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. Humans

    Into Africa: Ancient skeleton sheds light on reverse migration

    Ancient man’s DNA helps reveal extent of Eurasian farmers’ back-to-Africa migration some 3,000 years ago.

  2. Humans

    Chimpanzees show surprising flexibility on two feet

    Chimpanzees’ upper-body flexibility while walking upright suggests ancient hominids walked effectively.

  3. Anthropology

    Bronze Age mummies identified in Britain

    Bone analysis finds widespread mummy making in ancient England and Scotland.

  4. Anthropology

    Ancient hominid ears were tuned to high frequencies

    Two ancient hominid species may have heard high-frequency sounds especially well.

  5. Anthropology

    Ancient hominid ears were tuned to high frequencies

    Two ancient hominid species may have heard high-frequency sounds especially well.

  6. Anthropology

    More than 9,000-year-old decapitated head discovered in Brazil

    Human decapitation goes back more than 9,000 years in the Americas.

  7. Anthropology

    Handed-down tales tell of ancient sea level rise

    Australian Aborigines tell tales of actual, ancient sea-level rises, a contested study finds.

  8. Science & Society

    Rocky families, not same-sex parents, blamed for kids’ troubles in adulthood

    Range of adult problems linked to childhood family changes, not gay parents.

  9. Archaeology

    ‘Superhenge’ once lined Stonehenge neighborhood

    A row of massive, now-buried stones once bordered a site near Stonehenge.

  10. Anthropology

    Fossils suggest new species from human genus

    Undated South African cave fossils may reveal a new species in the human genus.

  11. Animals

    Apes do the darndest things

    Several chimp behaviors have researchers wondering if apes are a good model for early hominid life.

  12. Anthropology

    Minutes after encountering danger, lemurs yawn

    Madagascar primates yawn within minutes of encountering threats.