How naked mole rat queens stop rivals reproducing

Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) queens produce a chemical that prevents other females in their colony from reproducing. The smell of isopropyl myristate — which is also a common ingredient in skincare products — alters the production of hormones in other females, which traps them in a prepubescent-like state. Researchers found that the chemical alone can maintain the status quo in mole-rat colonies when the queen is not physically present. The study solves the “longstanding mystery” of why only one female in a naked mole rat colony reproduces, says behavioural scientist Melissa Holmes.