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. Life

    Fossils hint at India’s crucial role in primate evolution

    Ancient fossils from coal mine in India offer clues to what the common ancestor of present-day primates might have looked like.

  2. Animals

    Bonobos adept at nut cracking

    Bonobos demonstrate their overlooked nut-cracking skills in an African sanctuary.

  3. Humans

    Cognitive scientist puts profanity in its place

    Swearing provides unappreciated insights into human thought and language, a cognitive scientist argues in the new book What the F.

  4. Animals

    Bonobos rival chimps at the art of cracking oil palm nuts

    Bonobos demonstrate their overlooked nut-cracking skills in an African sanctuary.

  5. Anthropology

    Fossil autopsy claims Lucy fell from tree

    A contested study suggests a famous fossil ancestor plunged to her death.

  6. Archaeology

    How to get Ötzi’s look

    DNA from Ötzi the Iceman’s clothes and quiver traced to both domesticated and wild animals.

  7. Anthropology

    Notorious ‘ape-man’ fossil hoax pinned on one wrongdoer

    New Piltdown Man study pegs infamous ‘ape-man’ skull forgery on one well-informed culprit.

  8. Earth

    China’s mythical ‘Great Flood’ possibly rooted in real disaster

    Folktales of an ancient flood that helped kick off Chinese civilization may reference a nearly 4,000-year-old deluge.

  9. Anthropology

    Oldest evidence of cancer in human family tree found

    Bony growths on fossils may push origins of this disease way back in the Stone Age.

  10. Archaeology

    Parasitic worm eggs found on Silk Road latrine artifacts

    Microscopic study of latrine finds indicates disease spread along ancient Asian trade route.

  11. Anthropology

    Humans, birds communicate to collaborate

    Bird species takes hunter-gatherers to honeybees’ nests when called on.

  12. Anthropology

    New dating suggests younger age for Homo naledi

    South African fossil species lived more recently than first thought, study suggests.