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. Archaeology

    Peru’s plenty brought ancient human migration to a crawl

    Ancient Americans reached Peru 15,000 years ago and stayed put, excavations suggest.

  2. Archaeology

    Tool sharpens focus on Stone Age networking in the Middle East

    Stone Age tool’s route to Syrian site covered at least 700 kilometers.

  3. Anthropology

    European fossils may belong to earliest known hominid

    With new analyses of Graecopithecus fossils from Greece and Bulgaria, researchers argue for possible hominid origins in Europe, not Africa.

  4. Archaeology

    Chaco Canyon’s ancient civilization continues to puzzle

    A dynasty may have risen from the dead in an ancient Chaco great house.

  5. Anthropology

    Homo naledi may have lived at around same time as early humans

    South African species Homo naledi is much younger than previously thought.

  6. Archaeology

    Twisted textile cords may contain clues to Inca messages

    A writing system from the 1700s may illuminate even older knotty Inca messages.

  7. Anthropology

    Water tubing accidents, table run-ins cause Neandertal-like injuries

    People’s injury patterns today can’t explain how Neandertals got so many head wounds.

  8. Archaeology

    First settlers reached Americas 130,000 years ago, study claims

    Mastodon site suggests first Americans arrived unexpectedly early.

  9. Humans

    Homo naledi’s brain shows humanlike features

    South African Homo species had small but humanlike brain, scientists say.

  10. Archaeology

    Oldest evidence of patterned silk loom found in China

    Chinese finds offer earliest look at game-changing weaving machine.

  11. Anthropology

    Ötzi the Iceman froze to death

    Copper Age Iceman froze to death, with shoulder and head damage.

  12. Archaeology

    Shock-absorbing spear points kept early North Americans on the hunt

    Ancient Americans invented a way to make spear points last on an unfamiliar continent.