"50,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Bones Reveal Oldest Human Viruses"

Researchers have discovered evidence of ancient viruses in 50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones, potentially linking infectious diseases to their extinction. By analyzing DNA from Neanderthal skeletons found in Russia, scientists identified fragments of adenovirus, herpesvirus, and papillomavirus. While the findings are preliminary and await peer review, they suggest that Neanderthals shared susceptibility to common human viruses, opening new avenues for understanding their disappearance.