Queen’s scent rules the nest: a single chemical governs reproductive suppression in naked mole-rats

Researchers identify isopropyl myristate as a queen-derived chemical cue in naked mole-rats that modulates social hierarchy by suppressing reproduction in non-breeders, via olfactory detection and hormonal changes; the compound is enriched in queens and can prevent queen replacement, with related signals found in Fukomys species, highlighting a chemical mechanism linking mammalian eusociality to insect models.