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

    The bright side of sadness

    Bad moods can have unappreciated mental upsides.

  2. Anthropology

    Fossil skull points to single root for human evolution

    New find suggests that humankind’s origins trace to an ancient species that spread from Africa to Asia.

  3. Anthropology

    Ancient farmers, foragers kept genes to themselves

    Ancient DNA and diet clues suggest how farmers and hunter-gathers contributed to modern Europeans’ genetic profiles.

  4. Psychology

    Reading high-brow literature may aid in reading minds

    Think of it as the bookworm’s bonus: People who read first-rate fiction become more socially literate, at least briefly, a new study suggests.

  5. Anthropology

    Ancient farming populations went boom, then bust

    Agriculture’s introduction led to big falls as well as rises in numbers of Europeans.

  6. Psychology

    Mental rotation gears up by age 5 for both boys and girls

    Kid-friendly test suggests that the ability to visualize objects from different angles starts early.

  7. Psychology

    Poker pros’ arms betray their hands

    Top players' arm motions when betting provide clues to whether or not they hold strong cards.

  8. Psychology

    Bad acts spark a ‘cheater’s high’

    Committing low-stakes acts of dishonesty enhances perpetrators’ moods.

  9. Humans

    Babies perk up to sounds of ancient hazards

    Evolution has primed infants to focus on noises linked to longstanding dangers, a new study finds.

  10. Humans

    The Tune Wreckers

    People who can’t carry a tune, or can but think they can’t, are a rich resource for researchers studying musical ability.

  11. Psychology

    Poverty may tax thinking abilities

    Scarce funds reduce mental abilities of U.S. shoppers and Indian farmers, experiments suggest.

  12. Psychology

    Behavioral research may overstate results

    'Soft' sciences inflate support for what scientists expected to find, data check suggests.