It all fits in with the current culturally popularity of "science", which is really just people enjoying nerdy trivia and learning exciting new things. Not that those are wrong, but they most definitely are not actual science. I can't help but wonder if it's intentional, as these same people are the ones who'll unquestioningly go along with things like dubious vaccine safety or Global Warming claims, as long as someone merely tells them it's "Science!". In many ways pop-culture "Science!" has displaced actual science in our society, and we're much the worse for it, because the former is much more easily faked and manipulated by those with political goals.
This Cyanide and Happiness webcomic I think encapsulates the "IFL Science" (driven by cultural superficial cultural motives) types quite well:
