Find out how a square grid and some simple rules can generate complex patterns and life-like behaviour.

Mindless games can produce surprising results.

Are pretty lizard patterns the result of a living cellular automaton?

Simple mathematical rules can make for some interesting psychedelic science.

Lewis Dartnell turns the universe into a matrix to model traffic, forest fires and sprawling cities.

When we finally meet the Martians, John Conway believes they are going to want to talk mathematics. He talks to Plus about his Life game, artificial life and what we will have in common with extraterrestrials.