Why did the Neanderthals become extinct?

It is thought that Neanderthals became extinct around 40,000 years ago, although the exact cause of their extinction is still the subject of scientific debate and ongoing research.

One theory is that Neanderthals were outcompeted by modern humans (Homo sapiens) who arrived in Europe and parts of Asia around 50,000 years ago. Modern humans had a number of technological and cultural advantages, such as the use of sophisticated tools and the ability to communicate with language, which may have allowed them to hunt more efficiently and adapt to new environments. As a result, modern humans may have been able to outcompete Neanderthals for resources and habitat, leading to their eventual demise.

Another possibility is that Neanderthals and modern humans interbred, and the Neanderthal gene pool was eventually absorbed into the modern human gene pool. This could have contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals as a distinct species.

Other factors that may have contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals include environmental changes, such as the last ice age, which may have made their habitat less hospitable, and the possibility of disease or other environmental stressors. However, the exact role of these factors in the extinction of Neanderthals is still not fully understood.