Hot Flash in the Deep Blue Sea

Killer whales are normally associated with Sea World or Free Willy, not with the science of reproduction. And yet, they are among the few species in the world, including humans, that undergo menopause, and enjoy a long lifespan thereafter. The origins of killer whale menopause are still hazy, but a recent study, making use of a 40-year killer whale census, applies human evolutionary hypotheses to killer whale data, and in turn finds that conflict for food might be at the root of killer whale menopause.