Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion model with luminous blue-green pseudocolor waves
In 1952, Alan Turing proposed that the interaction between chemical reaction and diffusion could spontaneously generate ordered spatial patterns. This theory became the foundation for morphogenesis - explaining how biological organisms develop their shape and structure.
The Gray-Scott model describes two chemical species U (activator) and V (inhibitor): dU/dt = Du * laplacian(U) - U*V^2 + f*(1-U), dV/dt = Dv * laplacian(V) + U*V^2 - (f+k)*V. Here f is the feed rate and k is the kill rate controlling pattern formation.
By adjusting f and k, the system can produce spots, stripes, spirals, coral-like structures, cell mitosis patterns, and turbulence. The diffusion ratio Du/Dv (typically ~2:1) determines the characteristic scale of the patterns.
Use the sliders to adjust feed rate, kill rate, and diffusion to change the rhythm and structure of the pattern. Click presets for classic modes. You can also click or drag directly on the canvas to add a new chemical perturbation and watch the blue-green pseudocolor waves keep growing and splitting.