What Science, Actually does

Science, Actually is a privately held science communication media company founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco. The company produces educational and entertainment content aimed at general science enthusiasts and space/astronomy hobbyists, distributing primarily through social media platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Mastodon), a WordPress-hosted content hub, and a podcast distributed via RSS. Its content portfolio includes 'The Nerd and the Scientist' podcast (70+ episodes across 7+ seasons, hosted by astrophysicist Kovi Rose and sci-communicator Benjamin Salles), a Daily Science Facts program (running continuously since June 2021 across four yearly cohorts), monthly Top Ten Lists ranking scientific measurements, a Collective Nouns series cataloguing animal group names, and science articles.

The underlying technology stack is conventional and asset-light: a WordPress CMS for the content hub, RSS.com for podcast hosting, standard social media APIs for distribution, and the Zazzle print-on-demand marketplace for merchandise. The core team consists of CEO Benjamin Salles, content creator Adam Zbriger (astrophysicist at UC Berkeley), and co-host Kovi Rose (astrophysicist). The company has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no patents or proprietary technology, no certifications, no institutional funding, and no disclosed partnerships or alliances.

The business model is community-led content monetization: the company builds audiences across social and audio platforms, then derives revenue from podcast and content monetization (potentially sponsorships, affiliate links, and listener support, though specifics are not disclosed) and merchandise sales through the Zazzle marketplace. No pricing tiers, subscription models, or commercial product offerings exist. The company operates as a bootstrapped, founder-owned entity with no evidence of external investors or institutional capital, and no disclosed revenue figures.

Name

Science, Actually

Website

https://scienceactually.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Science, Actually is a bootstrapped science communication media company producing daily science facts, a podcast, and ranked content lists for general science enthusiasts, distributed across social media and podcast platforms with merchandise sales via Zazzle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Communication and Educational Media

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Gaming Magazines (MPAJAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Science communication
• Science podcast
• Educational content media
• Space science content
• Scicomm entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Podcast and Content Monetization: Monetization through podcast audience building, potentially including sponsorships, affiliate links, and listener support. Store powered by Zazzle for merchandise.
2. Merchandise Sales: Products sold through Zazzle store including stickers and apparel featuring Science Actually branding and rubber duck mascot.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Science, Actually is a science communication media company that produces and distributes educational science content across multiple formats including podcasts ("The Nerd and the Scientist"), daily science facts on social media, monthly top ten lists, a collective nouns series, and science articles. The company also sells branded merchandise such as stickers, apparel, and t-shirts featuring its rubber duck mascot through a Zazzle storefront.

Product overview

Science, Actually is a science communication media company offering multiple content products including two podcast shows (The Nerd and the Scientist hosted by astrophysicist Kovi Rose and science communicator Benjamin Salles, and the Space Case Sarah Show featuring space discussions), daily science facts posted across social media platforms since 2021, monthly Top Ten Lists ranking scientific measurements, a Collective Nouns series exploring animal group names, science articles and posts shared since 2015, and merchandise through their Zazzle store. The company also previously produced the Space Case Sarah Show before creating their own podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Nerd and the Scientist: Science podcast hosted by astrophysicist Kovi Rose and science communicator Benjamin Salles, featuring interviews with scientists and science communication topics.
• Space Case Sarah Show
• Daily Science Facts
• Top Ten Lists
• Collective Nouns

Products and services

• The Nerd and the Scientist Podcast Long-form conversational science podcast hosted by astrophysicist Kovi Rose and scicommer Benjamin Salles, featuring interviews with scientists and discussions spanning astrophysics, biology, technology, and space exploration. Available via RSS.com and major podcast apps.
• Daily Science Facts Daily science fact series posted across the company's social media accounts (Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Mastodon), with yearly archived collections on the WordPress website. Targets general audiences interested in science trivia and accessible scientific information.
• Top Ten Lists Monthly top ten ranked articles covering scientific measurements and phenomena such as biggest wingspans, closest stars, fastest fish, biggest moons, biggest volcanic eruptions, and other quantifiable scientific rankings. Published on the WordPress website.
• Collective Nouns Series Educational content series exploring animal collective nouns with illustrated guides covering terms such as bask of crocodiles, business of ferrets, and pickle of hedgehogs, paired with animal imagery. Targets general audiences and animal enthusiasts.
• Science Actually Store (Branded Merchandise) Print-on-demand merchandise store operated through Zazzle, selling science-themed branded products including t-shirts, apparel, and stickers featuring the Science Actually branding and rubber duck mascot. Targeted at fans and general consumers.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Veritasium: YouTube-native science education channel hosted by Derek Muller, covering physics, biology, and scientific concepts. Comparable as a science-communication media brand targeting curious general audiences, though with a single-host video format.
• IFLScience: Digital science media brand publishing science news, explainers, and social content across web and social platforms. Comparable as a multi-platform science communication publisher targeting general audiences.
• VSauce: Pioneering science-explainer YouTube channel (Michael Stevens) covering wide-ranging scientific topics with curiosity-driven framing. Closely comparable in audience (science-curious general public) and educational intent, though video-led rather than text/audio.
• Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell: One of the largest science communication channels globally, producing animated educational videos across YouTube and social platforms. Directly comparable as a science-explainer content brand targeting general curious audiences, though at vastly larger scale and with a video-first format.
• MinutePhysics / MinuteEarth: Short-form educational video channels explaining science topics concisely. Comparable in mission (accessible science communication to general audiences) though primarily video format on YouTube.
• Mental Floss: Digital publisher producing list-based and trivia-style content spanning science, history, and pop culture. Highly comparable format fit—ranked lists and bite-sized facts—though broader in topic coverage than Science Actually's pure-science focus.
• SciShow: YouTube science education channel covering a wide range of topics from biology to space. Directly comparable as a science-communication media property targeting curious general audiences via digital content.

Broad incumbents

• TED-Ed: Educational media arm of TED producing animated lessons and short science explainers for global audiences. Comparable in making science accessible and entertaining for general audiences, but operates at institutional scale with broader topics and video format.
• Vox: Large digital media publisher with a science vertical covering explainer journalism on scientific topics. Comparable in producing accessible science explainer content for general audiences, though as a much broader news media operation.

Emerging players

• Atlas Obscura: Digital media brand covering curious, science- and exploration-adjacent content through articles, lists, and a community platform. Comparable as a curiosity-driven content brand with similar horizontal audience and list-based content formats.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sciencetruly
• Facebookfacebook.com/actuallyscience
• Instagraminstagram.com/actuallyscience
• TikToktiktok.com/@scienceactually
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-actually

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science, Actually