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.
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All Stories by Bruce Bower
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Anthropology
Monkey’s small brain shows surprising folds
An ancient monkey’s tiny brain developed folds, raising questions about primate evolution.
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Psychology
Music to just about everyone’s ears
Common elements of music worldwide point to its central role in group cohesion.
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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.
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Animals
When baboons travel, majority rules
GPS study suggests baboons use simple rules to resolve travel disputes without leaders.
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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.
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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.
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Anthropology
Modern-day trackers reinterpret Stone Age cave footprints
African trackers help researchers interpret ancient human footprints in French caves.
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Anthropology
Human laugh lines traced back to ape ancestors
Chimps make laughing faces that speak to evolution of human ha-ha’s.
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Anthropology
Chimps prefer roasted potatoes, hinting at origins of cooking
Chimps really dig roasted potatoes, suggesting cooking arose millions of years ago.
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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.
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Archaeology
Earliest known stone tools unearthed in Kenya
East African discoveries suggest stone-tool making started at least 3.3 million years ago.
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Psychology
Quantity counts for baboons
Counting-like logic helps baboons track and compare accumulating sets of peanuts.