I'd say it's more that there is an increasing desire for science and science literacy, but those are expensive public goods that our current system has limited

I'd say it's more that there is an increasing desire for science and science literacy, but those are expensive public goods that our current system has limited incentive to provide. That leaves the window open to interest groups and marketers do bad science or push pseudoscience that simply imitates the form and makes people feel informed and fact based again. So science literacy is slowly increasing, but the amount of bullshit masquerading as science to nudge you to buy more Camel cigarettes or vote whatever policy the charlatan wants to push is increasing a lot faster