This year, why not have a rational festive season and celebrate the great science people and theories born in December?

Like every physicist's favourites, Maxwell's equations, first presented 8 Dec 1864 (but published 1865—150 years ago!).

Or Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer (for a computer that hadn't even been built yet), born 10 Dec 1814.

How about James Prescott Joule, master of energy both electrical and mechanical, born 24 Dec 1818?

Don't forget Sir Isaac Newton, discoverer of gravity, leader of the scientific revolution, alchemist, detective, somewhat of a jerkface, born 25 Dec 1642 (actually 4 Jan 1643 by today's calendar, but no one's going to argue with him)!

And Clara Barton, patent clerk (and one of the first female public servants in the US), Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, born 25 Dec 1821.

And finally, Louis Pasteur, friend to vaccines, wine and milk, scourge to pestilence and spontaneous generation (look it up, it's a hoot), born 27 Dec 1822.

Raise a glass of pasteurised wine to our science heroes, and have a Happy Sciencemas!