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.


Read more about DrB » 
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »

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7,449 Comments

  1. Eric

    I would love to learn more about quantum computers!

    Reply
  2. Miras

    Why are diamonds good semiconductors?

    Reply
  3. Blake

    Morse code is neat!!! I’d like to learn it!

    Reply
  4. Gavin

    How many years do you have to go to school to become an astronaut?

    Reply
  5. Fisher

    I liked the Speed Master watch. Is that what Dr. Tobias has?

    Reply
  6. Aspen

    Thank you for this weeks science live!!

    Reply
  7. Zadie

    i love science live, it allows me to learn something new every week!

    Reply
  8. Ashlynn

    this was our first science live, we are looking forward to many more. Loved the startup joke. Hahaha….

    Reply
  9. Lily

    I like the watch they sent to space. I liked all the tests it had to go through. I also bought a new shirt with my gold coins! I can’t wait to get it.

    Reply
  10. Talon

    How hard is it to get a job at NASA?

    Reply
  11. Ian

    How do you spell Acellus in morse code?

    Reply
  12. Allie

    we love ur stories ur amazing

    Reply
  13. Victoria

    How are radio waves classified within the eletromagnetic spectrum?

    Reply
  14. Joshua

    I love that I can learn so much Acellus is so cool

    Reply
  15. Rhyan

    That was very interesting the apollo 13 mission watch story was very fascinating cant wait for the next one.

    Reply
  16. Alexander

    I find it interesting how lasers are used both to create some of the hottest things, like plasma in certain fusion reactors, and also to cool stuff down to (almost) the coldest temperature possible in our universe.

    Reply
  17. Braxton

    I love learning something new from science live each week!!!

    Reply
  18. Julia

    I really like the Science Lives.

    Reply
  19. Katerina

    Learning about reverse temperature effects of lasers was awesome.

    Reply
  20. Lylah

    Radio waves are cool.

    Reply
  21. Mckinley

    I love the break through science part of the video!!

    Reply
  22. Payzley

    My papa has his ham radio license!

    Reply
  23. David

    Love acellus.

    Reply
  24. Pyper

    Its crazy that 1 second would make such a huge difference!

    Reply
  25. Antistrophe

    awww the hammer coral is so cute to me for some reason it looks like little worms

    Reply
  26. Doyle

    I love this school it’s helped me a lot

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  27. Ayssia

    Acellus is an amazing learning tool!

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  28. Jadelyn

    This is our first week with Acellus and we are loving it and the science live videos!

    Reply
  29. Kai

    An original Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch is selling for $8000 and up!

    Reply
  30. Kelley

    how’d snoopy become a mascot for nasa?

    Reply
  31. Valeria

    I love Acellus!!!

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  32. Lucia

    They always know how to cheer people up!

    Reply
  33. John

    I love learning about science!

    Reply
  34. Amellia

    Hi I LOVE Acellus

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  35. Liam

    Radio waves are cool thank you for teaching me about them.

    Reply
  36. Nolan

    Would love to learn Morse code.

    Reply
  37. Coy

    I love science live!! I learn so much!

    Reply
  38. Ethan

    The radio is a very useful tool not only can it be used for civilians but also is a key item for the military.

    Reply
  39. Zander

    I think that a course on ham radio and a course on aviation would be amazing.

    Reply
  40. Daniel

    Gotta love R51

    Reply
  41. Samantha

    Snoopy and Charlie Brown modules, and the Snoopy award. Too cute!

    Reply
  42. Braeleigh

    love these lives so much! So greatful for this program

    Reply
  43. Atlas

    Acellus ❤️

    Reply
  44. Braxton

    Its so fun to watch science Live. I learned a lot about radio waves.

    Reply
  45. Achilles

    science live is so fun!

    Reply
  46. Nova

    I love Acellus!

    Reply
  47. Alicia

    It’s amazing how easily it is to break theories with just one simple test, that can eventually lead to great discoveries, and better technology.

    Reply
  48. Kenleigh

    Acellus is amazing!!

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  49. Wraylyn

    I love Acellus!!

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  50. Mikhail

    I love how Acellus adapts to the student. It does not rush, does not judge, just keeps giving structured,understandable material. Very thankful for this program.

    Reply
  51. Zander

    I love Acellus!🙂

    Reply
  52. Jacob

    Acellus is super cool, and I love that it is super flexible with my schaduel. Thank you so much for your smarts!!!

    Reply
  53. Addyson

    I had the honor of knowing a great man that worked on Apollo 13.

    Reply
  54. Alyssa

    I love the Science Lives!!!

    Reply
  55. Mark

    Acellus ♥️Thank you

    Reply
  56. Zander

    I would like to meet Dr Billings. He’s a genius!😁

    Reply
  57. Miles

    My favorite part of every episode is Breakthrough Moments in Science.

    Reply
  58. Isaac

    Designing a watch specifically for space travel sounds like an amazing scientific adventure

    Reply
  59. Angelina

    we love Acellus!!

    Reply
  60. Noah

    I love watching the science lives!!

    Reply
  61. Raymond

    Radio waves are awesome

    Reply
  62. Callie

    i think a morse code class would be fun

    Reply
  63. Malina

    I enjoyed hearing the story about the Omega watches and how ham radios work.

    Reply
  64. Kinsley

    I wish I could have seen the northern lights!

    Reply
  65. Austin

    watching science live always helps me with my motivation and it really funny that this episode talks about working on being focused with your work while i have been trying to ways to stay focused with my work load.

    Reply
  66. Joshua

    Who and what inspired the discovery of radio waves?

    Reply
  67. Aubree

    I learned that the Omega watch was the only watch out of four watches that was approved and passed all the tests to be approved to be used by astronauts in space. I was not aware that astronauts used watches in space.

    Reply
  68. Malia

    What do you think will happen with the new material and diamond?

    Reply
  69. Anthony

    When can you do the SAT?

    Reply
  70. Avery

    I love learning about new things! Thank you!

    Reply
  71. Alexa

    Hi! Science live is so fun and interesting!

    Reply
  72. Anthony

    I love homeschooling, so I also love Acellus!

    Reply
  73. Evie

    Science live is awesome

    Reply
  74. Dillon

    I love watching science live, it teaches me so many new things.

    Reply
  75. Séline

    Radio waves are awesome. It’s the language of the universe I wonder how the technology will evolve. Maybe we’ll be able to decipher more complex signals and frequencies

    Reply
  76. Abel

    science live is so fun, how did you guys come up with the idea to do it.

    Reply
  77. Colton

    The radio waves are super cool!

    Reply
  78. Jocelin

    I would not have guessed that one of the most important things you need when planning to go to space would be a watch!

    Reply
  79. Brynn

    I love Acellus I can’t wait for the next episode!

    Reply
  80. Preston

    I thought that the laser cooling was a cool segment.

    Reply
  81. Noah

    It’s insane how convenient Acellus is!!

    Reply
  82. Alex

    The way the brain learns is cool.

    Reply
  83. Kaitlyn

    I love Acellus and Roger Billings! Meeting my daily goals really helps me keep on track.

    Reply
  84. Gunner

    It would be interesting to learn about the Morse code if offered,

    Reply
  85. Amaya

    I loved the new suggestion on how to take notes during classes so it could be a more efficient and helpful way with remembering the lessons better.

    Reply
  86. Camden

    I have loved learning with acellus!

    Reply
  87. Luke

    I love science news!

    Reply
  88. Robert

    I love the flowers of the ocean. They are so beautiful and alive, plus it shows you no matter where, life will grow anywhere.

    Reply
  89. Mollie

    “we love acellus!!” we scream in unison.

    Reply
  90. Achilles

    Acellus ❤️

    Reply
  91. Clark

    Can radio waves be modified in any way to redirect to a specific direction or is that impossible?

    Reply
  92. Jada

    Acellus is the best homeschool curriculum!!!!!

    I love it its so much fun

    Reply
  93. Gabriel

    What is the difference between Acellus and Acellus gold?

    Reply
  94. Evelyn

    learning about lasers is super interesting

    Reply
  95. Achilles

    Science live❤️

    Reply
  96. Joseph

    I really enjoyed watching this weeks video I can’t wait to watch the next one.

    Reply
  97. Ellery

    Thank you very much! That was very interesting!

    Reply
  98. Myka

    Cool lizard name: myka

    Reply
  99. Marcel

    The explanation of how radio waves are generated, transmitted, and received was clear and easy to follow. I especially liked the real-world examples showing how radio-frequency technology is embedded in everyday devices. The visual breakdown of the spectrum was also helpful for understanding why different frequencies are used for broadcasting, communication, and navigation. Looking forward to more episodes that explore the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum!

    Reply
  100. Mason

    Developers for video games also use wave lengths for effects. It’s cool to learn more about how wave lengths are used in different things.

    Reply
  101. James

    My grandpa had a radio tower

    Reply
  102. Zaidee

    I really enjoyed learning about NASA using the Omega watches on missions.  You always hear about the moon landing but not always all the different things that had to be researched and tested to be used on the mission.

    Reply
  103. Aiden

    Thanks for explaining about radio waves! That was my question last week. I want to learn Morse code!.

    Reply
  104. Cole

    The quantum computer looks like something out of an old sci-fi movie.

    Reply
  105. Lucas

    what is a semiconductor

    Reply
  106. Josephine

    This really cleared up radio waves for me! Thank you to the whole Acellus team, and I can’t wait for the next science live!

    Reply
  107. Achilles

    I would be interested in pilot class. It would be cool if I could listen to science live on the radio.

    Reply
  108. Nova

    Love this video so much!! I learn so much from these!

    Reply
  109. Kelden

    I really enjoyed your story from when you were just a boy and how you acquired your own radio tower!

    Reply
  110. Jacob

    It’s so cool how radio waves can be measured with amplitude, and wavelength like sin(x) and cos(x) waves.

    Reply
  111. Everly

    COOL

    Reply
  112. Lucas

    As a HAM radio operator, I would personally LOVE to see a course on amateur radio, and a course on helicopter piloting. Please produce them as quick as you can!

    Reply
  113. Bryson

    My grandpa loves his ham radio and this episode was really fun to watch with him. He really enjoyed being able to share this with me and it gave us a new way to connect with each other.

    Reply
  114. Jonah

    You could see the auroras here in West Texas!

    Reply
  115. Davyn

    I wonder how that new semiconductor will affect technology in the future.

    Reply
  116. Garland

    how long did it take to make acellus

    Reply
  117. Lauren

    I remember better when I study in smaller chunks vs cramming all at once.

    Reply
  118. Jonah

    We would love ham radio, Morse code, and pilot classes!!

    Reply
  119. Kylie

    I’m currently learning about different waves! I was forgetful and a little confused determining the differences for some, but this science live definitely helped me.

    Reply
  120. Molly

    I would love an aviation course!

    Reply
  121. Susanna

    Can you write 📃 in Morse code

    Reply
  122. Levon

    How do radio waves carry information without wires, and what makes them different from sound waves?

    Reply
  123. Aidan

    Woah, I didn’t know lasers could cool stuff down!

    Reply
  124. Mia

    I had an great time learning about radio waves!

    Reply
  125. Kylee

    I love acellus!

    Reply
  126. Jordyn

    First time! Love Acellus so far!

    Reply
    • Rylee

      If we could see radio waves with our eyes, what would they look like?

      Reply
  127. Brentley

    I love Science Live!

    Reply
  128. Lincoln

    Do astronauts wear watches to space today? Do they still wear Omega watches?

    Reply
  129. Ryker

    Comment Thank you for Acellus. This is a great program.

    Reply
  130. Isabella

    Thank you for the video! love Acellus

    Reply
  131. Tessara

    Thank you!

    Reply
  132. William,

    I would LOVE to have a pilots course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  133. Dawson

    Such a great episode of Science Live.

    Reply
  134. Jaken

    Thank you for the video! Hello from NC!

    Reply
  135. Eryn

    I really loved the talk about the laser. I didn’t know a laser can make thing’s cold. So cool! It was so interesting to learn about. I love Acellus!

    Reply
  136. Trace

    This program is amazing I went from not learning a thing in public school to actually excelling. I have even gotten a job, I couldn’t be happier!

    Reply
  137. Greyson

    Love acellus!

    Reply
  138. Inara

    We love all the new information we learn from Science Live!

    Reply
  139. Saharah

    I like how the work is planned out with the daily steps and see how many steps we have left to do!

    Reply
  140. Trista

    Radio waves have come such a long way today from when they where first even just an idea which is such an incredible thing to even think about how people can think of such smart things to help out in this world.

    Reply
  141. Kerrington

    My Dad is a GMRS and HAM radio guru!

    Reply
  142. Aiden

    Thank you Acellus.

    Reply
  143. Natalie

    Love space. Can you live on the moon?

    Reply
  144. Gabriel

    When are we doing a mission to Mars?

    Reply
  145. Joi

    What a great science live! Thank you!

    Reply
  146. Ashlee

    Awesome

    Reply
  147. Zara

    Learning on Acellus is so fun!

    Reply
  148. Jordan

    what are the most common ham radio frequencies

    Reply
  149. Kylah

    This is awesome! Hey from Florida.

    Reply
  150. Samuel

    How did the rocks at the bottom of the coral area give off a blue florescent light when it was originally white? Is it because of the water surrounding it?

    Reply
  151. Pierce

    I learned something new by watching this video. I did not know Buzz wore a watch on the moon.

    Reply
  152. Ashley

    Is there a Morse code in other languages?

    Reply
  153. Jasmine

    This video is really cool and interesting! I also learned a difference between AM and FM.

    Reply
  154. Justus

    I love acellus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  155. Jasmine

    This video was really cool and interesting! I also learned the difference between AM and FM.

    Reply
  156. Lily

    All members of the science live videos are all smart and fun.

    Reply
  157. Janiah

    I’ve always thought the concept of radio waves was extremely fascinating. A completely unseen but very present wave of sound, energy, and atmosphere weaving together to create a non-physical but incredibly important facet of what we hear, what we consume, even the media’s ability to reach us from around the world. It’s just so interesting to think about how something that isn’t physically tangible could be so important and wide-spread throughout the planet in connecting us with one another.

    Reply
  158. Forest

    R51 always makes me laugh so hard.

    Reply
  159. Shilah

    That’s so cool that blue light causes fluorescent colors on different objects!

    Reply
  160. Declan

    The technology spotlight is usually my favorite part of science live.

    Reply
  161. Forest

    its so cool how radio waves work

    Reply
  162. Mariah

    r-51 is sooo funny

    Reply
  163. Adalee

    I LOVE science lives!

    Reply
  164. Eric

    Acellus is amazing

    Reply
  165. Amaree

    SO COOL

    Reply
  166. Rowen

    R51 is my KING

    Reply
  167. Connor

    I very deeply enjoyed this video and found lots of value in it.

    Reply
  168. Emma

    r-51 is soo silly!

    Reply
  169. Ashtyn

    This was a great video! I love going to school here!

    Reply
  170. Owen

    Thank you Acellus Team!

    Reply
  171. Bentley

    If would be fun to use older radios, kind of like they did in smokey and the bandit

    Reply
  172. Lucas

    How did hydrogen get made?

    Reply
  173. Ashton

    Loved the section about watches in space!

    Reply
  174. Natalie

    love Acellus!!!

    Reply
  175. Ashton

    Acellus Is Great!

    Reply

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