It took a slow runup like all things and it stuck because it worked. Science begat technology which improved living standards, not just in a rarified way but universally and was very evident. In turn technical advancement shone a light back onto science as its enabler. The new discoveries were not only intellectual like those in the arts they altered the practicalities and aspirations of common life within all classes of society. A thing science continues to do unlike any other pursuit of humanity and it is relevant and sticks for this reason.