{{short description|Science magazine}}
{{Infobox magazine | title = ScienceAlert | image_file = Science Alert logo.png | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | editor = Peter Dockrill<ref name="SA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencealert.com/our-team|title=Our Team|first=Fiona|last=MacDonald|website=ScienceAlert|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2020-09-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912021728/https://www.sciencealert.com/our-team|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="br">{{Cite web|url=https://thebrilliant.com.au/case-studies/science-alert/|title=Wake up Australia. You have the second-largest science website in the world.|date=August 19, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004154918/https://thebrilliant.com.au/case-studies/science-alert/|url-status=live}}</ref> | editor_title = Editor | previous_editor = Julian Cribb (2005 – 2015)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005871b.htm|title=Cribb, Julian - Japanese entry - Encyclopedia of Australian Science|first=The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research|last=Centre|website=www.eoas.info|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2020-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918110823/https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005871b.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.resilience.org/stories/2011-05-20/julian-cribb-what-are-future-challenges-our-food-system/|title=Julian Cribb: What are the future challenges to our food system|date=May 19, 2011|website=Resilience|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006112800/https://www.resilience.org/stories/2011-05-20/julian-cribb-what-are-future-challenges-our-food-system/|url-status=live}}</ref> | staff_writer = | frequency = Daily | total_circulation = | circulation_year = | category = Popular science | company = ScienceAlert Pty Ltd<ref name="ABN">{{Cite web|url=https://abr.business.gov.au/|title=ABN Lookup|date=November 1, 2014|website=abr.business.gov.au|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=May 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512152845/https://www.abr.business.gov.au/|url-status=live}}</ref> | publisher = | firstdate = 2004 | country = Australia<ref name="SW">{{Cite web|url=http://similarweb.com/website/sciencealert.com/|title=sciencealert.com Traffic Statistics|website=SimilarWeb|access-date=2020-09-13|archive-date=2021-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009033638/https://www.similarweb.com/website/sciencealert.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | based = Canberra<ref name="ABN"/> | language = English | website = {{URL|https://www.sciencealert.com}} | issn = }}
'''ScienceAlert''' is an independently run online publication and news source that publishes articles featuring scientific research, discoveries, and outcomes.<ref name="br"/> The site was founded in 2004 by Julian Cribb, a science writer, to aggregate research findings from Australian universities,<ref name="CT">{{Cite web|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6176533/act-pair-takes-australian-science-to-the-world/digital-subscription/|title=ACT pair takes Australian science to the world|first=Rosslyn|last=Beeby|date=February 27, 2012|website=The Canberra Times|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006164711/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6176533/act-pair-takes-australian-science-to-the-world/digital-subscription/|url-status=live}}</ref> and it expanded in 2006 when ex-Microsoft programmer Chris Cassella took on the project of developing the website.<ref name="smh">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/canberra-science-website-more-popular-than-nasa-20120614-20bx0.html|title=Canberra science website more popular than NASA|first=David|last=Sharaz|date=June 14, 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=October 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006164658/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/canberra-science-website-more-popular-than-nasa-20120614-20bx0.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It has readership that ranges from 11.5m to 26.5m per month.<ref name="SW"/> Kate Mallord has been CEO since 2024.<ref>https://www.sciencealert.com/our-team</ref> In March 2024 the site was listed by ''Press Gazette'' as one of the fastest growing news sites globally. <ref>https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/media_metrics/most-popular-websites-news-us-monthly-3/</ref>
== History == Science communicator Julian Cribb founded ScienceAlert in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2012/02/28/a-million-fans-for-australian-science/|title=A million fans for Australian science|first=Susan|last=Kirk|date=February 28, 2012|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810023915/http://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2012/02/28/a-million-fans-for-australian-science/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2018 |title=Women dominate ACT Australian of the Year nominations |url=https://www.newcastlestar.com.au/story/5723708/women-dominate-act-australian-of-the-year-nominations/ |website=The Star}}</ref> The website was born out of his "concern at the lack of information available about what Australians and New Zealanders achieve in science".<ref name="CS">{{Cite web |date=2012-03-01 |title=Australian Science Communication Conference | Chief Scientist |url=https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/2012/03/australian-science-communication-conference |website=www.chiefscientist.gov.au |access-date=2020-09-04 |archive-date=2020-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922170110/https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/2012/03/australian-science-communication-conference |url-status=live }}</ref> Chris Cassella, a former programmer for Microsoft, joined the site in order to develop new web tools.<ref name="CT"/> He took on this work as part of a master's degree thesis in science communication at Australia National University,<ref name="smh"/> where Cribb was a professor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/937081-interview-with-chris-cassella-sciencealert-at-sciencerewired|title=sciencerewired / Interview With Chris Cassella - ScienceAlert at sciencerewired|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2021-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006110230/https://audioboom.com/posts/937081-interview-with-chris-cassella-sciencealert-at-sciencerewired|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially, the focus of ScienceAlert was twofold: "to both publicise Australasian scientific outcomes more widely and to encourage Australasian research institutions and funding agencies to share more of their achievements by providing a free outlet for them to do so".<ref name="CT"/> Cassella is credited with bringing the site to social media, starting the ScienceAlert Facebook page in 2007.<ref name="CS"/> By 2011, the page had attracted a significant following among young people,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A |title=Parliament of Australia: Aust. Australian science followers top half a million |access-date=2020-09-04 |archive-date=2020-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925103402/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id: |url-status=live }}</ref> reaching one million followers by 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2012 |title=Taking science to the world – from Narrabundah! |url=https://citynews.com.au/2012/taking-science-to-the-world-from-narrabundah/ |access-date=2019-02-27 |website=citynews.com.au |archive-date=2021-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006131435/https://citynews.com.au/2012/taking-science-to-the-world-from-narrabundah/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2020, the page had slightly more than nine million followers.<ref name="br"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAlert/|title=ScienceAlert|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2020-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905155557/https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAlert|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2012, ScienceAlert received a grant from Inspiring Australia, a government initiative aimed at engaging "people who may not have had previous access to or interest in science-communication activities".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=Inspiring |date=2012-06-12 |title=Inspiring Australia grant overviews |url=https://www.scienceinpublic.com.au/inspiringaus/grantoverview |access-date=2018-06-12 |website=www.scienceinpublic.com.au |archive-date=2018-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313043156/http://www.scienceinpublic.com.au/inspiringaus/grantoverview |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the website began as a project to aggregate research findings and outcomes from Australian universities, by 2019 the focus of the site had shifted toward presenting popular science to a wider audience. The shift toward mass appeal news on social media has met with some criticism. (''See Controversy and criticism section'', below)
In July 2019, reinforcing the site's commitment to fact-checking, ScienceAlert announced a joint partnership with Metafact. ScienceAlert republishes selected expert answers from the Metafact community across the site's multiple digital channels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/technology/social-media/226422-metafact-website-answers-science-related-questions/|title=This fact-checking website answers all your science-related questions|website=Rappler|date=23 March 2019|access-date=4 September 2020|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923114558/https://rappler.com/technology/social-media/metafact-website-answers-science-related-questions|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metafact.io/blogs/metafact-sciencealert-partnership-to-give-facts-even-greater-reach|title=- Metafact|website=metafact.io|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2019-10-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007063250/https://metafact.io/blogs/metafact-sciencealert-partnership-to-give-facts-even-greater-reach|url-status=live}}</ref> ScienceAlert is owned by ScienceAlert Pty Ltd., a privately held company owned by Chris Cassella.
According to its site, ScienceAlert does not run sponsored articles nor is it affiliated with other companies or institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-riotact.com/podcast-sciencealerts-journey-to-6-4-million-facebook-likes/142808|title=Podcast: ScienceAlert's journey to 6.4 million Facebook likes|website=The RiotACT|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2020-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104110416/https://the-riotact.com/podcast-sciencealerts-journey-to-6-4-million-facebook-likes/142808|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tokenskeptic.org/2012/09/01/episode-one-hundred-and-thirty-four-on-sciencerewired-interviews-on-science-society-and-education/|title=Episode One Hundred And Thirty Four – On ScienceRewired – Interviews On Science, Society And Education|date=September 1, 2012|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919223722/http://tokenskeptic.org/2012/09/01/episode-one-hundred-and-thirty-four-on-sciencerewired-interviews-on-science-society-and-education/|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2025, ScienceAlert engages more than 25 million readers per month.<ref name="SW"/>
== Editorial staff == In addition to Cassella and Mallord, ScienceAlert's editorial staff is headed by Peter Dockrill, who now manages more than half a dozen contributing science journalists to produce the site's news.<ref name="SA"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2016/01/13/sciencealert-science-communication-for-the-masses/|title=ScienceAlert: science communication for the masses|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929163651/http://www.asc.asn.au/blog/2016/01/13/sciencealert-science-communication-for-the-masses/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cribb concluded his role as editor at ScienceAlert in 2015. From 2017-2024, Fiona MacDonald was CEO of ScienceAlert, with Cassella acting as COO/CFO.<ref name="parf">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parfemme.net/blogs/stories/in-touch-with-scientist-fiona-mcdonald|title=Parfemme: In Touch With Scientist and Mother Fiona MacDonald|access-date=2020-09-04|archive-date=2020-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928084143/https://parfemme.net/blogs/stories/in-touch-with-scientist-fiona-mcdonald|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to this role, MacDonald had worked with the news site for more than a decade as an editor and then the director of content. She's now listed as a co-founder of the site.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inspiringnsw.org.au/2014/12/09/building-online-communities/|title=Building online communities|first=Inspiring|last=NSW|date=December 9, 2014|website=Inspiring Australia|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925163334/https://inspiringnsw.org.au/2014/12/09/building-online-communities/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="parf"/><ref name="SA"/><ref>https://www.sciencealert.com/our-team</ref> In 2024, Kate Mallord, formerly of Meta and LinkedIn, was named CEO.<ref>https://www.sciencealert.com/our-team</ref> According to ''The Brilliant'', the editorial team has doubled since 2017.<ref name="br"/>
== Format == As of August 2023, ScienceAlert had the following sections: Space, Environment, Tech, Physics, Opinion, Health, Humans, Nature and Society. Readers could read the trending news or the latest news from the homepage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ScienceAlert |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/ |website=www.sciencealert.com |access-date=2020-09-04 |archive-date=2020-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904132901/https://www.sciencealert.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:2006 establishments in Australia Category:Magazines published in Australia Category:Science and technology magazines Category:Magazines established in 2006 Category:Popular science magazines