What Makes Computers Work

May 21, 2025  •  EPISODE 266

What makes computers work? In this episode of Science LIVE, Roger Billings demystifies the inner workings of computers, exploring the essential components and principles that power modern technology. From understanding how data is processed to the role of hardware and software, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the science behind computing.

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.


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About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »

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107 Comments

  1. julia powell

    technology is so fascinating and cool to learn about!

    Reply
  2. Jaiden Sparks

    I’ve learned a lot from these lessons.

    Reply
  3. Elliana Ballejos

    Computers are so fascinating!

    Reply
  4. Garrett

    Cool science projects

    Reply
  5. Jessica Romero

    It’s so cool how so many tiny machines go into making a computer.

    Reply
  6. Miles Scott

    Everyone had cool science projects, the levitation one was awesome

    Reply
  7. Jazara Kendrick

    Thanks for teaching us about the CPU and how it works. Also congratulations to all the winners. Great job!

    Reply
  8. Kenlei Reese

    Thank you Mr. Roger Billings.

    Reply
  9. Mia O

    The way computers work is so cool!

    Reply
  10. Diana Florence Vidal

    It’s so interesting knowing that computers work like that! such a great live, thank you Acellus <3

    Reply
  11. Madison Bright

    Gotta love computers.

    Reply
  12. Leanna Rumbaugh

    It is very creative how Acellus host’s a science fair

    Reply
  13. Hailey White

    My uncle is in the military he’s a Marine. Thank you so much for having the military speak! I want to one day follow in his footsteps and be a Marine. I’ve been studying it for a couple years now, I hope to go into service when I graduate in 2028. 😇

    Reply
  14. William Hunter Eakin

    Cool to see how computers work!

    Reply
  15. Zoe Eiland

    The science is just so cool.

    Reply
  16. Grainne Norris Nugent

    Many tiny machines are combined to form a computer. It’s fascinating.

    Reply
  17. kayleigha gramkow

    how do you become a astronaut?

    Reply
  18. Lexi Ferguson

    This video makes golf balls seem a lot cooler!

    Reply
  19. Delilah Z.

    The bit about the Lockheed C-130 Hercules was very interesting. Recently I’ve been becoming more interested in aviation and military vehicles. I also did not know that the United States army and Acellus have joined together to created the Willis M. Hawkins Medal of Science.

    Reply
  20. Jarianna

    This was very cool, the complexity of computers can get so interesting!!

    Reply
  21. mason

    how about the movie about drR’s hydrogen jurney

    Reply
  22. Violette Easterly

    Why do so many people cheat Acellus, and life?

    Reply
  23. Riley Stewart

    Didnt realize how cool computers are!

    Reply
  24. Trinity

    Wow! What an interesting video! Does the ball spinning absorb any force and increase the low pressure zone?

    Reply
  25. Rebekah Wright

    Cool video!

    Reply
  26. Leah Isabelle Guerra

    wow the science behind this is very interesting

    Reply
  27. Ovvie Hanna

    That’s cool how changing the golf ball dimples changes the aerodynamics of the ball!

    Reply
  28. Logan

    The science behind golf balls is very interesting.

    Reply
  29. James Braeden Ailbe H.

    The fact that you can put tiny gyros in phones is just simply amazing!

    Reply
  30. Brandon Jonathan Hanna

    It is cool how computers work

    Reply
  31. Terry Pouncy

    This was cool

    Reply
  32. Ethan

    Computers have come so far and are very complex systems. I wonder what the world would be like if they did not evolve to the level they are now?

    Reply
  33. Easton Morris

    Congratulations to all of the science fair winners. Chatgpt is interesting!

    Reply
  34. Aisha

    This episode was fun to watch!

    Reply
  35. Priscilla Espinoza

    All the projects are amazing!

    Reply
  36. Nikita

    The science behind golf balls is really interesting! This explains why some balls are worth a lot more than others.

    Reply
  37. Cora lane

    The world of computers is so complex!

    Reply
  38. Hannah

    I love watching these videos!! i learn so much!

    Reply
  39. Zaida Cuthbertson

    Amazing Episode!!

    Reply
  40. Nathaniel Reno

    So much cool stuff. Congratulation to all the science fair winners.

    Reply
  41. Jordan Hooter

    I ‘m greatful to be able to watch the technology spotlight with Dr. John. It was interesting to learn about the dimples on the golf ball!

    Reply
  42. Kelsey

    I loved learning about computers in this science live video!!

    Reply
  43. London

    That is cool

    Reply
  44. Everett Newman

    Very educational thank you!

    Reply
  45. Jayden McCall-Alvarado

    Congratulations to the Science Fair winners!

    Reply
  46. Matthew Stoerzinger

    this is so cool to see what goes into making a computer and how they have changed.

    Reply
  47. Kalayla

    Computers are amazing!

    Reply
  48. Sophia Buford

    I don’t really understand how people were smart enough to figure this out!

    Reply
  49. Katya

    Congratulations to the winners!

    Reply
  50. Hannah Mogg

    That carnival looks awesome!

    Reply
  51. Carmela Myers

    I loved this

    Reply
  52. walter doucette

    i love science

    Reply
  53. Harlow Piper

    i like all the different projects. i cant wait to do one.

    Reply
  54. Javen

    This is so sad that people cheat, it’s just terrible.

    Reply
  55. Amelia Romeo

    I love watching the technology spotlight every week with Dr. john. That was cool to learn about the dimples on the golf ball. I wonder how far each golf ball can go?

    Reply
  56. Cris W.

    Does the Carnival happen every year? Because I’m currently in a treatment facility and would want to attend after I graduate?

    (Open for all comments and suggestions please!!😉

    Reply
  57. Vaughn De Velder

    Thanks for explaining the transitors.

    Reply
  58. Baylee Warner

    Thanks Dr. Billings amazing teachings tonight!

    Reply
  59. Sidney Popkin

    The carnival looks so fun!

    Reply
  60. Kayla Ferguson

    I never knew how much science went into the creation of golf balls.

    Reply
  61. Gracelyn Berrios

    wow so cool to learn about I know I couldn’t live without my computer

    Reply
  62. Logan Moore

    I cant imagine why people would want to cheat on a program like this. I my self have been struggling with a few of my classes but have recently changed a few of them and find the new ones more interesting, which helps me a lot personally.

    Reply
  63. Corinne Leisher

    Wow, this is super cool this reminds me of when I was younger and I took s.t.e.m. classes after school and I learned how to use circuit boards. I would learn how to turn on lights and give power to the board.

    Reply
  64. Vincent Levinson

    I already knew how all the computer parts work; from the CPU, GPU, RAM, to the SSD, but this video helped me understand them even more!

    Reply
  65. Marie

    I think it’s really fascinating how they used a vacuum to change the dimples on the golf ball.

    Reply
  66. Alex deatherage

    That was awesome.

    Reply
  67. Cris Wahl-O'Hogan

    I have no idea how people could possibly cheat on acellus, but whoever is cheating I know it is bad and that they should know too.
    I loved learning about the golf balls and how they are made and how the dimples have an effect on the balls. I do have a wonder though, If you make extremely small dimples in the ball with it change more??🤔

    Thank you Dr Roger Billings for having this school in place where people could interact and learn a lot more about education!!!

    Reply
  68. Jordan Campbell

    thanks for all the amazing science lives

    Reply
  69. Kade steimel

    Computers are the best!

    Reply
  70. Ethan Kelley

    cool science projects

    Reply
  71. Trevor Fisack

    computers are amazing

    Reply
  72. Archer Sodenkamp

    First comment! This episode was really good.

    Reply
  73. Malachi mitchell

    I like this lesson

    Reply
  74. Danny

    Wow this is amazing!

    Reply
  75. Jacob Wax

    This was a fun video to watch

    Reply
  76. Braden

    I think i might try and make a intergrated circuit.

    Reply
  77. mason coppinger

    My brother has built his own computer!

    Reply
  78. Avery Critch

    It’s crazy how smart people are, I could never!

    Reply
  79. Benjamin M.

    I thought it was very interesting how computers work.

    Reply
  80. Emily

    That is so amazing that computers work like that!

    Reply
  81. Garron

    All of the science fair winners had excellent experiments. The segment about the dimples on golf balls, and how they effect air movement around the ball, was fascinating as was the story of how cell phones detect movement and rotation. Dr Billing’s and R51’s simple explanation of how computers work made it a lot easier to understand.

    Reply
  82. milea jewell

    I love computers!

    Reply
  83. Julius Pryce

    This is so cool and the ac d2 part is so cute 🥰!

    Reply
  84. Megan Lien

    Awesome science projects!

    Reply
  85. Isaiah Lien

    I liked the levitating science project.

    Reply
  86. Ashton

    I’ve always wondered how they made technology like phones and computers.

    Reply
  87. Evan Scheerhoorn

    These are interesting

    Reply
  88. Kailey

    The way computers work is really fascinating!

    Reply
  89. Leonitus Smith

    I want to make a computer of my own

    Reply
  90. Abigail Butler

    Great job everyone! Very impressive

    Reply
  91. Jaxsen Claborn

    I loved seeing all of the projects & winners of the Science Fair Project for this year.

    Reply
  92. Jaxsen Claborn

    I loved seeing all the projects & winners for the science fair projects.

    Reply
  93. Mason Apostolou

    Those were great science fair projects!!! Great job

    Reply
  94. hayden

    this is so cool!

    Reply
  95. Laila Wilcox

    The science fair projects were really interesting.

    Reply
  96. Naimah Mcniel

    i loved the live. it was very interesting. 🙂

    Reply
  97. Ruth Baldwin

    I loved this one

    Reply
  98. Stefan Fite

    Awesome!

    Reply
  99. Libby Baldwin

    I actually didn’t know that about golf balls! that’s really cool!

    Reply
  100. Elijah Baldwin

    Cool video I agree that students shouldn’t be cheating

    Reply
  101. Cris Wahl-O'Hogan

    FIRST POST!!!
    I want to make a computer some day!

    Reply
  102. Jada R.S. Pace-Kitchen

    Wow!

    Reply
  103. Elijah M.

    I didn’t know Acellus hosts carnivals! I really want to go!

    Reply
  104. Isaiah M.

    I was impressed to see how complex some of the science projects were. These other students are kind of intimidating to me–even the ones younger than me. I never saw these types of experiments in my old school. I’m excited to participate in the next event.

    Reply
  105. Mazzy

    This is such a good lesson, thank you Dr. B

    Reply
  106. Soleil Golden-Tubby

    My brother is in the Air Force. Thank you for having the military speak today.

    Reply
  107. MADDOXX

    Roger Billings has taught me so much

    Reply

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