Recent studies show that modern humans interbred with Neanderthals, which played a vital role in their survival and success after leaving Africa. While previous assumptions highlighted a straightforward expansion of humans, evidence suggests that only those who mingled genetically with Neanderthals thrived, helping them resist new diseases. This genetic interplay and subsequent migrations shaped the narrative of human evolution, leading scientists to reassess our prehistoric past, including the reasons for the Neanderthals’ extinction around 40,000 years ago.