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. Anthropology

    Human ancestors at West Asian site deemed two species

    Researchers see two species instead of one at oldest known Homo site outside Africa.

  2. Anthropology

    Cancer proposed as spur for evolution of dark-skinned ancestors

    Fatal ailments might have sparked DNA changes that yielded dark skin in human ancestors.

  3. Archaeology

    Fire used regularly for cooking for 300,000 years

    Israeli cave yields a fireplace where Stone Age crowd may have cooked up social change.

  4. Animals

    Orangutans hit the ground walking

    A surprising affinity for moving across the forest floor may aid threatened apes.

  5. Archaeology

    Nearly 1-million-year-old European footprints found

    Erosion temporarily unveils remnants of a Stone Age stroll along England’s coast.

  6. Science & Society

    Figure skating judges get a 10 for duplicity

    Sport’s reform efforts have resulted in more nationalistic bias and vote trading.

  7. Humans

    Neandertal hot spots highlighted in modern humans’ DNA

    Mating with evolutionary cousins produced genetic trade-offs for Stone Age people.

  8. Archaeology

    Stone Age fishing spear found on Southeast Asian island

    Notched piece of bone found near Indonesia illustrates surprisingly complex tool making 35,000 years ago.

  9. Anthropology

    Skulls from ancient London suggest ritual decapitations

    The city’s Roman rulers had special watery places to keep the heads of military enemies or vanquished gladiators.

  10. Psychology

    Migraines respond to great expectations

    Patients get more pain relief from drug and placebo labeled as headache busters than from those labeled as dummy pills.

  11. Psychology

    Year in Review: DSM-5’s controversial debut

    The diagnostic manual updates disorder criteria.

  12. Humans

    Year in Review: New discoveries reshape debate over human ancestry

    Human evolution appears poised for a scientific makeover as the relationships among early hominids are disputed.