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A post-reproductive toothed whale mother and her son. David Ellifrit/Center for Whale Research hide caption

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David Ellifrit/Center for Whale Research

Most animals don't go through menopause. So why do these whales?

Across the animal kingdom, menopause is something of an evolutionary blip. We humans are one of the few animals to experience it. But Sam Ellis, a researcher in animal behavior, argues that this isn't so surprising. "The best way to propagate your genes is to get as many offspring as possible into the next generation," says Ellis. "The best way to do that is almost always to reproduce your whole life."

Most animals don't go through menopause. So why do these whales?

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Shell's petrochemical complex along the Ohio River in Beaver County, Pa., June 2022. Reid R. Frazier/The Allegheny Front hide caption

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Reid R. Frazier/The Allegheny Front

Taxpayer-funded petrochemical plants are polluting communities, report finds

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The scraggly cherry blossom tree known as Stumpy on March 15 in Washington, D.C. At high tide, the base of the tree's trunk is inundated with several inches of water. Jacob Fenston hide caption

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Jacob Fenston

So long, Stumpy. More than 150 of D.C.'s cherry trees have to go as water rises

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Charlotte the stingray became a social media star when she got pregnant without a mate. Lydia Wilson hide caption

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Lydia Wilson

Pregnant stingray Charlotte brings in traffic, business to North Carolina town

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"My participation in the march as an Amazonian woman is to praise our rights and violence worldwide." Portrait of Josefina Tunki, the ex-Executive President of the Government Council of the Shuar Arutam People in Puyo, Ecuador, March 8, 2024. Tatiana Lopez for NPR hide caption

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Tatiana Lopez for NPR

Retrato de Josefina Tunki, ex-presidenta ejecutiva del Consejo de Gobierno del Pueblo Shuar Arutam. "Mi participación en la marcha como mujer amazónica es para enaltecer nuestros derechos, violencias a nivel mundial", lee el texto escrito por Tunki. Tatiana Lopez por NPR hide caption

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Tatiana Lopez por NPR

West Maui is a center of the tourism industry, raising concerns in the community that developers will buy properties destroyed in the fire as they come up for sale. Ryan Kellman/NPR hide caption

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Ryan Kellman/NPR

After the fires, a Maui community tries a novel approach to keep homes in local hands

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Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Lenorah, Texas in 2021. New research shows drillers emit about three times as much climate-warming methane as official estimates. David Goldman/AP hide caption

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David Goldman/AP

Oil and gas companies emit more climate-warming methane than EPA reports

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This type of staghorn coral (Acropora pulchra) appeared to benefit from the presence of sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra), a new study finds. Terry Moore/Stocktrek Images / Science Source hide caption

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Terry Moore/Stocktrek Images / Science Source

This often-overlooked sea creature may be quietly protecting the planet's coral reefs

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Texas investigators say the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the largest in state history, appears to be caused by a downed utility power pole. When it comes to increased risks of starting wildfires, Michael Wara professor at Stanford University says some utilities "are walking into a catastrophe." Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Receding water in Utah's Great Salt Lake is seen on March 5. Environmentalists are suing the state to force water cutbacks to farmers to save the Great Salt Lake. Lindsay D'Addato for NPR hide caption

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Lindsay D'Addato for NPR

Farmers accused of drying up the imperiled Great Salt Lake say they can help save it

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A man looks out over the Colorado River near Page, Arizona on Nov. 2, 2022. The seven states that manage the river are divided about how to account for the impacts of climate change in new plans about sharing its water. Alex Hager/KUNC hide caption

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Alex Hager/KUNC

As a deadline approaches, Colorado River states are still far apart on water sharing

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Sandra Martínez Martínez shows the dirty tap water she and her family are using as toilet water at her home in the municipality of Ecatepec, in the State of Mexico, on Sunday. Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR hide caption

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Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR

Mexico City's long-running water problems are getting even worse

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Tina Cordova poses in front of the entrance of White Sands Missile Range where Trinity test site is located. Cordova who is one of five generations in her family diagnosed with cancer since 1945, and runs the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. Cordova has been fighting for decades to secure compensation for those affected by the radiation from the Trinity test. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Generations After The First Nuclear Test, Those Sickened Fight For Compensation

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Charlotte the pregnant stingray swims in her aquarium in Hendersonville, N.C. Lydia Wilson hide caption

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Lydia Wilson

A stingray named Charlotte got pregnant — exactly how remains a mystery

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Caecilians are amphibians that look superficially like very large earthworms. New research suggests that at least one species of caecilian also produces "milk" for its hatchlings. Photo by Carlos Jared hide caption

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Photo by Carlos Jared

Researchers have found an amphibian that makes milk for its babies

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