geekosystem

Neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology didn't know what to expect when they started researching a new type of skin cell they discovered in 2007, but what they may have found is impressive and adorable -- skin cells in furry animals that are specially designed to register the sensation of petting or stroking. These new cells could expand our entire understanding of petting animals, and redefine cuddling as we know it. Keep reading to learn more about the cells and see video of them in action on all sorts of animals.

Now that we live in a society whose cultural output is dominated by videos of kittens, people's gut reaction to cats is largely "Aaaawwwww." That makes it easy to forget that every cat on Earth is a nearly perfect machine built for the sole purpose of murdering small animals. Every now and again, we get a reminder of the fact, and the latest one is an estimate published in the journal Nature Communications this week suggesting that domestic cats in the United States are responsible for the deaths of 3.7 billion birds and  more than 20 billion small mammals every year. Doing that math, it appears that literally every second your beloved pet is not in you lap, it is snuffing out tiny lives with mind-boggling efficiency.

In a recent survey from across the pond that may dampen the Internet's unwavering devotion for funny felines, scientists have concluded that domestic cats in the United Kingdom are posing a serious threat to local bird populations, which has steadily declined over the years. Conservationists have since been trying to convince obstinate cat owners to be more mindful of their pet's hunting behavior and look into options that would prevent any more birds winding up dead on their doorsteps. If action to protect native bird species isn't taken soon, the U.K. is going to be known as the crazy cat lady of the world.

A clam's no pet, they said. Get a pet rock, they said. Well, the joke's on them! Wonder Clam can eat salt all day and all night! Next, she'll learn "shake hands" and before you know it, she'll be catching frisbees and jumping through hoops. Soon, she'll be doing a victory lap in front of the judges after she's named "Clam-of-Show." They'll see who's laughing then. That'll show 'em. That'll show 'em all!

If you need a spot for your pet to relax that isn't your lap while you're relaxing, then this Rocking-2-gether Chair may be the perfect item for you and your adorable charge. Designed by Houston architect Paul Kweton, the chair combines a roofed pet house below a regular rocking chair so your pet can not only be somewhat protected from the elements, but can also be gently rocked to sleep as you are.

Government officials in Jiangmen, China are banning residents from having dogs as pets. Set to take place at the end of August, the ban will require all current dog owners to take their pets to a drop-off center where they will either be adopted by people who live in rural areas or euthanized. The goal of the ban is to reduce the number of dogs in areas of Jiangmen that are most densely populated. According to the city government's official notice on "Strengthening the Management of Dogs," any dog owner that wants to keep their pet rather than surrender it to people unknown or sudden death will be allowed to apply for a license. However, it seems as though only people who plan to use their dogs for security for a warehouse or other business will be granted licenses.

Ever wonder what your pet would be thinking if it were trapped in a box? Well, wonder no more. Hilarious and true to life, this graphic that explains the inner workings of your pet's mind is pure truth. Full graphic after the break.

Agree or disagree? According to a staffwide editorial in the Journal of Animal Ethics, a new academic publication devoted to "the exploration of progressive thought about animals," the word 'pet' "is surely a derogatory term both of the animals concerned and their human carers ... The word ‘owners’, whilst technically correct in law, harks back to a previous age when animals were regarded as just that: property, machines or things to use without moral constraint." (Telegraph via TDW)

Minecraft will soon be getting significantly cuter soon, with the addition of the new wolf mob. Originally conceived during a discussion Minecraft creator Notch had at GDC, Minecraft developer Jens Bergensten has been dropping little hints about the new pet mob. Today, Bergensten tweeted out a link to this video, which shows the wolves frolicking about and gives us some hints as to how these will work in game. Head on past the break for details.