Proposal: Popular Natural Science
I agree that research level experts might not be interested in answering a lot of beginner's questions. But then, most beginner's questions don't require a research background or PhD to answer. There are those of us who love the idea of teaching and helping encourage scientific questioning. There are lots of people who think of themselves as "Renaissance [People]" (didn't want to say Renaissance Man) who are well-versed in many different areas. We expect answers to be verifiable with citations and references, so the accuracy need not be a concern.
A site like this is broad enough to appeal to people with curiosity in lots of areas. Non-scientists aren't necessarily going to go onto a physics site or a chemistry site, or even know which site is appropriate for their question. But a general "If you have a science question, we'd love to answer it" feels safe for the beginner, and fun for those who are competent in the field.
