Transparent object

In signal circuitry, a transparent object is one that is completely destroyed by the passing signal, then rebuilt. Often (though not always) it is associated with a transparent debris effect, a reaction in which an active region destroys a still life, then later, having passed through the place occupied by still life, recreates the still life in its original position.

Many common objects have been found to be transparent in certain reactions. A brief list of examples include:

• The block in conduit 1, Fx77, BNE14T30, etc., as well as the specifically named transparent block reaction shown below.
• The beehive in one of the century eaters, one of the variants of SW-2, BRx46B, etc.
• The loaf in RF48H.

Transparent block reaction

x = 14, y = 4, rule = B3/S23 o$2o10b2o$b2o9b2o$2o! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 GPS 20 ZOOM 20 STOP 70 ]]

Transparent block reaction

(click above to open LifeViewer)
RLE: here Plaintext: here

The transparent block reaction is a certain reaction between a block and a B-heptomino in which the block reappears in its original place some time later, the reaction having effectively passed through it. It was found by David Buckingham in 1988. It has been used in some dependent Herschel conduits and in the gunstars.

Still life "keepers"

Rarely, a transparent still life can have the unusual property of showing up even if it isn't there initally. A conduit which has a still life with this property is referred to as a "keeper". So the pattern below would be called a "beehive keeper".

b2o$2bo$bo$b2o$3bo6b3o$b3o6b3o$o8bobo$2o7b2o5$4bo$3bobo$4bo5$6b2o$5bo bo$5bo$4b2o$16bo$15bobo$15bobo$16bo! #C [[ THUMBSIZE 2 THEME 6 GRID GRIDMAJOR 0 SUPPRESS THUMBLAUNCH ]] #C [[ THUMBSIZE 3 GPS 60 STOP 250 ]]

An example of a keeper. The beehive will appear in the same place at the same time regardless of if it was there initally. (click above to open LifeViewer)

See also

• Transparent lane - for another use of the term "transparent".
• Bait

External links

• Transparent object at the Life Lexicon

• Transparent debris effect at the Life Lexicon

• Transparent block reaction at the Life Lexicon