The Relay
December 10, 2025Ā ā¢Ā EPISODE 290
How does a simple relay help us understand electricity and circuits? In this episode of Science LIVE, Roger Billings breaks down the science behind the relayāthe clever electromagnetic switch that makes it possible to control circuits with precision. Learn how relays work, why theyāre essential in everyday electronics, and how this simple idea became a building block for modern technology. A clear, hands-on look at one of engineeringās most important tools.
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 āDrBā 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 DrBās lifelong commitment to supporting education, Science LIVE was launched as a way to āgive backā by mentoring students in conjunction with the Roger Billings Scholarship Program.
Read more about DrB Ā»Ā
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program Ā»
š stellar episode! Love it
Another amazing episode of science live.
the WD40 thing was pretty cool
I really learned a lot from this live. <3
I like science.
I loved that they talked bout how WD-40 was used as well as made. Never knew such a small can can have so much progress in it.
What else can be done with radio waves?
This video was really inspiring and interesting
I love the show
When my Dad work on cars, he uses WD-40.
R-51 is really funny, and the WD-40 story was really cool too; especially since i didn’t know it took 40 tries to perfect as well now knowing NASA was involved.
It’s crazy how a small little relay can help turn on a bell. Really fun.
It was so interesting learning about DNA tonight. I did not know that much of DNA before I watched the live.
Interesting how the anti-rusting formula originated from Nasa, so cool!
Wow! Love the videošā¤ļøšššššššš
The grease monkeyās secret weapon , WD-40. They should talk about Duct Tape next time. š
Tobias talked about inventions . Water is good to help the still connect to the oxygen wd40 can get stuff unstuck for whatever is stuck .
R.51 is so funny š
I like r 51 because he is funny
Itās crazy how it took 40 tries to make the WD-40!
We have WD-40 I liked learning about that.
What I learned was about how to use a WD40 that they are many ways how to use it and we don’t have to give up because it doesn’t matter how many try but there be a day that we can do it.
Hiiiii mathew from tenneesee
Hello from Texas, great science live!
Is there a way to get the parts list for this whole setup?
I like the part about WD-40
Hii from Tx! I really think the cohesive device is cool!
R-51 did not forget to turn on his glasses this time. He’s still hilarious btw (by the way)! I just put the discpription of ‘btw’ after the term to help you guys know what it means. Have a great winter!
I think it was funny when R51 played Jingle Bells with the spoon thing.
Did R-51 survive? We canāt live without him. š©š„ŗ
Love the video! from North Carolina š
This episode was so fun and the last bit was hilariousš¤£
I made a coherer last weak to turn on with my 220kv marx generator i made last year and I can get it to turn on from acrost the room, and when my cat walks past it turns on from her static ckarge.
I thing science live has made me smile every time I’ve watched it. Keep making science fun!
I love Josephās jokes, they are so funny š
Of course R-51 went into the room, he’s always up for some silly mischief!*
I love science live because I learn new things each week.
That was amazing! Can’t wait till next Wednesday.
Thank you for the Science Live. I never knew WD-40 could be used in so many ways.
Could wd-40 get something that is sticked together with gorilla glue unstuck to each other?
It was cool to learn about the WD-40 and the different uses.
I thought the invention of WD-40 was clever. This episode was awesome, and I canāt wait for next weekās!
Hello Science Live! I never knew about the history of WD-40 until now, and it really goes to show that the greatest inventions in life have taken many, and I mean MANY tries to perfect! Thank you Acellus and Science Live for another inspiring week!
this was cool š
This one was really good!!
My favorite part of todayās episode was the invention of WD-40! I use it a lot, but Iāve never thought about why it was called that! I can definitely believe that it took 40 tries, but the fact that they didnāt give up inspires me!
Thank you so much for Science live I loved the lesson tonight!
Thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it! I had a question about storage in DNA. Are there any downsides of using DNA for storage, and if so, what are they?
That was cool how a spark can create a radio wave and also that it would continue until another spark was applied. Thank you
A petabyte is huge! Wish I had that much storage. Wow, I never knew the story behind WD-40. Canāt believe all its uses.
I enjoyed learning that you can use WD40 on legos to get them unstuck!
R-51 was very funny today. I learned a lot about WD40 and DNA data storage.
So cool! Thank you so much!
I liked what Mr. Tobias was talking about.
That was really coolš
Always learning new things!
Thatās really cool that if there is a powerful radio wave and you put a spark over those aluminum foil balls, it can create energy and like turn a light on.
It was cool how you can store memory in your DNA!
R-51 is a conductor for sure.
I recently read something about the DNA cassette tapes, itās so cool! The bell ringing on and off when you tapped it was super amazing too!
Todayās episode was so interesting! Iāve always heard people talking about WD-40 and always wondered what itās used for, I guess for just about anything! Thanks! Iām excited to see next weekās science live! š
Great episode!
R51got shocked. He is funny
Hi, I’m from New, York
I really like learning about WD-40 because we use it all the time at our farm
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Loved learning about the origins of WD-40, I am a mechanic in training under my dad and we use that stuff all the time lol. I am currently in LOVE with learning about relays and the radio waves, thank you so much for the demonstrations! I also hope to graduate next year and while I do not think I will be able to make it to acelus world for it (due to family health), I am still a proud student. As always, I hope you guys have an amazing rest of your week, cannot wait till next time!!
Water-Displacement 40 is a wonderful product!!!
Nice stream. Tobias is funny!!
Loved this live stream!
It is so cool that WD40 has so many uses!
Hello from Texas! Would love to know more about all of this, Iām a junior in highschool
Thank you so much Science Live! I love the fun facts i learn from these videos.
R51 is so funny. Love science live
The idea of storing more than a gigabyte in a very small capsule the size of a pill was crazy. Pentabytes stored in something that small was very cool.
Dr R51 you making Christmas music with a spoon got me dying laughing! š
When the radio turns on about how long could the radio last? But I also loved how R51 taught Miss Pajet to wash her hair and how he pretends he invented what you left in Area 51!
that was neat
My dad is going to try the WD-40 thing
I liked learning about DNA.
Great episode. I enjoyed watching it together with my Brother.
area 51 is so funny. I love watching him.
DNA strands are like twisted ladders holding secret codes for living things, found in nearly every cell, carrying instructions for traits like eye color and hair, inherited from parents, and making us unique, even sharing DNA with bananas and plants
Itās cool to hear how technology is getting more advanced
Hi from Iowa! R51 is so funny.
Can you make a circuit at home?
I really liked the things dr bilings made
Hi from Indiana I didn’t know that WD40 had so many uses.
Hi from Cape Cod. I really liked what Dr. Tobias said about the history of WD-40.
My dad says that WD-40 is the, āSecret of the Universe.ā
Can’t wait to tell my Grandpa how the staple in his garage (WD-40) was invented. Great episode!! I’ve always wondered how people sent wires overseas.
Hi itās cool how WD-40 is used for so many different purposes. Itās funny when R-51 got electrified.
Hoe far away can you activate the Coherer device ?
I finally know what WD-40 stands for!
Science Live is awesome! And hi from Oregon!!!
it was super interesting and of course I loved the ending it was funny like always.
That was reay cool š
Great Science Live!!! Thank you!!!
I think it is so cool that the inventors of WD40 didn’t give up but kept trying 40 times until they got it right.
Its amazing how WD-40 added its struggle into the name
man! is R 51 okay????!! I like the live program.
What will you do for the 300th episode?
Tonightās video was great. I always love to learn new things.
It’s amazing to know that WD-40 was made for NASA’s rockets and now it has 2000 uses! DNA being stored in a pill sounds like something out of a science fiction, it’s incredible that we can make these things reality now.
Amazing, I loved the show.
I liked learning about this and how r 51 got shocked at the end.
looking forward to next wednesday!
How much power is in a battery
Is r51 okay?
Hello from North Carolina
Thank you for this week’s episode! I can’t believe WD-40 had so many uses and that it took them a bit to find the right formula! Thank you again Science Live team!
DNA strands are like twisted ladders holding secret codes for living things, found in nearly every cell, carrying instructions for traits like eye color and hair, inherited from parents, and making us unique, even sharing DNA with bananas and plants
Great Live if was really informative and in parts funny. Can’t wait for the next live Thank You!
Great episode! Loved the history of WD40!
Hi everyone from from Atlanta Georgia
When Iām older, Iām going to make a hydrogen powered airplane.
Very interesting that cells may be used in the future so computers can have lots of storage that lasts for thousands of years.
The fact that WD-40 is still unknown today to the public after all these years is very impressive, hearing about all the attempts it took that company to reach success is inspiring for any engineer, cause it shows to never quit and keep on trying. Excellent science live. š
Science live is awesome!
love watching these lives
You should put Christmas lights around the Area 51 sign
I never knew that about WD-40, that an everyday thing has origins with NASA.
Hey guys! awesome Science live again!
I loved the lesson thank you!
The spoon relay experiment was my favorite!
I got a question, what if your working on a extremely sensitive project it gets stuck together and you spray WD-40 on the wrong spot would it destroy it or just damage it?
it was really interesting to see you test the battery you made and designed Last time, and it worked Really well. I thought that was really cool. And Iām excited to see what you do with it in the future episodes.
Very interesting and fascinating on how to conduct a conducter and make it work even with a light tap or energy.
loved the teaching in this video. i liked him showing us how to work these things.
My dad and I use WD40 for everything
Seems like r51 is in the Christmas spirit “jingle bells, jingle bells” he is so funny
I enjoyed watching today’s experiment!
I love Wednesdays because of roger š
i apreciate the time and effort you guys take on providing these lives.
Apparently, he is a conductor!
I love Science Live
Merry Christmas from Texas
I really liked watching all of the experiments. Itās make it fun to really see what we are learning. Area 51 is so funny.
Science live was awesome.
I like when you do scientific experiments.
Aloha, Thank you for a good lesson.
In my opinion the WD 40 was cool
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE
absolutely love science lives!
I remember learning about relays in one of my STEM courses, glad to see that I can remember it.
Good evening my favorite part was seeing the spoons turn on the light.
My favorite part about was watching R51 become a conductor!! He should have known better!!
I enjoy doing science live with Dr. Roger Billings every Wednesday
R-51 was funny but I hope he’s ok from being shocked with 120V spoons.
R51 is a conductor.
I never thought how WD-40 was made
Tonight we learned about WD40 and electrical relays. Very interesting. thank you.
Hi from Maine! I love these lives and look forward to them every week!
Not the cut out of Pajet Monetš¤£
Great information once again. Love R-51’s descriptions of his inventions.
R51 is funny!
God bless from Georgia!
We enjoy the experiment and Area 51 a lot!
I really enjoyed Science live tonight.
This episode was great! I liked the story of the making of WD-40.
The DNA cassette was cool!
I ā¤ļøscience live
R-51 just couldnāt resist āinventingā something today.
CommentLive, Laugh, Love Acellus!!
Wow I had no idea WD-40 was so old! I can’t wait to see what I will learn next episode
I didn’t know WD-40 stood for Water Displacement Formula 40!
R51 is good at his job.
I love r51
Merry Christmas and a happy new year!š¶
Wow I didn’t know WD40 had so many uses
Itās so cool. I want to try to make this experiment
Itāt amazing how WD40 is still around and used for many things.
WD-40 has a surprising amount of uses
One human knowing the WD-40 formula (as some say) is pretty crazy, I thought the formula was on the back of the can. š
I loved learning about radio waves and signals and how the sparks triggers them.
May there please be an inventioneering class?