For a deep dive into the latest scientific theories, you can explore the Neanderthal Extinction entry on Wikipedia or watch the full Neanderthal Apocalypse documentary on YouTube.

: Massive volcanic eruptions during this period, such as the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption in Italy, might have caused a "volcanic winter," disrupting the food chain and making survival impossible for the already stressed Neanderthal populations. Did They Actually Go Extinct?

: Some researchers suggest that rapid shifts in the Earth's climate turned their lush hunting grounds into barren steppes. Neanderthals were built for ambush hunting in forests, and they may have struggled to adapt to these new, wide-open landscapes.

The "Neanderthal Apocalypse" refers to the relatively sudden disappearance of our closest ancient relatives about 40,000 years ago. While they survived in Eurasia for over 300,000 years, their story came to an end shortly after Homo sapiens arrived on the scene. The Main Theories of the "Apocalypse"

: Just as later human civilizations were devastated by new viruses, Neanderthals might have succumbed to pathogens brought by migrating Homo sapiens that their immune systems weren't prepared for.

Scientists are still debating exactly what wiped them out, but most theories fall into a few key categories: