Bruce Bower

Bruce Bower

Behavioral Sciences Writer

Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences since 1984. He often writes about psychology, anthropology, archaeology and mental health issues. Bruce has a master's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. Following an internship at Science News in 1981, he worked as a reporter at Psychiatric News, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association, until joining Science News as a staff writer. In 1996, the American Psychological Association appointed Bruce a Science Writer Fellow, with a grant to visit psychological scientists of his own choosing. Early stints as an aide in a day school for children and teenagers with severe psychological problems and as a counselor in a drug diversion center provided Bruce with a surprisingly good background for a career in science journalism.

All Stories by Bruce Bower

  1. Personable Brain Cells: Neurons as virtuosos of face, object recognition

    Individual neurons in one part of the brain may assist in forming memories for specific sights, including the faces of famous people and images of well-known buildings.

  2. Archaeology

    Ancient Glassmakers: Egyptians crafted ingots for Mediterranean trade

    New archaeological finds indicate that by about 3,250 years ago, Egypt had become a major glass producer and exporter.

  3. New treatment for extreme grief

    Severe grief may be a unique mental disorder.

  4. Anthropology

    Climate shift shaped Aussie extinctions

    Stone Age people lived virtually side-by-side with now-extinct animals in western Australia for 6,000 years.

  5. Disorderly Conduct: U.S. survey finds high rates of mental illness

    Nearly half of all adults in the United States develop at least one mental disorder at some time in their lives, although most cases aren't serious enough to require treatment.

  6. Anthropology

    Faithful Ancestors

    A controversial fossil analysis supports the view that, more than 3 million years ago, human ancestors living in eastern Africa favored long-term mating partnerships.

  7. Investing on a Whiff: Chemical spray shows power as trust booster

    Individuals who smell a brain hormone known as oxytocin become unusually trusting of others in financial transactions.

  8. Anthropology

    Carnivore conflicts gnaw at Neandertals

    Discoveries in a French cave indicate that by about 41,000 years ago, Neandertals and hyenas competed for prey and for access to protected sites where they could safely consume their food.

  9. Anthropology

    Founding Families: New World was settled by small tribe

    A new genetic analysis indicates that only about 200 to 300 people crossed the ice age land bridge from Asia to become the founding population of North America.

  10. Anthropology

    Coasting to Asia in the Stone Age

    New genetic analyses of people from native island groups in Southeast Asia support the unconventional view that around 70,000 years ago, people living in Africa crossed the Red Sea and moved east along Asia's southern coast.

  11. Memories for Life: War sparked enduring recollections

    Danes who lived through the Nazi occupation of Denmark exhibit suprisingly accurate memories for factual information and personal experiences related to momentous events from World War II.

  12. DNA’s Moody Temperament: Gene variant linked to depression-ready brain

    A common version of a gene involved in regulating the neurotransmitter serotonin creates a brain that responds sensitively to stress and is therefore more likely to become depressed.