Reported are results of a study concerning the role of structural properties of scientific prose. Two major types of relations are identified as typically part of the scientific prose: description of relations, and explanation of mechanisms. Results of two experiments isolate one characteristic of scientific prose (explanation of mechanisms) as being strongly related to creative problem solving. The first experiment, in which university psychology students read a passage explaining how a camera works and then took cued recall and problem solving tests, presents evidence that recall of explanations of the mechanisms and creative solution of camera problems are related. A second experiment further explores this relation by manipulating the passage's emphasis on explanation of mechanisms and presents more evidence that organization of technical text around underlying mechanisms has its main measurable effect on creative problem solving. (CS)