diff --git a/ui/hud.py b/ui/hud.py
index ef7dff7..f7b73d1 100644
--- a/ui/hud.py
+++ b/ui/hud.py
@@ -378,7 +378,8 @@ class HUD:
         info_lines = [
             f"Layers: {info['total_layers']}",
             f"Neurons: {info['total_neurons']}",
-            f"Connections: {info['total_connections']}"
+            f"Connections: {info['total_connections']}",
+            f"Network Cost: {info['network_cost']}",
         ]
 
         for i, line in enumerate(info_lines):
diff --git a/world/base/brain.py b/world/base/brain.py
index fadf7fb..782571f 100644
--- a/world/base/brain.py
+++ b/world/base/brain.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class FlexibleNeuralNetwork:
         # Initialize with just input and output layers (no hidden layers)
         self._initialize_basic_network()
 
+        self.network_cost = self.calculate_network_cost()
+
     def _initialize_basic_network(self):
         """Initialize a basic network with input->output connections only."""
         # Input layer (no actual neurons, just placeholders)
@@ -144,6 +146,8 @@ class FlexibleNeuralNetwork:
         # Ensure the network maintains basic connectivity
         mutated._ensure_network_connectivity()
 
+        mutated.network_cost = mutated.calculate_network_cost()
+
         return mutated
 
     def _mutate_weights(self):
@@ -411,7 +415,8 @@ class FlexibleNeuralNetwork:
             'total_layers': len(self.layers),
             'layer_sizes': [len(layer) for layer in self.layers],
             'total_connections': 0,
-            'total_neurons': sum(len(layer) for layer in self.layers)
+            'total_neurons': sum(len(layer) for layer in self.layers),
+            'network_cost': self.network_cost
         }
 
         for layer in self.layers[1:]:
@@ -421,6 +426,21 @@ class FlexibleNeuralNetwork:
 
         return info
 
+    def calculate_network_cost(self):
+        """
+        Estimate the computational cost of the network.
+        Cost is defined as the total number of connections plus the number of neurons
+        (i.e., total multiply-accumulate operations and activations per forward pass).
+        """
+        total_connections = 0
+        total_neurons = 0
+        for layer in self.layers[1:]:  # Skip input layer (no computation)
+            for neuron in layer:
+                total_neurons += 1
+                if 'connections' in neuron:
+                    total_connections += len(neuron['connections'])
+        return total_connections + total_neurons
+
 
 class CellBrain(BehavioralModel):
     """
diff --git a/world/objects.py b/world/objects.py
index b061af0..1c8e2e1 100644
--- a/world/objects.py
+++ b/world/objects.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ class DefaultCell(BaseEntity):
         self.behavioral_model = behavioral_model
 
 
-    def tick(self, interactable: Optional[List[BaseEntity]] = None) -> "DefaultCell":
+    def tick(self, interactable: Optional[List[BaseEntity]] = None) -> Union["DefaultCell", List["DefaultCell"]]:
         """
         Updates the cell according to its behavioral model.
 
@@ -276,17 +276,11 @@ class DefaultCell(BaseEntity):
         :return: Self.
         """
 
-        if self.energy == 0:
+        if self.energy <= 0:
             # too hungry lmao
             self.flag_for_death()
             return self
 
-        self.energy -= 1
-
-        if self.tick_count > 2000:
-            # too old lmao
-            self.flag_for_death()
-
         if interactable is None:
             interactable = []
 
@@ -303,25 +297,25 @@ class DefaultCell(BaseEntity):
         distance_to_food = get_distance_between_objects(self, food_object)
 
         if distance_to_food < self.max_visual_width and food_objects:
-            self.energy += 100
+            self.energy += 110
             food_object.flag_for_death()
             return self
 
-        if self.energy >= 1500:
+        if self.energy >= 1600:
             # too much energy, split
             duplicate_x, duplicate_y = self.position.get_position()
-            duplicate_x += random.randint(-self.interaction_radius, self.interaction_radius)
-            duplicate_y += random.randint(-self.interaction_radius, self.interaction_radius)
+            duplicate_x += random.randint(-self.max_visual_width, self.max_visual_width)
+            duplicate_y += random.randint(-self.max_visual_width, self.max_visual_width)
 
             duplicate_x_2, duplicate_y_2 = self.position.get_position()
-            duplicate_x_2 += random.randint(-self.interaction_radius, self.interaction_radius)
-            duplicate_y_2 += random.randint(-self.interaction_radius, self.interaction_radius)
+            duplicate_x_2 += random.randint(-self.max_visual_width, self.max_visual_width)
+            duplicate_y_2 += random.randint(-self.max_visual_width, self.max_visual_width)
 
             new_cell = DefaultCell(Position(x=int(duplicate_x), y=int(duplicate_y)), Rotation(angle=random.randint(0, 359)))
-            new_cell.set_brain(self.behavioral_model.mutate(1))
+            new_cell.set_brain(self.behavioral_model.mutate(0.4))
 
             new_cell_2 = DefaultCell(Position(x=int(duplicate_x_2), y=int(duplicate_y_2)), Rotation(angle=random.randint(0, 359)))
-            new_cell_2.set_brain(self.behavioral_model.mutate(1))
+            new_cell_2.set_brain(self.behavioral_model.mutate(0.4))
 
             return [new_cell, new_cell_2]
 
@@ -388,6 +382,10 @@ class DefaultCell(BaseEntity):
         # tick rotational velocity
         self.rotation.set_rotation(self.rotation.get_rotation() + self.rotational_velocity)
 
+        movement_cost = abs(output_data["angular_acceleration"]) + abs(output_data["linear_acceleration"])
+
+        self.energy -= (self.behavioral_model.neural_network.network_cost * 0.01) + 1 + (0.2 * movement_cost)
+
         return self
 
     @staticmethod