Neanderthals interbred with humans, influencing their extinction

A new study reveals that early humans and Neanderthals interbred in three significant waves over the past 250,000 years, contributing up to 10% of Neanderthal DNA from Homo sapiens. The research suggests that Neanderthal populations were 20% smaller than previously believed, potentially explaining their extinction around 40,000 years ago. The findings highlight a more complex interaction between these species than previously understood.