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

    Music to just about everyone’s ears

    Common elements of music worldwide point to its central role in group cohesion.

  2. Science & Society

    ‘Faith vs. Fact’ takes aim at religion

    Jerry Coyne’s ‘Faith vs. Fact’ argues that science is the best – perhaps only – way of learning about the world.

  3. Animals

    When baboons travel, majority rules

    GPS study suggests baboons use simple rules to resolve travel disputes without leaders.

  4. Anthropology

    Kennewick Man’s DNA links him to present-day Native Americans

    Genetic analysis of Kennewick Man suggests that the ancient Pacific Northwest man was most closely related to modern Native Americans, not Polynesians.

  5. Health & Medicine

    Rehab for psychopaths

    Psychopaths often don’t fit movie stereotypes, but they share particular characteristics. New research shows that, contrary to popular thought, cognitive behavioral therapy can help some psychopaths stay out of prison.

  6. Anthropology

    Modern-day trackers reinterpret Stone Age cave footprints

    African trackers help researchers interpret ancient human footprints in French caves.

  7. Anthropology

    Human laugh lines traced back to ape ancestors

    Chimps make laughing faces that speak to evolution of human ha-ha’s.

  8. Anthropology

    Chimps prefer roasted potatoes, hinting at origins of cooking

    Chimps really dig roasted potatoes, suggesting cooking arose millions of years ago.

  9. Humans

    Fossils suggest another hominid species lived near Lucy

    Fossil jaws dating to over 3 million years ago may add a new species to the ancient hominid mix.

  10. Archaeology

    Earliest known stone tools unearthed in Kenya

    East African discoveries suggest stone-tool making started at least 3.3 million years ago.

  11. Psychology

    Quantity counts for baboons

    Counting-like logic helps baboons track and compare accumulating sets of peanuts.

  12. Psychology

    On Facebook, you control the slant of the news you choose

    Facebook users shield themselves from opposing political ideas more than the site does.