How the Science and Tech World Celebrated the Holiday Season

In case you were wondering, here are some great Christmas messages from your favorite STEM celebs.

| Dec 30, 2019 08:32 AM EST

Created: Dec 30, 2019 08:32 AM EST

While you've been tucking into your holiday season dinner or imbibing on Bachus' gift to mankind, you might have missed what some science and tech celebs have been up to this holiday season. Of course, you might not really care.

But for those who do care, here are some positive and funny holiday season and New Year messages from your favorite STEM celebs. Enjoy!

How the Science and Tech World Celebrated the Holiday Season

Here's how a selected few sciences and tech celebrities celebrated the holiday season. As you might expect, this list is not an exhaustive one, nor is it in any particular order.

1. Elon Musk appears to have been working hard

Elon Musk is a very hard working individual. It seems even the holiday season holidays aren't an excuse to take his foot off the gas.

Apart from the customary Seasons Greetings messages, he took the time to plug the latest developments at Tesla.

Merry holiday season & goodwill to all!!
⛄️ ? ? ? ? ?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 25, 2018

Roadster upgrade will enable non-stop travel from LA to SF -- almost 400 mile range. Details tmrw. Merry holiday season!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 25, 2014

2. Jessica Meir (NASA Astronaut) celebrated holiday season from space

Holiday spirit level is surging on @Space_Station! Seasons greetings to all on our magnificent planet Earth. pic.twitter.com/2Colr2eWAv
— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) December 26, 2019

Astronauts like Jessica Meir got to spend the holiday season in a way that very few have in history - - in space. Spending the festive season on the International Space Station, she has experienced a holiday season many couldn't even dream of.

While many of us will be staring out of the window to a picturesque wintery scene, Jessica gets to view the entire Earth.

But despite it being the holiday season, Jessica and her crewmates still have to keep working. But they have found the time to hang some stockings and decorations.

We wonder if they are allowed to put up a tree? holiday season crackers are probably out of the question though!

3. Neil deGrasse Tyson was his usual witty self

Neil deGrasse Tyson is famed for his pithy and witty tweets. Major events like holiday season offer him the perfect excuse to pull out all the stops.

This year Neil did not disappoint his audience.

Merry holiday season to all the Christians of the world.

To everybody else, including the Muslims, Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, & Jews...

...Happy Wednesday.
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) December 25, 2019

But deGrasse Tyson is also an educator at heart. On holiday season Eve, he even found time to help understand why Rudolph got the gig...

Santa knows Physics: Red light penetrates fog way better than blue light. That’s why Bennie the blue-nosed Reindeer didn’t get the gig. pic.twitter.com/XIJukdbmVH
— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) December 24, 2019

4. Dr. Brian May spent holiday season campaigning apparently

Lovely day for it ! I guess our experience of life is all about focus. This morning (horrendously early) I’m wondering how I would feel right now if I were attending a traditional fox hunt - a ride in which I knew… https://t.co/SACTmnaADO
— Dr. Brian May (@DrBrianMay) December 26, 2019

Dr. Brian May of Queen appears to have had a very busy Boxing Day indeed. May is well known for his activism in causes he is passionate about and this holiday season has been no exception.

After presumably spending holiday season Eve and Day with his family and friends, May got back on the PR-horse on the 26th. He is passionate about his views on Fox Hunting, among other issues, and didn't waste a perfectly drab day in Wales to highlight his cause.

5. Commander Chris Hadfield appears to have had a very healthy holiday season

Astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield is a great advocate for STEM. Building on his fame from his time on the International Space Station, he loves nothing more than making STEM more accessible to younger minds.

This holiday season he helped spread some good cheer with a humorous and educational tune.

Here is the song that Chris performed at @robinince & @ProfBrianCox’s #Compendium this year. Perfect for Xmas Eve. https://t.co/JOOQqoxzIS
— The Cosmic Shambles Network (@cosmicshambles) December 24, 2019

He also helped to do his part to inspire us all to get off our backsides and do some exercise! Hadfield is the gift that keeps on giving!

How many kilometres per butter tart? pic.twitter.com/sJJH0PS90K
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) December 26, 2019

6. Steven Pinker was spreading some good news

Opinion | 19 good things that happened in 2019 https://t.co/IJJhj42nxL
— Steven Pinker (@sapinker) December 26, 2019

Steven Pinker, the famed cognitive scientist, and science and tech educator spent holiday season spreading some good news. Ever the optimist, he took the holiday season as an excuse to highlight some of the more positive events of 2019.

Now that's what we call getting into the spirit of things. He also continued the theme with a positive outlook for the year to come!

Here are six reasons to be optimistic about 2020 (from CNBC): https://t.co/ZhPqKUdb1S
— Steven Pinker (@sapinker) December 29, 2019

7. Lawrence M. Krauss took a leaf out of Neil deGrasse Tyson's book

Merry Merry! If you wondered how Santa made it to your house last night enjoy the holiday episode of @TheOriginsPod science matters. Happy holiday! https://t.co/vmOq9x86Ty
— Lawrence M. Krauss (@LKrauss1) December 25, 2019

And lastly, but by no means least, the great Lawrence M. Krauss used holiday season day to spread a little knowledge of science. Not even the festive period is an excuse to rest on your laurels when it comes to science education!