Radio Waves

November 12, 2025  •  EPISODE 286

How do invisible waves travel across the world and beyond? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings dives into the fascinating science of radio waves—how they’re created, how they move through space, and how they make long-distance communication possible. From the basics of frequency and transmission to early breakthroughs like Morse code and modern applications such as HAM radio and space communication, join us as we explore the hidden currents that keep us connected.

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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7,449 Comments

  1. Wyatt

    I love the space watch part

    Reply
  2. Lillian

    I love all the stories! They are my favorite.

    Reply
  3. Najlah

    i would love to have a morse code class.

    Reply
  4. Jack

    I would love to learn morse code if you ever made the class

    Reply
    • Sabanoor

      Me too

      Reply
    • Brady

      I agree radio waves are awesome and interesting to see and. Learn how it works

      Reply
  5. Lex

    How much does that Omega watch cost?

    Reply
  6. Lyncoln

    I love learning with acellus!

    Reply
  7. Alannis

    I love Pajet Monet^^

    Reply
  8. Serenity

    I love theses videos they are the highlight of my week science is my favorite subject.

    Reply
  9. Mackenzie

    I love how they end all of these so funny and entertaining 😄

    Reply
  10. Eli

    I never knew the difference an am and fm radio.

    Reply
  11. Aaliyah

    HaHa R-51 is so funny!

    Reply
  12. Annalease

    Radio waves is such an interesting topic!

    Reply
  13. Michael

    that’s so cool about radio waves, enjoyed R-51 too!

    Reply
  14. Carson

    I Found the story on the Omega watch fascinating, due to the fact that it helped to save the lives of the Apollo13, without that watch this would have been a devastating story.

    Reply
  15. Serenity

    I love R-51. He’s hilarious, and it’s an amazing ending to all the videos. If anyone agrees with me, and you want to do this, let me know that you agree! 😁😁😁

    Reply
    • Sage

      I agree 😄🤣

      Reply
      • Holden

        I love learning new things

        Reply
    • River

      me too

      Reply
    • Mia

      Totally agree!!

      Reply
      • Emma

        I love love learning new things.

        Reply
    • Jessi

      Yeah he is, makes me laugh all the time.

      Reply
  16. Makina

    I love this episode

    Reply
  17. Brian

    I liked the part with the Omega watch!

    Reply
    • Grace

      radio waves are so cool
      I love the story from Roger billings childhood.
      I think omega watch story was cool, Especially the part about the snoopy award

      Reply
    • Makayla

      Coming from georgia!! loved the childhood story!!

      Reply
  18. Caden

    Is it possible to extend a radio wave’s distance?

    Reply
  19. Juliana

    Is it dangerous to be that close to such a gigantic antenna?

    Reply
  20. Carolina

    A course on Morse code would be interesting.

    Reply
  21. Zaidan

    Radio waves are cool.

    Reply
  22. Giovanni

    Radio Waves are amazing because they let you send messages through the air without any wires!

    Reply
  23. Madison

    This was an incredibly engaging topic, and I enjoyed learning about how radio waves work!

    Reply
  24. Quintin

    I always wanted to know what the difference is between am and FM radio.

    Reply
  25. Avneet

    How do infrared waves correlate with radio waves? Or are they not similar at all?

    Reply
  26. Madeline

    Its interesting how they developed the watches for astronauts.

    Reply
  27. River

    Love Acellus thank you

    Reply
  28. Jackson

    I would like to build a radio some day.

    Reply
  29. Maddy

    Commenting from North Carolina! Love this!!

    Reply
  30. Noah

    I never knew astronauts wore watches! So cool!

    Reply
  31. Annabella

    Is cognitive overload common for most people??

    Reply
  32. Brooklyn

    I love listening to the radio with my mom. My favorite station is the Christmas station.

    Reply
  33. Marin

    These science lives are amazing! Im so glad I get to watch them!

    Reply
  34. Zane

    I’ve always been curious about radio waves! I love learning new things from Science Live!

    Reply
  35. Natalie

    I always look forward to watching science live.

    Reply
  36. Lolaj

    It’s so cool to know how FM and AM radio works now!

    Reply
  37. Raziel

    I really enjoyed the part about space. It is my dream to go to space.

    Reply
  38. Violetta

    I want the shirts, I know so many things because of Science Live!

    Reply
  39. Cambria

    love R-51

    Reply
  40. Eden

    I LOVE science live!!!!!

    Reply
  41. Wesley

    Did you know Omega some what recently released a 50th anniversary speed master “Silver Snoopy award” watch? It cost $11,900!

    Reply
  42. Emilee

    This is the best learning group ever.

    Reply
  43. Alaya

    I love Acellus

    Reply
  44. Jake

    I never thought about the brain being like working out muscles at the gym but it makes sense. I try to learn really fast and have a hard time memorizing but will try this way

    Reply
  45. Ayana

    thank you I love Acellus

    Reply
  46. Isaiah

    It was great how the watches helped the astronauts on the Apollo 13, and how they got a Snoopy Award.

    Reply
  47. Rayna

    This was really interesting! I love learning new things. I never knew thats how radios worked.

    Reply
  48. Autumn

    I love Science Live, what they teach is always so interesting. R 51 is the best. Thank you for making Science Live!

    Reply
  49. Aydan

    I L0VE THE LIVES SO MUCH THANK YOU

    Reply
  50. Salem

    I am sure that Omega was excited to receive the Snoopy Award from NASA.

    Reply
  51. Lainie

    i wonder how radio waves like get measured and how they move

    Reply
  52. Rylee

    my grandpa was a morse code operator in the Navy. He would walk around talking to us in morse code

    Reply
  53. Evalynn

    The coral looks so pretty.

    Reply
    • Serenity

      Agreed. I’d have to say it’s one of my favorite types of plants. 🪸🪸

      Reply
  54. Gianna

    thanks for making science live

    Reply
  55. John

    This was my first Billings Science video. I really had fun watching!

    Reply
  56. Aiden

    With lasers could we technically make lightsabers like in Star Wars? 😎

    Reply
    • Lillian

      Nice😎

      Reply
  57. Baylee

    I would LOVE an Acellus course on radios! That would be so cool.

    Reply
  58. Deveeon

    NASN was doing a test with watchs the first watch was a pocket watch so it was immediately disqualified. The second watch failed the vacuum test the third failed to but the omega watch was the only one that made it. The last test was the temperature and it made it so astronauts got the watchand wet to space and it worked.

    Reply
  59. Niyan

    Amazing how communications has changed since HAM radio started

    Reply
  60. Maddie

    Can we learn more about morse code?

    Reply
  61. Anna

    One day Mars might soon be able to support life, who knows?

    Reply
  62. Amariah

    I love Science live and I think that Acellus is the best homeschool curriculum , because I have been in other curriculums and I don’t learn as much as I learn here. Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  63. Piper

    thank you so much!!!

    Reply
  64. Brianna

    I love science

    Reply
  65. Fallon

    im loving these lessons <3

    Reply
  66. Addison

    I love acellus!

    Reply
  67. Aydan

    i love watching the lives and thank you so much.

    Reply
  68. Daxton

    Yes for both of the classes and when would the classes be made.

    Reply
  69. Naomie

    this is way better than normal school

    Reply
  70. Sofia

    Awesome live! Watching from Texas right now.

    Reply
  71. Serenity

    Morse code is amazing. I don’t really understand it but, it’s amazing that people can remember all the different things for the different letters.

    Reply
  72. Chloe

    Love Science Live.

    Reply
  73. Owen

    We want a pilot class!

    Reply
  74. Nanami

    I love science live so much

    Reply
  75. Nathan

    I want to have the opportunity to just visit space I think it would be cool.

    Reply
  76. Michael

    i enjoyed learning about radio waves.

    Reply
  77. Caleb

    It’s crazy how they were in that situation that’s crazy I couldn’t imagine. I’m glad they made it back safe.

    Reply
  78. Valentino

    I love learning something new every science live. Radio waves is cool.

    Reply
  79. Jason

    i would like a class on morse code

    Reply
  80. Alexis

    Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic wave with the longest wavelengths and lowest energy, used for applications like broadcasting, radar, and Wi-Fi.

    Reply
    • Maddison

      I loved learning about Radio Waves!!! There so so so cool!
      I can’t wait to learn more about on science.🔬😁🤓

      Reply
  81. Tasia

    I love Acellus and it has helped me so much! I was wondering when the school was started?

    Reply
  82. Caleb

    I’m just imagining myself being on the spacecraft in that situation that’s crazy. I’m glad they made it back safe.

    Reply
  83. Julissa

    The omega watch was the first watch on the moon because the astronauts wore them.

    Reply
  84. Reid

    They used morse code to signal for help when the Titanic was sinking.

    Reply
  85. Joseph

    I’ve though about becoming a pilot or at least learning about piloting/aviation for a while now, so I would really like to have a course on it.

    Reply
  86. Nickolas

    I did not know coral was living and a watch for space is cool and Morse code is class is amazing

    Reply
  87. Aiden

    Always makes my week!

    Reply
  88. Whitt

    Been shopping for a watch! I guess Omega it is!

    Reply
  89. Jenna

    I am interested in the potential aviation course and the radio one too.

    Reply
  90. Dawson

    do they still use omega watch in space

    Reply
  91. Sean

    how do radio waves travel around the world even though we can’t see them, and how do you make them stronger?

    Reply
  92. Kirra

    The color of that coral is so bright.

    Reply
  93. Maryellis

    I 100% agree with a daily studying routine. I love to take notes during class so when I get stuck on something I always have my notes. This has helped my keep an A in Medical Terminology!

    Reply
  94. Brianna

    Incredible as always! Thank you Acellus / Science live team!

    Reply
  95. Ethan

    I always like when Dr. Roger Billings is helping us

    Reply
  96. Solomon

    do you get extra credit for doing the other activities

    Reply
  97. Josiah

    Radio waves are interesting and complex, I’m glad Dr. Billings spoke about it.

    Reply
  98. Cassidy

    I love R-51

    Reply
  99. Lakyn

    Science live is awsome!

    Reply
  100. Mimi

    I never knew about how coral was alive. I love Science Live! Always Learn awesome things!! Thanks Dr. Billings!

    Reply
  101. Halimah

    I’m not sure if it’s already made, but there should be an episode of Snoopy going to the moon.

    Reply
  102. Samara

    Science is my favorite subject. This was fun and I want to try Morse code.

    Reply
  103. Curtis

    Space exploration is so interesting I love studying it.

    Reply
  104. Charles

    I very fascinating that higher frequency light can be used to cool things. I only thought lasers could be used for heating and cutting things like metal.

    Reply
  105. Jackson

    Excellet show today! The moon story was very interesting!

    Reply
  106. Neia

    Thank you Acellus

    Reply
  107. Austin

    I always love watching these videos and learning!!

    Reply
  108. Kaylee

    Radio waves are a lot cooler than I thought!

    Reply
  109. Jordan

    I like how the omega watch could make it to space and survive all the elements and changes.

    Reply
  110. Cayden

    I love science live!

    Reply
  111. Sakorrah

    I never knew the difference between AM and FM

    Reply
  112. Emma

    How long would it take to master Morse code and be able to use it on a day to day basis

    Reply
  113. Kaylie

    When did Roger Billings first be inspired to work with hydrogen?

    Reply
  114. Kinslee

    Morse code would be cool to learn

    Reply
  115. Javerra

    It was really cool to learn about the omega watches and the snoopy award. Because my little brothers nickname is Snoopy nicknamed after the cartoon itself.

    Reply
  116. Cohen

    Coral is so pretty.

    Reply
  117. Logan

    It was interesting to learn about radio waves.

    Reply
  118. Angelina

    A 35 on your ACT is a crazy achievement! I need to try hard and be just like her.

    Reply
  119. Elena

    I hope that you add the Morse code and the other classes, I think it would be fun to learn these. 🙂

    Reply
  120. Hattie

    I think that Iike that evrything is so neat and orginized with Acellus Gold

    Reply
  121. Kyran

    I’ve also been trying to memorize morse code, how long did it take Dr. Billings?

    Reply
  122. Zaida

    Absolutely loved this episode!!

    Reply
  123. Colby

    Dr. B, do you still get on your hamm radio often and talk to people? Can you have a hamm radio at a home in a subdivision?

    Reply
  124. Luke

    R51 is funny

    Reply
  125. Brayden

    I really liked the Omega watch story with NASA. My uncle worked with NASA when he was in the Navy.

    Reply
  126. Lily

    this R-51 skit is definitely my favorite so far 🙂

    Reply
  127. Amelia

    I think it is great for all students to have an understanding of radio waves and just how impactful they are in our lives!

    Reply
  128. Liam

    I find it very interesting that the crew on Apollo 13 relied simply on their watches to get them back to earth in time!

    Reply
  129. Addy

    Having a Morse code class would be quite interesting!

    Reply
  130. Landon

    When is the conspiracy class going to be open to the public?

    Reply
  131. Hudson

    I think you should add the pilot class.

    Reply
  132. Memphis

    Learning about the Apollo mission was incredibly fascinating.

    Reply
  133. Kenneth

    I want an Omega Speed Master watch! It sounds so cool after watching this!

    Reply
  134. Davante

    How far can a single radio tower project radio waves?

    Reply
  135. Curtis

    How do you make a radio wave current stronger

    Reply
  136. Gavin

    I always wondered why the towers were different heights

    Reply
  137. Effie

    Wooo! Here we go Science Live!

    Reply
  138. Gavin

    I enjoy watching these videos because I learn alot from them. Thank you Acellus

    Reply
  139. Mackenzie

    I loved this one. I would love to have another Science Live dedicated to the moon itself, it is fascinating to me

    Reply
  140. Aiden

    That’s cool that they named the award the Snoopy award, good names for the modules too.

    Reply
  141. Asher

    I would love to see both a hand radio course and a pilot course.

    Reply
  142. Christopher

    The omega watch was designed for race drivers, and can withstand heat inside a vacuum chamber.

    Reply
  143. Emma

    I really liked this episode, especially about the coral reef!

    Reply
  144. Franco

    I just saw that you can do it on your cell phone. I’m still curious though about what professions aside from truckers military air traffic controllers use this still? A course on this would be very interesting. So yes, I would like to have this as a course like this to choose from.

    Reply
  145. Isabela

    “I could do a cooking show” had me cracking up lol 😂

    Reply
  146. Nguyen

    I love Science Live

    Reply
  147. Jameson

    I learned a lot about radio waves that I did not know before

    Reply
  148. Brooklyn

    I enjoyed learning about the omega watch

    Reply
  149. Nicolas

    Another great reason to eat chocolate…you can discover stuff.

    Reply
  150. Lilliana

    Wow! Coral is so colorful!

    Reply
  151. Bella

    These Science lives are so interesting and fun to watch. Loved learning about the OMEGA watch that was being tested for space with Dr. Tobias.

    Reply
  152. Nguyen

    Acellus Gold Edition learning is an adventure

    Reply
  153. Channing

    I liked when you talk about Morse code as some who loves military history

    Reply
  154. Asher

    I liked the picture with the corals that looked like flowers they were pretty.

    Reply
  155. Evie

    Could waves of different amplitude interfere?

    Reply
  156. Sophia

    I loved learning about radio waves. I never miss a science live because of the interesting concepts I learn.

    Reply
  157. Talia

    🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

    Reply
  158. Akram

    I learn a lot about radio waves and it’s good to see you DR .BILLINGS

    Reply
  159. Win

    This Science Live was truly inspiring. Thank you for making science so exciting and helping us explore the universe in such a fun way!

    Reply
  160. Jaco

    Will Nasa go to mars.

    Reply
  161. Natalie

    My mom told me that there used to be a ‘build your own Radio kit’ at Radio Shack. I want to look for one since it sounds like a lot of fun to work with circuits etc.

    Reply
  162. Sophia-hannah

    The Coral is so beautiful. Very interesting about radio waves

    Reply
  163. Shantea

    Wow I never knew astronauts have to be able to tell time in space

    Reply
  164. Faye

    I love the study habit advice. It was wonderful. I am doing this with a kindergartener but trying to put little nuggets of the day’s lessons in our daily life.

    Reply
  165. Eisley

    I found it very beneficial to learn about cognitive overload, I’m definitely going to keep it in mind while studying

    Reply
  166. Alexander

    A morse code corse would be awesome!

    Reply
  167. Sokena

    I love these lectures so much! Science Live is always so interesting and fun!!

    Reply
  168. Micah

    I would love a aviation course, seeing that I’m wanting to be a pilot. If you do do the course will it be planes and helicopters or just helicopters?

    Reply
  169. Alexsamarih

    It’s interesting how much the brain can retain when you study a little at a time and how your brain can have cognitive overload if you cram too much information at a time.

    Reply
  170. Ania

    I never knew that coral reefs were alive! awesome video!

    Reply
  171. Faye

    The study habits make so much sense. I try to go over what she did in kindergarten in everyday life. As a college student myself I will be studying less amount, more often.

    Reply
  172. Akram

    I like watching Science lives because i learn new things in this video i learn about radio waves it’s really interesting

    Reply
  173. Viachaslau

    Who knew a simple concept like frequency could unlock so many breakthroughs—from Morse code to space transmissions. Loved it!

    Reply
  174. Andrei

    Mind-blown by how invisible radio waves make global communication happen!

    Reply
  175. Amelia

    do astronauts still use the same watch or did they change to digital now?

    Reply

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