285. The Invention Process
November 5, 2025 • EPISODE 285
How do you turn a great idea into a success? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings takes students through the invention process—from the first spark of inspiration to creating something people truly love. Featuring t-shirt designs by Acellus students, he explores what makes certain ideas stand out and connect. Discover how understanding the invention process can help you bring your own creative ideas to life—and turn them into success stories.
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 »
Science live is my favorite!
I love the idea about the kind messages on the shirts.
If you vibrate the wing to natural frequency to get rid of ice why doesn’t the wing get damaged?
What method of removing ice from airplane wings does the United States mostly use?
Loving these science live episodes!
After watch8ng this live, it is true most inventions are for simple problems, u don’t have to make a super complicated item that takes 10 years of research, just make something to fix common problems!
Did you get to keep your job when you said Kickle Pickle on air?
I want shirts #6 & #10. They are funny. I hope I have enough gold credits.
I liked hearing a former student share her favorite class.
Thats so cool! I wouldn’t have imagined you could copy writing with static electricity. I love this episode.
I loved seeing all the different shirts that other Acellus students designed.
We love you too R-51.
The inventing prosses for the printing press is very interesting. I love seeing the t-shirts.
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I like the idea that a problem is an opportunity for an invention.
Acellus has helped me understand more about different subjects.
Learning how to invent can impact the world. I loved all of the t-shirts. It’s hard for me to pick one.
thanks for another amazing science live! A bit late here but, glad I got the time to watch it! All the shirts were awesome!
I like the shirt #4 because it has R51’s face in it and it’s talks about talks about sunflowers. It’s come in the video that I watch that’s really funny.
I love the R51 shirt! It’s a very cool and unique design!
Dr. Roger billings is so cool!
“In the begining, there was discovery.” A lot of famous and amazing quotes start with ‘in the begining.’ I wonder if this could be one of them.
Me and my family love watching science live together!! thank you!!
My favorite shirt was the one that said “When life gives you lemons make fireflies.”
Hi from Brazil, I loved the invention process.
” please dont think im nerdy but i love science like even how smart and how people use there heart its like ” omg like how do even a living human be so smart to be this good its a true gift god bless u roger billings <3
I liked how I learned how they made the very first printer out of static electricity and lights
I like the “don’t invent the sun, be the sun” shirt and hope it will be available soon.
Those shirts were awsome. I Ioved the r51 shirt!
Number 10 is really funny.
I love Acellus and all of the various courses to pick from
Science is my favorite subject, and I love static electricity.
Another banger as always! My favorite part in this one is going to be with R-51 designing his own shirt at the Area 51 studio. Keep up with these great ScienceLives!
I fly alll the time so it was interesting to hear about how the wings work to keep the ice off, very interesting. Lol, me wanting to vote for shirts 52. 😂
Learning to invent something that could help you be successful is cool.
I loveeee R51!!!!!!!!!
This is one on my favorite science live episodes. I voted for number 12!
Amazing episode! 👕
It’s really fascinating that people see a problem, and are able to use science and create a solution to it, that we use in our everyday lives now.
This was a great episode and I am going to design the shirt and I vote for number 10 with Uncle Sam.
THAT’S HOW PRINTERS WORK? I’ve wondered about that for a WHILE. That’s awesome! I should look into the Xerox 914.
I love science live! R51 > pizza
everyone did amazing with their designs, I love seeing how creative others can be, and these shirts show it, though between 4 and 12, my favorite has to be 12, I loved how it had different items on it!
Kickle Pickle radio! Hilarious! R51’s second shirt with Pajet was pretty cute.
I love the shirts! The printing press invention was a great invention. I love Acellus by the way
i love number 11 because i think a lot of people would LOVE TO WEAR IT! I mean I would buy and wear it.
wow! I didn’t think the wings were hollow!
My vote is for #6! But all the designs are incredible!
Don’t just do your best, be the BEST!
All the shirts they showed were soooo cute and clever! My favorites were #4 and #8.
Science live is very informational and really helps me feel engaged in learning.
I don’t think my hand would survive writing that many copies
How do you know it your invention is a good idea.
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS MAKE FIRE FLIES
I liked all of the shirt designs, but my favorites were #10 and #12.
R51 is funny! All of the shirts were great.
I can’t wait for next weeks eposid of Science live!!
I like almost all of the shirts. It would be hard for me to chose just one.
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE!!!
R51 is so funny and cool
I love Acellus!
So interesting how they invented the copy machine!
I like science live. It’s so much fun!
I really liked learning about how inventions start with an idea and grow into something people use every day! It inspired me to think about my own ideas and how I could make them real too. The t-shirt designs were awesome!
There should be hydrogen planes.
I like this episode. It’s cool to hear how and why things are invented.
This episode was great! The process for making the printing press was quite the ride, i could barely believe it was made simply from someone having a hard time with his hands just from writing too much. Not only that, but hydrogen trains seem so cool!! This episode all together was equal parts informative, and funny. Science Live is something i will definitely look forward to in the future! I can’t wait to watch another one!
If hydrogen trains are coming, then it won’t be long before they try to “hydrogen-ize” the oceanic shipping industry. That would probably help fight climate change even more than hydrogen trains.
This is awesome. It has inspired me to genuinely move on in life, to achieve my goals and succeed. To look ahead, and to know you can achieve those goals if you just try. Dr. Roger Billings has come so far, and has invented so many things. I genuinely would love to do the same. I have so many different ideas, but one idea that has never left my mind is how I would love to create a company. Not a regular company, but a company that is about learning. Just like this but focused in one thing, Teaching languages. I know it’s common, but one thing I love is learning languages and teaching them, but it would be even better if I invent my own academy, with it’s own rules, and abilities, wouldn’t it? I am currently trying to achieve a goal which is learning Japanese. My future goal is that by 18, to know at least 7 languages, and I’m positive I will be able to teach them all in my own academy. I currently just know English and Spanish, but things like this inspire me and help me to keep trying. Inspiring someone, and having goals, as well as achieving goals is like having powers. Until next science live, じゃあね.
I loved hearing about that invention that stops ice from forming on the wings. Shirt #10 was my favorite😂
I love science lives!! Today’s was very interesting!
The vibrating wing is such an interesting idea! Those scientists are good at finding problems along with a good solution to solve them.
I can’t believe Dr. Billings was a radio announcer! So interesting how the wattage had to be turned down at night.
how do you determine the frequency to vibrate the airplane wings?
I liked learning about the water freezing. I did not know that planes could get ice on them as they flew in the sky.
I loved when Dr. Roger Billings said he invented Acellus so he could inspire students around the world to be their best.
The experiment process Chester Carlson went through with glass, light, and static electricity is amazing! I like how he learned from the patents he was copying for work, to help invent a solution to a problem. I am inspired to design more t-shirts!
Science Live is so cool. I learn so much
I’m really curious as to how hydrogen trains will impact the U.S. It’s really interesting how hydrogen can fuel such large scale things like trains!
I loved how you walked us from the spark of an idea through to creating something people genuinely love.
The water freezing trick was so cool!
I thought that this Science Live this week was interesting. I enjoyed Rodger Billings story of his job on the radio station. Also, all of the shirts presented were fantastic! Thank you for making this Science Live this week.
Science live is so fun, I learned so much in this episode!
I love this episode!
Hello! How is r51 today?
how mmany gallons of desial fluid does America use as a whole each year.
I thought the vibrating wings is such a cool idea! These types of things make me wonder, “how do they come up with this!?”
The invention process for the printing press is very interesting, I can see how it changed litature and how quickly news spread when it was invented.
I love these science lives!
Science live is so fun!
My vote is for # 8- make some fire flies!
It was really interesting hearing about all the hydrogen vehicles, and my favorite T shirt was #3
R51 cracks me up! I would buy his shirt!
Science Live rocks
Hi from Florida and thank you for the video!
Who here loves science live!
Hydrogen travel would help emission levels so much!
my favorite shirt was #6 the ‘r.51 did it’ one i would buy that
I really liked R51’s shirt.
Why do radio signals become stronger at night?
It is very interesting that hydrogen trains are coming to America. I wonder how they will impact the US.
Watching from Frisco TX! Hydrogen trains, so cool!!! Love learning about the super cool water and turning a problem into an invention with the copy machine. The science of invention reminds me of the choreography process in dance. So exciting 🙂
This is my first science live for Acellus. The invention process was very interesting and the shirts were very creative.
I looked Robert Redford, the man you mentioned was the husband of the daughter of the couple that owned the radio station you say you worked at; and found that Lola Van Wagenen was Robert Redford’s wife from 1958-1985, which is sounds like the time you would be in college Mr. Billings.
I liked the “Be the sun” T shirt
Acellus is the easiest and best online way to learn
I didn’t know there were THAT many classes for Acellus, whew! Creating things is fun– I don’t really do science stuff but I’ll be starting to this week. Hopefully I can create something cool!
How fascinating! And, R51, I’m going to need one of each of these T-shirts that you’ve designed, haha
how long did it take to make acellus
The invention process is very interesting!
The shirts are very creative. I am impressed.
SCIENCE IS COOL
All of those T-shirts were so cool I voted so many times. I know R-51 was being silly but I also voted for both of his t-shirts!
Hi everyone here from, North Carolina Acellus is overall the easiest and best way to learn for me
Hello,I’m Ruben watching Science Live from Canada!
The shirts were awesome, it gives me the confidence to invent something of my own!
Great information on the invention process! Loved seeing all of the Tshirts!
Yes! Hydrogen is such an amazing element! One of my favorites for sure!
The shirts were so cool! They were inspiring!
we love watching science live!
Watching Science Live from Canada
I never knew that the printer used static electricity to print!
I really enjoyed learning about the first copy machines. I had no idea how they actually worked before this segment or why it was originally called a xerox machine.
I like Pajet monet
Oh r51 you’re so funny.😂
Can R-51 make a h2o train
All those shirts were amazing! I also enjoyed learning about how the the photocopying machine was made. I cannot imagine copying a bunch of papers by hand.
The invention process is extremely interesting and fun to learn about.
These videos are so fun to watch I love learning with Acellus!
How many forms of hydrogen do you think we have yet to discover?
I love acellus Dr Roger billings is so cool
watching from Indiana, its always interesting!
Watching from the Philippines! I totally agree about it’s not enough to just make a lot of money. It’s better to make the world a better place and inspire people to be the best version of themselves.
Happy Monday! I’m excited to learn about the invention process!
I really appreciate the new commenting function!
The water freezing trick was cool!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved this video! hello from Virginia my favorite shirt is the “Don’t invent the sun, Be the Sun” seriously though all the shirts where amazing!
I think the invention process is cool, and I want to be an inventor one day
Jason from Oregon watching. Really cool stuff.
I voted for shirts 1,3,4,12 because they where very unique and creative. 1 would be my favorite just because I can see people wearing it more, definitely if the picture/wording was in the back of the shirt. 4 would be the second favorite because I feel like a lot of kids would want to have it. It has lots of color and R-51 on it. Have a great day and thank you.
I’ve gotten so many ideas from science live
I love leading about unique inventions! Currently watching from Illinois!
I love the “don’t make the sun BE THE SUN”
I enjoyed seeing all of the Acellus shirt ideas that students came up with! Everyone did a great job
Tuning in from South Carolina
Watching from Dallas TX, had so much fun making and looking at everyone’s shirts.
I like the shirt that says when life gives you lemons make fireflies
I think the coolest part was when Dr. John talked about the ice that builds up on plane wings, and how scientist are working on using vibrations to break off the ice.
I never knew that problems could become an opportunity. I like how Acellus teach. I really want to get a T-shirt .
There are alot of really cool tee shirts some of you guys are great artists!!!!
All of the shirts look amazing!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE SO MUCH
Watching Science Live from Michigan
i never knew there was so much to explore and do on acellus. i also love the way i can understand everything when you explain it!!
Hello from new mexico!
My favorite shirt is the “don’t invent the sun, be the sun!” Shirt.
Hi from Georgia!!!
Watching from Meridian, Idaho
Love Science Live
I like Acellus because it allows me to learn from home. I thought the shirt that said area 51 did it was funny.
My favorite shirt is the “Don’t invent the sun, Be the Sun!!!” with pictures of R-51!!!
Wathcing Acellus from Texas. Great episode!
Hi from Texas, thank y’all so so much for talking about the process of inventing✏️📓❤️
This competition was so cool! I love seeing all the different shirts everyone came up with. The “I want you to invent something” was my personal favorite!
I love watching these science videos they’re so cool and fascinating.
Science Live is awesome!
There’s so many amazing courses on Acellus!
Watching Science Live from Northern Illinois. Love the shirts! All of them!
I think it is pretty cool that vibrating at the right frequency can cause ice to come off of the wings of a plane. I never thought about ice forming on the wings like that.
Will hydrogen trains be even faster than the regular trains?
Acellus is so cool, there are so many classes to discover!!!!! Business Management is one of my favorite classes.
This is so great for students to learn how their mindsets can produce their new and incredible ideas for our futures!
Watching Science Live from Wisconson.
I really liked shirt #10!
Acellus gold sounds really fun and interesting
that is so interesting about a hydrogen train. I would like to hear more.
watching from Louisiana!!! hydrogen trains are awesome, hopefully i can go on one one day!!
Hi from Connecticut! #6 was my favorite shirt!