"The Grandmother Hypothesis: How Whale Menopause Sheds Light on Human Evolution"

Researchers at the University of Exeter studied five species of whales, including orcas and narwhals, to understand the evolutionary purpose of menopause in mammals. Their findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest that older female whales go through menopause to help care for younger generations, supporting the "grandmother hypothesis." The study compared toothed whale species that go through menopause with those that don't, finding that the former have longer lifespans, allowing for more overlap between generations in family groups. This research sheds light on the important role of grandmothers in whale social structures and may offer insights into the role of older women in human societies.