Patterns in excitable media aren’t just pretty readouts—they are signals, processors, and sometimes agents. From chemical reaction–diffusion waves (Belousov–Zhabotinsky) and cardiac/neuronal pulses to cellular‑automata creatures in Lenia and gliders in Conway’s Game of Life, simple local rules yield complex, information‑bearing dynamics. We explore how these patterns communicate, compute, adapt, and even display lifelike autonomy; how ideas from Beer, Fields, and Levin reframe objects as processes; and how the same principles inspire real systems—from bioelectric control and reservoir computing to media tech. For HastingsNow’s Soundbites, the lens of excitable media clarifies how short, verified, geo‑targeted audio can propagate as high‑value “waves” through a community, amplifying signal while damping noise.

Hastings’ business landscape is bracing for an AI tidal wave—yet the deeper story hides in our own bioelectric wiring. This guide unpacks 2025’s most explosive AI milestones, explains the “electric code” that makes cells self‑organize, and distills practical lessons on strategy, innovation, and stress resilience for River Town entrepreneurs.