taut cells

Cells as the bubbles of a foam: the films between them pull taut and every cell keeps its area. Now they also grow and divide. 2D foam · amoebae

Left button divides a cell, right button or Shift lets it die. Keys: N start again, D divide every cell, Space pause.

Start A cell divides

Steps between divisions Divisions, at most

Steps for a cell to double A newborn cell, pixels across Growth stops

Colours Outer cells stiffer, times

A cell born on the shell, or on the medium, is outer; one born with cells all round is inner, and so are all its daughters. The films of outer cells pull harder by the factor set. With many divisions the cells get small: past 7 or 8 in the egg, take a larger field.

A cell gives way to no less than of its newborn area

Zero lets crowded cells be crushed away, as they are in a foam; above it, a cell squeezed that far pushes back hard and stays.

Measure the films

Field size Kernel radius Noise Steps per frame