The Relay
December 10, 2025 • 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 relay—the clever electromagnetic switch that makes it possible to control circuits with precision. Learn how relays work, why they’re essential in everyday electronics, and how this simple idea became a building block for modern technology. A clear, hands-on look at one of engineering’s 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 “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 »
I love that DrB calls them “dits” and “dahs”. ☺️
I love r51 I can’t wait for next weeks segment! Science is so cool
I want a coherer
I found the part about using DNA as storage very interesting and also that Japan is using cassette tapes as storage as well.
I liked the story about WD-40! We use it for a lot of different purposes, most recently last week, to stop the hall door from squeaking!
From Tennessee this live was verey interesting to watch and is always fun to watch.
I learn something new every Wednesday! Can’t wait for the next live
WD-40 is so cool.
Wow learning about how and why WD-40 was made is so interesting. I’ve seen my mom use it before and never knew all the interesting facts behind it. I’m gonna have to go tell her about it and see if she knew any of it. Tobias always has the best segments on science live.
Hello teachers, what type of DNA does the capsule use? Thank you, teachers!
Coming from Oregon, we really appreciate you for providing these educational videos!
I don’t think that bell would have ever ended if r-51 didn’t unplug it 😂🤣
I really loved this Live! I especially liked learning about WD40.
I wonder How the concept of ‘the relay’ apply to modern data transfer methods?
It’s great to see you in a lab setting showing us in a hands-on way. I’m looking forward now to learning about vacuum tubes!
I find it fascinating that radio waves allow aluminum to conduct electricity.
Who knew you could use WD-40 for that? Exciting.
Watching science live is extremely educating and interesting.
The WD-40 story was incredible! I can’t wait to tell it to my grandpa
Does the amount of foil balls in the cup make a difference? If there are more or less will it still work?
Honestly learning about WD40 was interesting, never knew any of that
it was easy to follow along with with the step-by-step diagram of the circuit.
Watching from Korea
Comment I had no idea WD-40 has so many uses! My mom only uses it for squeaky doors. I’m definitely going to have her watch this video, it’s going to blow her mind. 🙂
Poor r-51!!!! I love the way he wants to show Lady Pajet everything that he does. Today’s Science Live was very interesting.
how long would the light stay on on the foil balls
Learning all of the cool things about WD-40 was just crazy. I had no idea it took them 40 tries to make it.
Thank you so much Acellus Academy for the Science Live! Always looking forward to every Wednesday!
these videos are always something i have to look forward to! Can’t wait for next week!
The relay was such a genius invention for detecting radio waves and controlling lots of power with it.
Watching from Guam
This is so cool 😎
If it’s called WD-40 because it was the 40th formula that they try why is there now a WD-50?
My sister graduated with Acellus and we were there for her graduation earlier this year!
You know what they say 40th times the charm
i’m obsessed with these they are so interesting!!
I love these lives!! I’ve learned a lot. Watching from Kentucky.
What is the main purpose of an electrical relay?
I know WD40 but never knew that, so interesting. Great live!
Science live makes me want to know more and more about science.
Hi from CT, excited for science live!
Watching from Tennessee loved this live ❤️
thank you for the Wednesday video. Everyone’s talk was amazing.
Roger billings is such a character! So funny and smart!
The 2025 grads looked like they had fun at Acellus world.
Hi from North Carolina
I’ve used WD40 on my squeaky bathroom door.
My mom always encourages me to never give up. Once i accomplish something it feels so good.
I enjoyed learning the facts about DNA! I never knew about these fun facts, can’t wait for the next Wednesday’s Science Live!
This was my first Science Live… pretty cool. Thank you.
This live was very intriguing!
I never realized that Dr. Billings has his lab in Area 51. It makes sense though since he is conducting all these labs and practices in a secret government base. Love to see it.
Him demonstrating how the bell works is so cool I’ve always wanted to do something like that!!
I really learned a lot from this live, can’t wait for the next one!
Science is so cool! The learning is endless
The part about Wd40 is so interesting
Science live is super cool for learning
hello! from Thailand! This live is very fun. Thanks acellus
Amazing to learn all the different ways you can use WD40.
The r51 is always adorable
Science is more and more fun as you go through it!!!*
Roger Billings I am glad you returned back to the topic of radio signals in Science Live, just as you promised from last Wednesday.
After you taught how a relay system works, you used a smaller, compact relay system in your next circuit which makes me wonder what other systems could be simplified.
I love learning about different types of technology, it is very interesting!
Loved the WD40 segment!! It was amazing!
Tuned in from Nicaragua!
lol!!! Poor r-51!! Hello from tn
I found it interesting that WD-40 was created for NASA.
I like the lessons on Wednesdays.
Is there a way to lessen the shock with a different material of clothing?
Watching from Orange County, I love science!
Hello from Tennessee. I really enjoy watching the experiments! I am excited for next week!
These lives are always so interesting and fun! watching from south Florida!!
I love that cassette tapes are making a comeback in the form of data storage!
I remember recently asking my dad what was in WD-40, and him replying that it wasn’t disclosed to the public, like some top secret experiment. Now I know that he wasn’t just being silly!
I really enjoy the aerospace related topics they speak about. This program has made me appreciate science and math so much more. I would love a aerospace related class.
I always learn something new from the science lives and it was funny when R-51 got shocked can’t wait to learn more in your next science live !
These lives are honestly such a good way to learn! Can’t wait for the next one 🙂
Science live always teaches me new every time i really learned a lot form this one specifically can’t wait for the next science live !
We use WD40 on my bike chains when they get stiff.
Watching from Kentucky!
Watching from Georgia, can’t wait for next science live!
It’s amazing how informative these are!
entertaining as usual, cant wait to see the next live!
Will you get to meet your teachers in person at Acellus world? That would be my dream come true!!
Interesting story about WD40. Who knew it had so many uses?
I really like what I learn in this live! I want to try to do some experiment at home ! Watching from Mississippi.
That live is so informative and interesting. Thank you so much for it. And I really excited for the next one.
Watching from Chicago!
That live is so informative and interesting. Thank you so much for it.
Super funny episode, and lots of cool information! Thanks for the weekly video!
It is really cool that our DNA is like storage!
I really enjoyed this episode. I never knew that DNA could store data for thousands of years!
The WD-40 story was very fascinating, and inspiring!
Science is so amazing!
science has always been my favorite subject.
Hello from mexico! todays live was so inspirational and educational!!
After watching “Technology Spotlight” I am interested in the idea of using DNA for storing computer data.
R-51 is like Mr. Billings little brother!
WD40 has always been my dad’s go-to.
hi from Viet Nam, I really love science live
Thank you Acellus!!!
my favorite part was learning about the relay.
Cool! Can’t wait to watch the next episode of Science Live!
I love watching Science Live. Thank you so much Dr. Billings!
How has the relay improved our understanding of radio waves? More specifically, how did the relay lead to new discoveries about radio waves? For example, did it teach us how to implement radio waves into energy and technology? How has it affected the technology we have today?
This science live was so funny and interesting!
what makes WD-40 so effective at removing things? And this science live was interesting.
Hi from VietNam, I really love science
I love all the videos with electricity and batteries!
I love Science Live! This video was very informative about the types of connectors. The relays and currents is very intriguing.
i love learning from these lives!
I love acellus
I think R51 is my new favorate
R 51 is so funny 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hi from New Jersey! Can’t wait for the next video!
It was cool to hear about WD-40. My dad uses it sometimes.
My favorite part of this week’s Science Live is when Dr. Billings takes us into Area 51 lab to show the science experiment.
Science live is always so informative and interesting .
Being able to store data on DNA sounds super futuristic, and being able to store that much data sounds super cool! Excited to see more of this lives.
How does electricity react with those balls before they cohere?
That was such a great science live!
Hey all! Seeing this from Tennessee!
This week my family put up Christmas lights. I got the fun job of checking for bad bulbs with a volt meter. It was fun learning the science behind that!
It’s amazing how many uses wd40 has.
I’ve learned about the DNA . DNA is basically life it’s what make you,you
Hello! Tanner here from Belton TX
Science is absolutely amazing!!
I loved watching the trial and error process of using the WD40. Much love from MS!
I think it was really fascinating to learn about the incredible amounts of storage in an individual living cell! I’m excited for next week’s live.
I loved it so much I could watch it all day
Amazing video. Hope y’all have an amazing week. Class of 2027
Avery from Missouri
We always enjoy these live educational displays. Keep it coming!
Awesome science live
The Science Live was entertaining as usual!
This episode of science live has been very informative today. Cant wait for next week!
I didn’t know wd40 had that many uses.
*Amazing live, always waiting for Wednesday to come just to learn more!
watching from hawaii learning something
I always learn something awesome from science live.
I think acellus in great for people cause my grades are so much better cause its easy to understand they make it easy for kids that have problems understanding
Watching from Texas
Hello! From New York!
I like the new acellus building. It looks cool.
Hello from Texas.
R51 is the silliest ever. He needs to be more careful.
The videos are so cool hope i can try some experiments. DNA then Radio waves . Coherer was in last weeks science live too.
I enjoy listening to Dr. Joshua mention how students are graduating from Acellus. It’s so good to see the students studied hard. I love how Dr. Billings demonstrated how a circuit works.
Watch the second time with my grandma and she said she’s going to be using WD-40 a lot
How exciting that there are so many students/graduates!
Excited to watch Science Live
I think R51 should have been more careful! I can’t believe any one thing has 2,000 uses.
My favorite is the breakthrough moments in science with Tobias.
I love science. Watching from Philippines.
these are awesome!
It’s always a feel good moment when R51 comes. The history of WD-40 was eye opening. love Science Live!!!
I had really fun watching this live!
I love to watch these and learn new things
DNA is such an interesting thing to learn about it’s so complicated yet simple in a way.
I was neat to find out the backstory of WD-40 and that the long name is Water Displacement 40th Formula. Also found out that no one really knows the formula except for one person.
I learned a lot about all the uses of WD-40. Great science live!
It was amazing to see how many graduates there were. We hope to attend an event some day.
I think it is so cool that they can storage data on a cassette tape.
Today’s science live was awesome! DNA is so interesting.
This is one of my favorite lives that you guys have done!
I can’t wait for my graduation in a couple years. I hope I can go to it. I also enjoyed learning about the creation of WD-40.
Watching from vegas
watching from Douglasville
Hi from Tennessee, I love watching science live!
I liked learning about WD40!
watching from Texas! science is my favorite subject
Science is awesome!
It’s always great to learn more about what is happening, Science Live is my new favorite way to learn about new developments in science! The graduation event sounds like a blast,
I love science lives!
Did you know Marconi developed the wireless telegraph, which sent morse code messages without wires to aid ships with their communication and in 1909 he would share a Nobel Prize in Physics for his technologies.