"Bill Gosper discovered the first glider gun 
     (and, so far, the smallest one found) in 1970, 
     earning $50 from Conway. The discovery of the 
     glider gun eventually led to the proof that 
     Conway's Game of Life could function as a 
     Turing machine."

fascinated by this quote ~ https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Gun_%28cellul...