Scientists discovered 50,000-year-old viruses in Neanderthal DNA that could help explain their mysterious extinction

• Neanderthals may have caught the same viruses that cause modern colds, cold sores, and some cancers.
• It's possible ancient humans introduced these unfamiliar viruses to their relatives.
• Understanding these ancient viruses may shed light on Neanderthals' extinction and modern diseases.

Neanderthals may have suffered from some very familiar diseases 50,000 years ago, which could have contributed to their downfall.