Inventing the Lightbulb – How Fishing Inspired Edison
February 05, 2025 • EPISODE 251
Did you know Thomas Edison didn’t just invent the light bulb? He also fished for ideas! Listen as Roger Billings shares how a fishing trip led to one of the greatest inventions of all time.

About DrB
Dr. Roger Billings is a visionary innovator whose work has touched the lives of millions of students and transformed the landscape of education. Widely known as “DrB” to the countless kids who benefit from his groundbreaking Acellus learning system, Dr. Billings has dedicated his life to advancing education through technology.
As part of DrB’s lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to “give back” by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »



The history and creation of lightbulbs is fascinating.
What an incredible science live thank you!
The science and history behind light bulbs are so cool
Amazing how we went to space in the 1960s.
I like having a lightbulbs to see in the dark🥰💡💡💡☀️☀️☀️☀️
Wow that’s awesome that he was inspired by fishing, something new that I learned that’s cool.
❤️❤️
How long did it take Edison to make the lightbulb work?
I can’t wait to go to college.
I love how fishing inspired Edison it is so cool maybe that will happen to me to but in a different way!
Never knew he liked fishing, very interesting.
This made me realize that I need to get out and fish more!
It is incredible how some people can find solutions to problems in the most unlikely places.
I never knew fishing inspired Edison.
I never thought fishing inspired Edison
Very interesting! i never knew he fished
i had know clue that fishing inspired Edison
WOW! I didn’t know fishing inspired Edison.
Edison was brilliant.
It is crazy to think that Edison tried 6,000 different ways to build the bulb. I get frustrated when something doesn’t go right the first half a dozen times. I did know that he wasn’t the first to create electricity, but I did not know that he was the first to create the bulb. I wonder if everyone else was just doing variations of the same method and then Edison thought outside the box.
How does the light bulb work?
My great grandfather used to fish and had a boat of his own.
Can Acellus make mobile phones for all students?
anything can make an idea
I love fishing but I rarely catch any.
Thank you!
It was nice hearing Roger Billing talk about fishing. My Mom and Stepdad love to fly fish.
anything can make an idea
So interesting to see how the world has evolved!
What!!! This episode was so cool!
Thomas Edison, the founder of technology
I still use one of those fishing light bulbs
The fishing story was interesting!
Wow!
Thomas Edison is so cool!
awesome AND interesting!
Very interesting subject I enjoyed learning about
i love the inventions intro and the pendelum thing
its crazy how little did he know attending a fishing trip can trigger the idea of a light bulb loll
loved this episode
why did it take so much longer to create the flashlight even though its basically just a lightbulb in a tube?
Never give up!
Zoning out and letting your mind wander can lead to some great things.
Wow, I can’t believe that fishing inspired the world’s greatest creator Thomas Edison!
I can’t believe Edison never gave up! and it’s so cool that fishing is what inspired him to create the lightbulb
Wow, what an amazing story of how Edison created the lightbulb!! I had no idea that fishing played a role in the invention..
i go fishing all the time
This is so interesting to learn!
Sometimes you can think a lot while doing something completely different.
I had no idea that fishing inspired Edison and had a role to play in him creating the lightbulb. Thats so cool to me. And even though he created the lightbulb, there were people who made electric lights before his but not as well as him. This proves that science can always be adapted and improved. Awesome
how was the lightbulb thought of?
WOW bamboo is important. 😃 😊 😀 😄 😁 😆 😃
This was amazing Thomas Edison is the best! No matter what he never gave up.
How long did the first lightbulb last?
Sometimes fishing can solve your problems.
I love the fact that Thomas Edison never gave up!
Edison just shows that making mistakes is key towards success
Love Edison !
I’m so thankful for electricity and the light bulb!
Last year I went to New York and went to the catacombs they have at St. Patrick’s Basilica and one of them has working Edison light bulbs that belongs to Thomas T. Eckert he had been gifted them from Edison himself which I think is pretty cool.
Very fascinating when knowing inventors like Edison failed many times when making the lightbulb
Yay Edison! Where would be without these incredible inventions!
I learned that Thomas Edison didn’t just invented a light bulb he also fished for ideas!
This is super interesting!
WOW, this video was so entertaining, I love fishing.
I loved this
I really learned a lot from this video! Super interesting how fishing inspired Edison.
Had no Idea at all that fishing and Thomas Edison were related !
wow fishing seems so fun!
This story was funny and entertaining.
I think the Newton’s Cradle is really cool and it’s interesting watching the transfer of energy through the balls. I am going to ask for one!
I loved this
Its so interesting to see how the original lightbulbs work.
I love the story
This is awesome! Even though it took him so many tries to make the light bulb, he persevered and accomplished his goal. It’s very inspiring.