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. Riley

    I loved learning about Lazer cooling!

    Reply
    • Dillion

      i love to learn about these type of things too

      Reply
  2. Bria

    I would love to learn more about radio. I watch for radio towers every time we go for a ride.

    Reply
  3. Alexander

    Is NASA still running? or is that where Elon Mush sets off his rockets?

    Reply
  4. Alyssa

    Lol congrats to the shirt winners

    Reply
  5. Chase

    Floresence is such a cool topic!

    Reply
  6. Casen

    that was super cool I didn’t know that they wore a watch in space

    Reply
  7. Addison

    Thank you Roger Billings!!

    Reply
  8. Bryna

    What is the average amount of steps you should do in a Acellus every day?

    Reply
  9. Brennan

    I enjoyed this Science Live episode. I learned even more on Acellus Gold, Lasers, The Brain, Watches, and many other things as well. I enjoy being an Acellus Student. I love Science Live as well.

    Reply
  10. Gavin

    Another great science live!

    Reply
  11. Riley

    I loved learning about lasers!

    Reply
  12. Mia

    Science live is so interesting! I loved when Area 51 communicated with Mars.

    Reply
  13. Logan

    how many time has NASA sent rockets to the moon

    Reply
  14. Ellie

    Love how Pajet was trying to show the t shirts quickly XD
    I can’t wait to see all the shirts tho!! 😉

    Reply
  15. Cory

    Thank you for science live!

    Reply
  16. Easton

    Lasers are so cool.

    Reply
  17. Abigale

    Wish I could have done the shirt contest. That would have been so fun!

    Reply
  18. Aaron

    I love the information im getting out of ithis!

    Reply
  19. Kai

    wow super cool! i didn’t know that radio towers can be affected by the height at which it stands at.

    Reply
  20. Abigale

    I love R51 so much! He’s hilarious!

    Reply
  21. Vera

    I learn something new when I watch these every week!

    Reply
  22. Katherine

    Does NASA still give out the Snoopy Award? Seems like a cool award. Juneau, AK

    Reply
  23. Gavin

    That is really cool about the whole intense Apollo 13 situation and how they pulled through

    Reply
  24. Peighton

    Radio waves are very useful for the human population like the GPS, we use those to get us to and from places as well as a radio so we can listen to music in the car.

    Reply
  25. Kailey

    Who decided that it was going to be called the Snoopy Award?

    Reply
  26. Wyatt

    I love acellus

    Reply
  27. Alissa

    Loved hearing about morse code, a class to learn it would be fun.

    Reply
  28. Alissa

    wow sooooo cool really this!!!

    Reply
  29. Estrella

    I love acellus! I am so happy that my shirt was showcased!

    Reply
  30. Zachary

    I never thaught time was so important, however in space it makes complete sense, certainly don’t want to run out of oxegen.

    Reply
  31. Julianna

    How long did it take to make the first laser?

    Reply
  32. Delaney

    It’s really cool how radio waves can travel so far.

    Reply
  33. Carter

    I liked the talking about space and the watches.

    Reply
  34. 🍒ainsley🍒

    How long did it take for the space watch to be invented?

    Reply
  35. Aiden

    I want to learn more about radio waves and how they travel

    Reply
  36. Eli

    Lasers are so cool!

    Reply
  37. Danika

    I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE !!!!

    Reply
  38. Micah

    I love the martian lizard!

    Reply
  39. Chance

    i like how that girl they talked about that had goten a 30 on an the exam when to a really good colege and it was a scolarship

    Reply
  40. Addison

    It’s interesting to see a watch work in outer space.

    Reply
  41. Blair

    I voted for a shirt and it did not win but it’s ok because the other shirt that I liked won!

    Reply
  42. Kara

    I want a long distance radio

    Reply
  43. Emma

    I love Acellus

    Reply
  44. Maddix

    This video really opened my eyes and taught me about the scientific aspect of radio waves.

    Reply
  45. Lucas

    It was so interesting to hear how radio waves can bounce off the atmosphere.

    Reply
  46. Taylor

    Which T-shirt won the design compition?

    Reply
  47. Kyler

    I love the science lives I always learn so much.

    Reply
  48. Valeria

    Radio waves are very interesting!

    Reply
  49. Levi

    It’s crazy how a radio wave can bounce off the atmosphere and reach the other side of the planet. I think a pilot class would be cool.

    P.S. Please make the Dr Hydrogen available to buy with gold credits

    Reply
  50. Maddox

    Area 51 is so funny!!!!!

    Reply
  51. Hali`a

    i LOOOVE science live!! my fave show!! i watch it more than anything!!

    Reply
  52. Jake

    This science live video is really cool

    Reply
  53. Kynzie

    It is cool that she got a soclarship for a good school.

    Reply
  54. Nyla

    The omega watch story was really cool to me. I loved how the watch went through many difficult tests and still passed
    It was so nice to see that since the omega company was clean in their work and precise they got awarded from NASA!
    And now I know how they kept time in space.

    Reply
  55. Samuel

    Roger Billings, what would you like to be accomplished with AI?

    Reply
  56. Brighlyn

    Where can I attend the science live?

    Reply
  57. Charlie

    How many different wavelengths are there?

    Reply
  58. Catalina

    pls add a magic class that would make me better at it and it would be fun

    Reply
  59. Karleigh

    .This weeks Science Live was amazing!! This has really helps me understand science.

    Reply
  60. Kathryn

    Hi from North Carolina, I love Science Live!

    Reply
  61. Madeline

    Radio waves are very intersting to learn about!

    Reply
  62. Wesley

    how can diamonds be used for semiconductors?

    Reply
  63. Bryan

    I am interested in becoming a pilot.

    Reply
  64. Kevin

    sound waves are fascinating!

    Reply
  65. Aubree

    I liked learning about the first watch to go to the moon.

    Reply
  66. Faith

    It is very interesting learning about how a laser can cool something.

    Reply
  67. Hannah

    I had no idea that’s why fm sounds different from am!

    Reply
  68. Uriah

    Radio Waves are so interesting!!! love Acellussss!!

    Reply
  69. Benjamin

    I love theses types of videos they make me learn a lot about science

    Reply
  70. Gabriel

    That story of the watch saving those astronauts was amazing! Had to be exact time and it got it. Was truly inspiring on how it was able to capture that even with all the risks that couldve happened.

    Reply
  71. Mia

    I love Acellus!!

    Reply
  72. Marlayna

    i never realized how much our daily life depends on radio waves.

    Reply
  73. Danica

    hi my name is Danica and I’m from Midland. That was so interesting. I love to watch these every week. I forgot to comment last week, but I love the thing about the watch going to NASA. I thought that was very interesting.

    Reply
  74. Brooklynn

    I learned that lazers cool and the fact they are trying to use it to cool chips is mind-blowing

    Reply
  75. Wyatt

    Radio waves are so cool!

    Reply
  76. Ava

    the colors of the coral under the light are so cool!

    Reply
  77. Lakyn

    Radio waves are super cool! This was a great video.

    Reply
  78. Oliver

    I really like how you used to work with Ham radios when you were younger and it’s cool that you used your money from your summer job to buy a radio.

    Reply
  79. Saul

    Could you potentially extract florescent light from coral?

    Reply
  80. Dylan

    I’ve always been interested in Morse Code and have been trying to actively learn it. I always love learning about it, thank you Science Live!

    Reply
  81. Anne

    How do the waves connect over long distances?

    Reply
  82. Charlie

    I liked learning about how you can use diamonds for a conductor. I also loved seeing the finished shirts.

    Reply
  83. Juniper

    Id love to learn more about morse code!

    Reply
  84. Shelby

    i love learning with acellus

    Reply
  85. Reagan

    A radio class sounds fun they should add one!

    Reply
  86. Mia

    i learned that lasers can cool items mind blowing!!!

    Reply
  87. Christopher

    I love Acellus and my teachers specifically language arts and math my favorite teacher is Mr. Rogers. I like Acellus because it’s easier then the school I used to do and that Acellus only takes me about an hour a day. I also like how it gives alot of activites like writing a book and AC-D2 I think it’s really cool sience live is cool to.

    Reply
  88. Kelby

    how can sound waves travel through walls?

    Reply
  89. Savannah

    I have never heard of that watch and does NASA still give out the snoopy award?

    Reply
  90. Brighton

    The watch was very interesting

    Reply
  91. Mira

    If you Haven’t, Check the ACELLUS GOLD STORE!!! The New t-shirts are there!!!!! I am (Maybe Have to ask my parents) going to get # 9 from Spain!!!! I Absolutely LOVED it!!!! It is good for me because I am VERY curious!!!! I Still LOVED all the other T-shirts though!!!! I am SOOO close to get a T-shirt, I am 78% there and I think I am at like 17,800 Gold Credits!!!!! Thak you Acellus Academy staff for doing the T-shirt experiment!!!! I loved seeing all the AWESOME shirts!!!! 😀 😀 😀

    -Mira From Tennessee!

    Reply
  92. Olivia

    My grandpa actually used to be a HAM radio operator!

    Reply
  93. Melanie

    I learned that you can Morse code with a hand radio but you need a license, sounds cooll

    Reply
  94. William

    Radio waves have advanced our civilization.

    Reply
  95. Katalina

    Radio waves are cool to learn about

    Reply
  96. Kaytie

    I loveedddd this episode so much!!

    Reply
  97. Liam

    I didn’t know that lasers could cool things down.

    Reply
  98. Kaytie

    This episode really had me chuckling

    Reply
  99. Harrison

    as someone who’s trying hard to get a pilots license by doing flight school and in plane lessons, a pilot program would be great!

    Reply
  100. Margie

    Learning about the science of radio waves was very interesting, I love everything space related.

    Reply
  101. Ashlyn

    It was interesting to learn about morse code

    Reply
  102. Britton.

    How many different colors do lasers come in?

    Reply
  103. Austin

    What’s the farthest radio wave has ever traveled

    Reply
  104. London

    I am interested in taking an am radio class. I am interested in learning more about wave communication and how it works. I would also be interested in taking a flying class, how cool would that be. There are endless possibilities here, thanks for going above and beyond to take learning to the next level.

    Reply
  105. Gavin

    I love y’all videos and I love science live

    Reply
  106. Johnathan

    So funny where area 51 communicated with Mars. Good episode,

    Reply
  107. Cameron

    Is it possible to calculate the speed of a radio wave? I really enjoyed this Science Live!

    Reply
  108. Tristan

    Where do the coral get their color from?

    Reply
  109. Mikaela

    I loved learning about how to study with acellus gold!

    Reply
  110. Eriksen

    Morse code was always something that I found fascinating. It took a skilled person to be able to communicate over long distances, which is very different from how it is nowadays.

    Reply
  111. Arabella

    Set daily goals and study consistantly in small bits. Great advice i will try.

    Reply
  112. Demetrius

    AHHHH A GECKO FROM MARS

    Reply
  113. Salomah

    I want to learn Morse code.

    Reply
  114. Yazmin

    Radio waves are SOOOO fascinating!!!🤩

    Reply
  115. Karli

    It’s insane that one thing out of the hundreds of things packed was so crucial in saving the lives of the astronauts! Props to whoever decided that a good quality watch was a necessity, because they genuinely saved the lives of those people. And a shoutout to the watch company that didn’t compromise on their quality. Just shows how important quality truly is when things hit the fan.

    Reply
  116. Lexi

    Thank you Roger Billings

    Reply
  117. Sophia

    I love the are 51 parts! It’s super funny when he explains something wrong. Good thing you save him for the last though!

    Reply
  118. Alexander

    How long have radio waves been used to relay communication?

    Reply
  119. Jackson

    I enjoyed the talk about the Omega watch test and astronauts.

    Reply
  120. Sivan

    A radio class would be so cool!

    Reply
  121. Alaina

    This is so cool

    Reply
  122. Sydney

    this lines up so good with what i”m learning in science right now!

    Reply
  123. Hazen

    Did they make it home alive and R 51 is so funny how he tried to communicate with Mars

    Reply
  124. Ivy

    Absolutely incredible lesson this live! Keep it up and thank you!

    Reply
  125. Sophia

    who knew that mars aliens are waiting for elon musk? and that R51 atcually contacted aliens

    Reply
  126. Bryce

    I saw a display about the Snoopy award in Titusville, FL!

    Reply
    • Ara

      Who knew a watch could save people!

      Reply
    • Lacey

      Wow!

      Reply
  127. Sunnove

    I never knew a laser could be cooling!

    Reply
  128. Austin

    I make sure I complete my daily goals and also work a little more each day. It really helps getting through and understanding the work. Wow, so interesting. I always thought that lasers had the heating effect and were always hot. It`s interesting to learn that lasers can also cool things down.

    Reply
  129. Madilynn

    Are there still radio waves out there and where do they end?

    Reply
  130. Roman

    I am interested in with the Ham radio and how it works. Having it as a activity and a lesson seems like a cool idea for Acellus learners!

    Reply
  131. Shylah

    Thank you for the show. I like when he left and the lizard started walking on the walls

    Reply
  132. Ayla

    Was the Omega watch exspensive?

    Reply
  133. Tristen

    I think I find FM as the more viable option for radio waves.

    I’m really excited about the aviation class being added!

    Reply
  134. Kylie

    Thank you for class this week, I loved learning about Radio waves.

    Reply
  135. Aurora

    I would never think a laser would cool something, my mind would race to heat.

    Reply
  136. Jj

    I’ve never known that something like a LASER could cool computer chips, that’s insane!

    Reply
  137. Eden

    Acellus always comes out with something new and unique every week, I always look forward to something new to learn.

    Reply
  138. Logan

    Logan from South Carolina does NASA still explore the ocean

    Reply
  139. Alexei

    It is amazing that’s simple watch saved many astronauts lives.

    Reply
  140. Revel

    Radio waves have transformed from AM/FM radio and TV broadcasting in the 70’s and into today’s world where we utilize wireless phones, Bluetooth, smart cars and drones. It is something that is overlooked daily until there is an outage.

    Reply
  141. Velvet

    I enjoyed this episode! The explanation of how radio waves travel and how they’re used in everything from HAM radio to space communication was super clear.

    Reply
  142. Margaret

    I love learning about science!

    Reply
  143. Austin

    I didn’t know they used watches in Apollo 11.

    Reply
  144. Zane

    A pilot class and a radio class wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  145. Joshua

    I would be interested in a Ham Radio class.

    Reply
  146. Londyn

    Science is Fun!

    Reply
    • Nic

      spot on bro

      Reply
  147. Porter

    What is the farthest place you’ve talked to someone on a ham radio?

    Reply
  148. William

    “I would love to do a Ham Radio course”

    Reply
  149. Angeline

    I was unaware that constant study can help you brain absorb more information Learning is power!

    Reply
  150. Zane

    A radio class!!!!!!!!! Cool

    Reply
  151. Brooklyn

    I like acellus academy I hope I can one day graduate from here as well. Like the one young lady got full college scholarship.

    Reply
  152. Rose

    I am really enjoying these science lessons

    Reply
  153. Clairee

    You mentioned that you learned morse code in junior high, was it part of a school class or did you just decide to learn it on your own? What’s the best way for teens to learn it?

    Reply
  154. Jace

    I think it’s so cool how radio waves work!

    Reply
  155. William

    I LOVE ACELLUS

    Reply
  156. Beckett

    I think those classes would be great!!!

    Reply
  157. Jeremiah

    loved hearing about the difference between AM and FM Bands.”

    Reply
  158. Fable

    I wonder what r51 will be doing next!

    Reply
  159. Patrick

    I had no idea that lasers could be cold!

    Reply
  160. Micah

    Dr. Billings and Acellus are the best for Science.

    Reply
  161. Antonella

    Great episode! I really liked learning about the quantum computer! All of the classes you suggested sound really cool, especially the Morse code class! Have a nice day everyone!

    Reply
  162. Miles

    What made you think of the name Acellus

    Reply
  163. Ann

    I love science live!!!!

    Reply
  164. Archer

    The faster the frequency is turned on and off the shorter sound waves are
    The opposite happens the slower the frequency is turned on and off the longer the sound waves .

    Reply
  165. Jacob

    I love Accelus science live, It’s always teaching me new things!

    Reply
  166. Kaeson

    The daily goals make school so much easier for me to stay on task.

    Reply
  167. Brennan

    Science is my favorite subject 💯

    Reply
  168. Israel

    I love the idea of a HAM radio activity or course!

    Reply
  169. Alliana

    do you have any project recommendations? or science experiments?

    Reply
  170. Rayna

    R-51 is the best part of science live! He is so funny!

    Reply
    • Brandon

      That’s so true

      Reply
  171. Matteo

    Dr Billings is so cool!

    Reply
  172. Gaven

    how hot can a laser get?

    Reply
  173. Ethan

    Great speech on being a radio broadcaster, I laughed at the signal picking up in on your neighbors stove.

    Reply
  174. Emily

    i love Acellus so much it is the best

    Reply
  175. Alec

    I LOVE ACELLUS!!!!!

    Reply

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