Artificial Life Lab Graz introduce the Primordial Particle System, where a simple motion law for self-propelled particles produces cell-like structures that self-reproduce and show life cycles.

Why Hacker News points people here: Shared as an example of simple rules yielding complex emergent, life-like behavior, alongside Game of Life and particle simulators.

“this one is pretty awesome too. A very simple rule and quite the complex behavior.”HN comment, 2020

What Hacker News said 4

Recommendshut0Dec 2020

“this one is pretty awesome too. A very simple rule and quite the complex behavior.”

Simple rule producing complex emergent behavior.

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this video <- this one is pretty awesome too. A very simple rule and quite the complex behavior. Though I'd recommend watching it at 175% speed, muted, and perhaps with the 1812 Overture as the background music.

in “Show HN: Exophysics – WebGL2 particle simulator” · view on HN
Cites itrouliDec 2019

“Surprisingly enough, particles form cell type structure and seem to "reproduce".”

Demo of particles forming cell-like structures that seem to reproduce.

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wonderful! Coincidently, I read today a paper [1], which has a nice video demo here [2] describing a very similar system but with only one type of cells and a simple rule. Surprisingly enough, particles form cell type structure and seem to "reproduce". [1] link [2] this video

Cites ithut0Jun 2021

Primordial Particle System underlies a life-like universe simulation.

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There's a similar project that runs right in your browser: link It's more simple, and more about physics than biology, but the emergent phenomena are pretty interesting nevertheless. This universe comes the closest to a life simulation: link [based on the Primordial Particle System, this video ]

in “ALiEn – a GPU-accelerated artificial life simulation program” · view on HN
Cites itbeaconstudiosJun 2021

“Primordial particle systems ( )”

Example of designed emergence alongside Conway's Game of Life.

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I think generative art could be emergent in future, but as far as I'm aware it isn't currently. The best examples of designed emergence we have right now are cellular automata, like Conway's Game of Life, or Primordial particle systems ( this video ).