Bruce Bower

Behavioral Sciences Writer, Science News

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. Archaeology

    Ancient Egyptian mummy tattoos come to light

    A range of markings discovered on female mummies are challenging ideas about tattoo traditions in ancient Egypt.

  2. Humans

    DNA reveals clues to the Siberian ancestors of the first Americans

    Researchers discovered a previously unknown population of Ice Age people who crossed the Asia-North America land bridge.

  3. Archaeology

    Fossils from a Philippine cave may come from a new human-like species

    Ancient fossils from a Philippine cave may come from a new human-like species, which scientists have dubbed Homo luzonensis.

  4. Fossils

    A skeleton named ‘Little Foot’ causes big debate

    New studies suggest a fossil hominid called Little Foot belongs to the species Australopithecus prometheus. Other scientists question whether such a species exists.

  5. Archaeology

    Fossils hint ancient humans passed through a green Arabia

    Hundreds of thousands of years ago, migrating humans passed through the Arabian Peninsula, a study shows. Instead of desert, they found green grass.

  6. Archaeology

    Ancient child’s ‘vampire burial’ suggests Romans feared the walking dead

    A 10-year-old skeleton in a Roman cemetery had a stone placed in its mouth. It was to prevent this child from rising from the dead, a study reports.

  7. Archaeology

    Cremated remains hint at who was buried at Stonehenge

    A chemical analysis shows that people carried bodies from far away to be buried at the mysterious ancient monument known as Stonehenge.

  8. Archaeology

    Putting hats on Easter Island statues may have required some rock and roll

    Fitting huge stone hats on 3-story-high Easter Island statues may have required only a small workforce armed with ropes and ramps.

  9. Psychology

    Your window to learn new languages may still be open

    Results from an online grammar quiz suggest that people who start learning a second language at age 10 or 12 can still learn it well.

  10. Animals

    Compared to other primates, humans get little sleep

    Short bouts of a sleep, called REM, separate humans from other primates, scientists find. Sleeping on the ground may have a lot to do with it.

  11. Fossils

    Ancient jaw suggests humans left Africa earlier than thought

    A fossil jaw found in a cave in Israel is at least 177,000 years old. The scientists who found it think it shows humans left Africa much earlier than thought.

  12. Archaeology

    Fiery tests suggest gooey tech by Neandertals

    Neandertals could have used simple methods and handy materials to make tar. It would have helped them glue their tools together.