Just one chemical is enough to maintain the status quo in naked mole rat colonies. Plus, the hunt for the origins of a cyclosporidia outbreak and whether it’s possible to end poverty without economic growth.
16 July 2026
Just one chemical is enough to maintain the status quo in naked mole rat colonies. Plus, the hunt for the origins of a cyclosporidia outbreak and whether it’s possible to end poverty without economic growth.
By
Jacob Smith
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Hear the biggest stories from the world of science | 15 July 2026
The mechanism behind these strange mammals' extreme social structure has been a long-standing puzzle.
A single chemical made by mole-rat queens enforces the social order.
The scent of a single chemical, made only by the queen, alters hormone production in other females.
A lone female maintains her status in the colony by hoarding her ability to reproduce.
Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) queens produce isopropyl myristate, a low-volatility ester that high-ranking animals…
