The holidays are here! That means great food, hideous sweaters, and fraught conversations with family. We’ve all been there. You’re chowing down on Dad’s honey-baked ham, pretending to understand what your Uncle Bob does for a living (he explains it every year). Across the table, Cousin Bobby from The Big Apple and Aunt Nancy from Houston discuss the latest controversial headline about the culture wars, global affairs, or that third rail of family dinner: politics. Whatever the topic, the tone is unmistakably tense, and the holiday cheer is suddenly in peril. Any moment, this meal could fly off the rails like a home movie version of The Bear. You need to change the subject – now.
Fortunately, at Hello SciCom, we know just what to change the subject to: science! This year was filled with incredible scientific discoveries and milestones that transformed the world and human life for the better. To help you be an effective peacemaker (and science communicator) at your next holiday gathering, we’ve created this handy guide to help you deftly pivot from any controversial topic to a safe and delightful science story. Besides your letter to Santa, this may be the most important list of the season. You’re welcome.
Yep, we’re going there… and then immediately going far, far away! If your rage-baiting brother brings up who may or may not have visited Epstein’s island, deploy the following redirect: “Yes, and in speaking of islands, have you heard of island miniaturization? That’s the evolutionary process where large animal species become smaller when isolated on islands due to limited resources like food and space.” The family will be so busy looking up pictures of Moo Deng that they’ll forget to argue about which side of the political spectrum has more pedophiles. Phew. Holly jolly’s preserved!
Ah, this old chestnut! As classic a holiday tradition as eggnog or betting on the National Dog Show (“Two grand on the French bulldog!”). But your family asking this question presents the perfect opportunity to talk about the first-ever non-hormonal birth control, developed by Evofem. Since your folks are so interested in your intimate life, surely they’ll be happy to know that you and your partner benefit nightly from non-hormonal birth control! Suddenly, your parents don’t have visions of babies dancing in their heads, they’re imagining their beloved son or daughter doing the nasty in front of a burning yule log, the velvet crooning of Nat King Cole muffling passionate moans. Oh yes, Mom and Dad will move off the Grandkids subject real quick!
We hate when this happens! Try: “Wow. This would have been useful data for the family to have years ago! Fortunately, innovative approaches to data-training are rapidly improving the accuracy of AI, particularly when it comes to scientific research applications!”
BOOM! Aced it! Next?
Zohran Mamdani upset the New York City mayoral race. Talking about him might upset Thanksgiving dinner. Fret not, you’ve got this distraction in your back pocket: “In speaking of the Big Apple, this apple pie is so crispy. Speaking of crispy, did you know customized CRISPR gene editing therapy was recently used to treat a child diagnosed with a rare genetic metabolic disorder? A historic medical breakthrough!”
Smooth. Subtle. Easy as (pumpkin) pie!
What do the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have in common? Talking about them does not evoke nostalgic feelings of warmth and whimsy. While there is certainly a time and place for discussing these important international conflicts, the Chanukah, Quanza, or Christmas feast is probably not it. Fortunately, in lighter geopolitical news, the UN declared 2025 “The Year of the Quantum Computer.” While quantum computing isn’t really commercialized yet, its R&D applications are constantly growing – from optimizing agricultural yield to faster drug development, as demonstrated by the Cleveland Clinic’s healthcare research quantum computer (the first of its kind). If Cleveland has a quantum computer, you know it's gone mainstream!
Nope! You do NOT want to go here! This topic is toxic, and you need to immediately flush it down the toilet. Or rather, flush it down the breakthrough biomass technology that turns waste into energy! 2025 saw breakthroughs in hydrothermal carbonization, which converts wet agricultural residues, biomass, and organic waste into hydrochar, a carbon-rich material used in electricity generation. Innovative efforts like these don’t just offset the skyrocketing costs of waste disposal but provide better financial incentives. Disclaimer: if talking about turning shit into fuel makes your family lose their appetites, we accept no responsibility.
If someone in the family says this, the best pivot is to… actually, you might wanna lean into the skid on this one. Because while Hello SciCom prioritizes peace and joy during the holidays, we also believe in science. And in a year when science funding (not to mention public trust) is on the chopping block, you should take your opportunity to stand up for the millions of doctors, researchers, and academics who do critically important work every single day. You might even politely remind your family that everything about their holiday is possible because of scientists. They ensured the food you’re eating is safe, and built the planes, trains, or automobiles that allowed everyone to come together. Scientists rule! And though they may disagree, make mistakes, or change their findings based on new information, the scientific process ensures that all their work is rigorously and thoroughly checked, producing safe and trustworthy results which benefit the public.
So when you’re going around the table during Thanksgiving dinner and saying what you’re thankful for, be sure to thank a scientist!
Now, there is a slight chance that these exact strategies may not be applicable, but you still want to use a blend of science and humor to communicate. That's where we come in!
