Neanderthals were a species of human that inhabited Europe and Asia for over 350,000 years until they disappeared around 40,000 years ago. There are several theories as to why they went extinct, including climate change, competition for resources, and interbreeding with Homo sapiens. Some human populations alive in Europe and Asia today have as much as 3% Neanderthal DNA, indicating that interbreeding may have played a role in their extinction.

Recent research suggests that the extinction of Neanderthals may have been caused by interbreeding with Homo sapiens, rather than violence. Hybridization outside of Neanderthal family groups could have eroded their population until they disappeared. However, the fossil record is ambiguous on whether Neanderthals became extinct or were assimilated into the modern human gene pool.

Another theory is that Neanderthals were less adaptable to changing climates and environments than Homo sapiens, giving the latter an advantage when conditions became unfavorable. Neanderthals were also less innovative than Homo sapiens in terms of technology and general change.

It is important to note that the extinction of Neanderthals is still a subject of intense discussion and research, and there is no one definitive answer. The available evidence suggests that a combination of factors, including climate change, competition for resources, interbreeding with Homo sapiens, and technological stagnation, may have contributed to their disappearance.