'Hobbits' went extinct due to severe drought, study reveals
Scientists have discovered that the mysterious "hobbits"—a small human species called Homo floresiensis—disappeared from Indonesia's Flores Island mainly because of extreme drought.
These 3.5-foot-tall humans lived in Liang Bua cave for about 40,000 years but had to leave as water sources dried up and survival got tougher.
What the study found
Researchers, led by Mike Gagan, analyzed cave stalagmites and ancient animal teeth to track rainfall changes.
They found that annual rain dropped by about 37%, making summers almost half as wet as today between 61,000 and 55,000 years ago.
The drought dried up rivers and made food scarce for both hobbits and their prey.
Why it matters
The team believes climate change didn't just make life hard—it may have sparked fierce competition for resources, possibly when modern humans arrived on the island.
As Gagan noted, environmental changes can really shape who survives.
This story is a reminder of how powerful nature can be in deciding our fate—even for entire species.