The HashLife algorithm is pretty neat and easy to understand: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.drdobbs.com&#x2F;jvm&#x2F;an-algorithm-for-compressing-space-and-t&#x2F;184406478" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.drdobbs.com&#x2F;jvm&#x2F;an-algorithm-for-compressing-spac...</a>