Nitric Oxide Crisis
February 26, 2025 • EPISODE 254
Have you heard of nitric oxide and do you know why it matters? Learn more in this episode of Science LIVE as Roger Billings takes us back to 1972 and the General Motors Urban Vehicle Design Competition. Discover how he tackled the challenge of nitric oxide emissions and why his hydrogen-powered car had a cleaner exhaust than even the electric entries—with zero emissions!

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 »



R 51 is really funny
I thought it was cool to find out how nitrogen dioxide turns in to nitric acid when combined with water.
I think its so cool that throughout time we can watch these amazing people work together to figure out the world around us. DrB is amazing!
I find it so inspiring how Dr B used his abilities in science to try and tackle a large pollution issue. Car emissions are a devastating factor to our ecosystem I really hope this alternative can be expanded on and become an affordable option for people.
Rubber bands for the win!
Why is nitric oxide so dangerous.
The idea of someone cutting the spring of a hydrogen car is crazy
Here for science ! Great class
This live has to be one of my favorites
Thank you Dr. Rogers I learned a lot!
Amazing episode!
Why does a telescope have to remain cold when using infrared lighting? Does it have to do with how infrared functions, or something else?
It’s fascinating how we find new ways to improve previous inventions/discoveries.
Never knew you could run cars with water.
these videos give me so many interesting facts
The drawings of bugs and the bark under a microscope is incredibly impressive how accurate the drawings were.
I find these videos very informative and fun a great way to learn fast and easily, especially when they speak of the chemical of nitric oxide making it easy to comprehend when younger viewers watch.
love science live!
i love the jokes and how we always learn something
When they take the pictures of space and are able to collect them all to make a map does space ever make major changes in short periods of time that would make the images inaccurate?
R-51 is neat
WOW!
So cool love the videos
This science live is amazing. Makes me feel more intelligent.
Is there a reason why lighting makes nitric oxide
Ever since I heard of the rubber band moment, I carry around a rubber band in my pocket… Thanks to the Science Live!
Where do you get your ideas for science live.
It’s horrible that somebody could have cut the spring on the car, but luckily there was a rubber band!
Love the jokes
I wish all cars were as clean for the environment as the ones you were working on
Loved it
Learn something new every day!
I’m still wondering who cut the spring.
I really enjoyed learning about Nitric Oxide. I also thought it was cool that you ended up with a negative score on your car.
Interesting how cells got their name… 🙂
That would be great to have no pollution.
i like watching this
R51 is so funny
I really liked this lesson!
I think it’s interesting that we can do so much space exploration. People are extremely intelligent.
I learn something new every time I watch these live videos
The humor really brings everything together, best of both worlds of entertaining and educational.
Im starting to like science live more and more, it’s a great way to expand my mind outside of school, it’s super beneficial.
Do you get new cells in your brain when you learn a new language?
This was actually pretty cool.
This is so interesting! I learned so many different things from this video that I never knew about before.
I had so much fun watching this vedio
The jokes throughout the video always keep things interesting.
This is one of my favorites! So much to learn.
That’s so cool that after this video I have new skin lol
I did not know about nitric oxide. interesting
Dr. Billing story’s really are amazing! Wait so is there a benefit to Nitric Oxide, or are there only negative effects?
I enjoyed the science fair story 🙂
I found the comment, “parenthood keeps your brain young” to very accurate. Love this video!
certainly amazing i love cars
Wow, since when did Science live add the ability to see other comments? My question that I’ve been thiking for a while is could anyone get a motorcycle to run on Hydrogen?
these lives are so educational
rubber bands FOR THE WIN.
Wow this is so amazing. hydrogen is so amazing
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍😍
I am inspired by your perseverance and determination with your hydrogen engine
r-51 mannnnnnn I love you and your soooo funnyyyyy
R-51 is so funny!
The idea of someone cutting the spring of your hydrogen car is crazy! Hopefully it had just snapped, and it wasn’t someone’s malicious doings!
is there any way to turn the water byproduct from running the hydrogen powered car back into hydrogen to use in the car
Sorry I have been late to these, this is one of my favorite videos since it showed the Model A4.
rubber bands for the win
Wow
i love the breakthroughs so fun
I love learning something new every time I watch these lives
I love this one. it is so cool
Cool video
Very informative video!
R-51 is funny
Great episode.
R-51 is so funny
Every time we learn something new, thank you very much Acellus.
How was nitric oxide discovered?
i always enjoy the jokes at the beginning.
Awesome!
amazing
love this
How do scientists measure carbon monoxied
Our bodies are amazing how it can heal itself!
Wow, I cannot wait to see the photos from the new telescope!!
How dangerous can nitric oxide be to the respritory system?
Learning about Dr B’s ideas and inventions is interesting.
will cars run on water?
This was a fascinating video.
This is AMAZING 😍🤩
Esto es INCREIBLE 😍🤩這是個很棒的消息,我也很喜歡這個,我很期待下一個影片的發布,哈哈
This was very interesting.
I love the humor in science alive. It makes science more fun.
Every time we learn something new, thank you very much Acellus.
The opening jokes are always funny.
did not know about the importance of nitric oxide emissions and how hydrogen powered vehicles can offer a cleaner alternative even compared to electric cars. that was cool
Wow
Why does lighting produce nitric oxide?
This was pretty interesting to hear!
Great Episode!
I love microscope 🔬
Nice
Robert Hooke’s drawings were so good! That’s amazing how cells produce new cells so quickly.
I never knew that nitric dioxide was polution
Great episode
How do people measure carbon emissions
I love this video!!!
NICE VIDEO
Thank you. Interesting how cells regenerate all the time.
Thanks again for a great video!
Very interesting episode!
Wow! I can’t believe how cold the telescope has to be. The fact that is has to be funnel shaped is so interesting.
Awesome to learn more about Nitric Oxide. Thank you.
wow
I learned most of this in biology but a refresh never hurts
This was a great video, my question that I’ve been for a while is could anyone get a motorcycle to run on Hygrogen?
Wow so cool!!
this is one of the best Episodes!!!
r51 is extremely funny!🤪
Thank you for this interesting episode! I always wondered who discovered cells and now my questions are answered!! Thank you science live!!
It’s crazy to me how far space telescopes have advanced. I have just a little one in my room.
this was a great video
thank you.
Cars are cool! Hard to make.
Creating a new and better kind of car that is good for the environment is so difficult. Wow, great job, Dr. Billings!
I liked the hydrogen car because it looked so cool
did you make a hydrogen car converable?
Another great video, I always knew about nitric oxide and some of its effects but I never knew about the emissions and its damage.
This is interesting
Thanks for the video.
Amazing!
This was so cool!
This was a great episode!
wow
I liked learning about the hydrogen car.
Who invented the microscope?
I didn’t know a chromatograph existed until today. It’s really interesting how it works.
Fascinating video!
Great lesson to watch and learn. Very fun and interesting.
Hello everyone!! Has anyone meet Dr. Roger Billings? Comment on this post if y’all agree!!!
new satellite infrared is really amazing. Always disappoints me when someone cheats to try to win, Thumbs up for rubber bands.
That was pretty cool.
Nitric oxide is a fascinating element
We enjoy watching these episodes of Science Live. Thank you.
I want a hydrogen car
so fun loved it
I love this episode!
I really liked this episode. Thank you!
I agree with Noah why does lighting produce nitric oxide?
A rubber band! What a stretching situation! 😏😜
Nice episode, probably the best I’ve seen. 👍
How fast can scientist reduce the amount of nitric oxide?
What does Nitric Oxide do to the environment?
Great episode!
I found the fact that all cars produce nitric oxide when burning gas interesting! I never knew that before
Is nitric oxide present at all on Mars or any other planet/moon? Also, on the rubber band idea, my dad says that was a classic example of “adapt and overcome”.
Nice episode.
buon episodio
Do vehicles release more carbon monoxide than nitric oxide?
How did it get a negative answer!
When did they first discover DNA, and were they able to understand genetics at least a little bit?
Love learning about new stuff every week!
That’s is so many parts.
How creative to use a rubber. band to make coil work on your car.
Great Episode!
Where do cells come from?
I think that its interesting that discoveries can go hundreds of years and not be used. But suddenly blow up and the founder gets a bunch of credibility.
How significantly will scientists be able to reduce the amount of nitric oxide within the next few years?
This is an interesting topic.
amazing points.
1000 to 1200 parts per million!? That is insane!!!
This was interesting taking it back to GM design in 1972.
Thank you! I really enjoy hearing all your stories and learning so much from them.
Who found out how many cells we have
I have always been interested in the whole cars topic. When I was younger I wanted to be a racecar driver. What are the effects of becoming one medically? With the forces and energy it takes from your body, it has to have some kind of science behind it. Thank you!
why does lighting produce nitric oxide
Hydrogen car is my favorite to learn about