Geneticists have found an interesting pattern in how early humans and Neanderthals interbred—and it wasn't balanced.

New genetic research suggests that interbreeding between Neanderthals and early modern humans occurred more often between male Neanderthals and female humans. The study, published in Science, offers a new explanation for why Neanderthal DNA is largely absent from the human X chromosome.

Discover the latest news, features and articles about who Neanderthals were, whether they mated with modern humans and when they died out.

Did modern humans erase Neanderthals, or did our close cousins fade away for reasons that had little to do with us? A pair of major papers in Science and Nature on Dec. 12, 2024, sharpen that question by revealing both early Homo sapiens in Europe and a Neanderthal lineage that had been genetically isolated for

New research into the interbreeding patterns between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens reveals that male Neanderthals primarily mated with female Homo sapiens. The findings challenge previous assumptions about genetic incompatibility and highlight a rich genetic exchange that has left modern humans with traces of Neanderthal DNA.

A new study suggests preeclampsia, a deadly pregnancy disorder, may have contributed to Neanderthal extinction.

A new genetic study reveals that female humans often mated with male Neanderthals, providing insights into ancient human-Neanderthal interactions.

Earlier migrations relied on “green corridors”—temporary windows of perfect weather that allowed people to move through once-harsh deserts. But by 70,000 years ago, something changed in Africa. Humans began living in a wider, more punishing range of environments.