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. Psychology

    Kids grasp words as symbols before learning to read

    Preschoolers grasp that written words refer to specific things before they learn to read.

  2. Psychology

    As suicide rates rise, researchers separate thoughts from actions

    Advances in suicide research and treatment may depend on separating thoughts from acts.

  3. Health & Medicine

    Cow bites and spacecraft injuries enliven new medical diagnostic codes

    The 10th edition of International Classification of Diseases went into effect in 2015, and it included some interesting additions.

  4. Anthropology

    Thigh bone adds to mystery over 14,000-year-old Homo species

    Controversial Chinese leg fossil may point to hybrid humans 14,000 years ago.

  5. Humans

    Year in review: Early human kin could shake up family tree

    From a South African cave to an East African rift valley, fossil and archaeological finds reported in 2015 added new twists to the evolution of the human genus.

  6. Humans

    Year in review: Native Americans are Kennewick kin

    Ancient DNA identified 8,500-year-old Kennewick Man as a Native American relative.

  7. Archaeology

    6,000-year-old skeletons in French pit came from victims of violence

    Human bones in a French pit recall lethal conflicts and limb lopping 6,000 years ago.

  8. Health & Medicine

    Pay attention to that under-the-weather feeling

    People can forecast their likelihood of catching colds by rating their own health, study shows.

  9. Anthropology

    People roamed tip of South America 18,500 years ago

    Stone tools, charred animal bones and fire ash found at the Monte Verde site in Chile indicate people reached South America’s southernmost territory at least 18,500 years ago.

  10. Psychology

    Culture shapes sense of fairness

    Culture shapes kids’ sense of fairness, especially when they get the short end of the stick.

  11. Anthropology

    DNA puts Neandertal relatives in Siberia for 60,000 years

    Recovered DNA suggests Denisovans inhabited Siberia for around 60,000 years.

  12. Anthropology

    DNA puts Neandertal relatives in Siberia for 60,000 years

    Recovered DNA suggests Denisovans inhabited Siberia for around 60,000 years.