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. Astronomy

    ‘Space beads’ push back origins of iron working

    Ancient Egyptians used advanced techniques to make beads out of 'metal from the sky.'

  2. Psychology

    Highlights from the American Sociological Association annual meeting

    Research on social media's reluctant users, marital ideals and single parenthood and intimate victims of cybernastiness presented August 10-13 in New York City.

  3. Psychology

    Mental disorder seen as ‘badness, not sickness’

    Health workers tend to consider borderline personality disorder a tag for patients who are difficult or impossible to treat.

  4. Psychology

    Ratio for a good life exposed as ‘nonsense’

    A heralded calculation of people’s ability to flourish is a mathematical mirage, researchers say.

  5. Neuroscience

    Brainwashed

    The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience by Sally Satel and Scott O. Lilienfeld.

  6. Archaeology

    Notorious Bones

    South African finds enter fray over origins of the human genus.

  7. Anthropology

    War arose recently, anthropologists contend

    Infrequent killings among hunter-gatherer groups fit a scenario of a largely peaceful Stone Age, a study concludes.

  8. Health & Medicine

    Four-question test ID’s women with depression

    Simple decision tool shows potential as quick way to identify clinical depression.

  9. Anthropology

    Agriculture’s roots spread east to Iran

    Dig supports prolonged development of domesticated crops at ancient sites across the Fertile Crescent.

  10. Archaeology

    Pre-Inca empire tomb found untouched in Peru

    Gold jewelry, bronze axes and dozens of bodies were among the contents of the Wari empire ceremonial room.

  11. Humans

    Hard throwers evolved a long time ago

    Baseball hurlers provide clues to the ancient roots of bodies that can heave objects really fast.

  12. Humans

    Aerial radar sizes up ancient urban sprawl

    Angkor, the capital of Cambodia's Khmer empire, included carefully planned  suburbs that spread across the landscape.