"Rethinking Our Ancestry: The Blurring Line Between Neanderthals and Humans"
Recent research challenges the traditional view that Neanderthals were a separate species from modern humans, lacking in creativity and complex social structures. New findings suggest they had effective long-term memory, engaged in compassionate kin-based practices, and shared up to 20% of their genome with modern humans, influencing traits like social fear and anxiety. Theories on Neanderthal extinction range from climate change to competition with technologically advanced Homo sapiens, but their genetic and psychological legacy continues to be a subject of study, offering insights into the shared history of human evolution.