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 r 51
Mr. Tobias is really funny!!!
Watching from KY.
Science live really helps me learn more!
Here at Texas that was awesome!!!!!!
The end was funny! I couldn’t stop laughing. And I can’t wait to learn more next week!
Watching from Tampa FL!
Watching from South Africa 🙂
Thats awesome that you all hold graduation ceremonies for accellus students!!!
the part where r-51 got shocked reminded me of home alone!
During the lecture, Dr. Tobias taught us how WD-40 was invented. As NASA’s Atlas missions ()before Appolo commenced, they had rockets made out of pure Iron. Their issue, however, was that when expose to the elements, the iron would rust
Science live is always so informative. Looking forward for the next video
I learned so much!
Interesting concept. I am always especially interested in Dr. Tobias’s segment.
I really like learning about DNA in today’s science live!
Thank you for a great lesson!💫
Wow, Roger Billings is so cool!!! I want to be just like him when I grow up!!
How does the transistor set off the the bell ringer because t=they could have made it send signals to the bell the automated it and also how would the bells radio waves connect to the other transistor?
Cool lesson! I love Roger Billings’ class!!!!
My name is Lexi, and I wonder who comes up with the science lives? there always super educational
It is crazy how many uses WD-40 has.
I always learn something new watching science live. My little brother who loves to tinker now loves watching it with me.
Mr. Tobias is my favorite! Hello from Tennessee!!
Congratulations to all those who graduated!
I am enjoying these weekly science live videos.
It made me want to do this myself!
I love Science love so much R-51 is so funny to 🙂
I thought that the part where Tobias was talking about WD-40 was really interesting
Watching from Arkansas!
I love science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a senior and I can’t wait to graduate and be free!! But also thanks for the cool lesson you teach to us every week
Science news at the beginning is always my favorite, so many interesting topics are picked all the time
R-51 is so silly :).
YAY! Science LIVE!
Science live always makes things fun and entertaining, especially when you’re stuck at home due to a mini blizzard
Hello from Louisiana
Wow!! I learn something new every live!! Can’t wait for the next one!! I love Acellus Academy !!
Dr.B is so inspiring!
Science is so fun !!!!
It was cool how he made the spoon relay to turn on the light.
Thank You for another great lesson!
Watching from Tennessee!
I like learning about outer space
Loved this one, can’t wait for the next!
I love Science Live!!!
Its’s so interesting to learn how everyday products like WD40 work and are created.
I can not wait to graduate so I can go to Acellus world to walk the stage!!! Ahhh 😀
I’ll have to tell my dad about all the uses for WD40.
I feel bad for R-51 but he did mess with “BIG-R’s” creation but I learned a LOT but my second pic would be when Mr. Tobias told us about how WD-40 was made thank you and good bye from Georgia.
I didn’t know that wd-40 was made for NASA!
I love doing school with Acellus😃
can’t wait for the next science live!
Science live was cool today. Thank you
I love the science live its so funny and informative.
r-51 will never not be iconic, hilarious as always!
WD-40 such a smart invention
Poor R-51!
( (My dad has wd-40.)😀
I love watching science live. I always learn new cool things .
i liked this live thank you and see you next time!
Good morning from Texas.
So if there’s no electricity the bell ringer won’t work?
Watching from Connecticut!
The spoons moved!
Using DNA for the data storage issue sounds like a promising solution!
What common failures occur in relays, and how can engineers prevent them?
DNA is genius for storing data! Hopefully it works as a solution for the issue of having too much data to store.
I love Scince live, So excited for next week!
I loved the DNA part, its so cooll. I love figuring out your DNA I’m 75% Cajun
Love this science live! Can’t wait for the next one!!
Will be looking up WD40 uses.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
I learned so much from this video and I can’t wait because I love watching these. I love learning about everything.
I enjoy science life , so always something to learn
I agree with laughing at yourself is very important.
Hi, I am Bilal. It was cool to watch Dr. Billings experiment.
How long did it take Joseph Henry to make the bell continue to ring? Did he have to try different materials of wire? In the experiment, foil is used – is that the best material to use?
There is so so much to learn from science Live. This edition also teaches life lesson of trying one more time or again and again just like Thomas Edison,
this was amazing I hope the Morse code activity comes soon…
I really enjoyed this weeks Science Live!
These are the best!
Sending love from Texas!!
Greetings from France
Radio waves are so cool
Facts behind WD-40 are really cool and I use it all the time for different things
I didn’t know something as simple as a bell ringing could have so much science behind it!
Watching from sunny South Florida where the weather is beautiful
I like learning with Dr. John. This is real Science.
I really appreciate all that I learn from science LIVE, keep up the good work!
science live is my favorite part of the day on wensdays
I’m watching from Tennessee, love watching the live broadcast
Science live is always my favorite part of the week!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE!! Can’t wait for more.
Acellus is an outstanding learning platform — its lessons are clear, engaging, and truly help students understand even the most challenging topics.
Thank you for the Science Live.
These lives never fail to impress me and they are very fun to watch. I learn so much from them and I’m looking forward to the next one. Lots of love from Texas .🤍
I always learn something new when I watch your show!
Science Live Rocks!!
the history of WD-40 was funny
How do you keep the data cassette tape working?
I liked the WD 40 talk. My favorite use for WD 40 is removing crayon marks from walls!
Everything is so interesting! I love it!❤️
I hope r-51 is okay.
This was a shocking lesson haha
I always thought that WD40 was only to make it easier to loosen screws. I didn’t know you could use it so many other ways.
Acellus world looks so fun! It’s an amazing opportunity to meet new friends especially for those who will be graduating. I really appreciated the cap decorating station it makes the graduation feel much more personal. Great science live, see you next week!
Viewing from MD. Yet another intriguing and entertaining episode! Looking forward to next week!
Watching from Mexico!! thank you for the live it was great!
Loved hearing how WD-40 was invented.
My jaw dropped when I saw the relay model with the spoons!!
If cassette players are out of date how can others have access to the data? Can they
provide the data collected in a different manner?
WD40 is an excellent example that if at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
How does the data on the cassette tapes have security measures? Without security can the data be stolen? What is the protection?
Hi Chloe from Virginia, I really enjoyed the WD40 session. Its amazing how it takes them 40 tries without giving up to get the formula just right and then out of not quitting they master the formula as well as a new product. My parents didnt even know the background on how WD40 was invented.
That’s a lot of storage in my DNA. I wish I had that much storage in my video game system.
I really like Science Live! Thank you Mr. Rogers. I love Area 51!
It was so cool to learn about all the different uses for WD40! They also never gave up and kept trying till it worked, Another Great Science Live!
This was a really good episode can’t wait to watch the next one!
It was an incredible experience! *Watching from Viet Nam*
i loved the point they made on the data perspective with the dna
What kind of tools do they use to get the DNA in the capsules?! They’re so small! Also 60 PETABYTES?! That’s 60,000,000 Gigabytes! That’s huge.
R51 really had me feeling like I was understanding everything… Until the last 10 seconds, when acellus casually dropped a science plot twist. (◔‿◔)
This was so interesting. Learning about transistors and relay switches is so cool. I love watching these.
Using a caset tape is a great idea! Would the steel hold up? watching from Morocco?
Science is such a great journey to be on and Acellus makes it so much more fun!
What skills should I focus on now so I’m ready for my future mission or goals?
Watching from Northern California!
watching now from Connecticut!
Does Tobias teach any classes?
Hi, my name is Ally and I’m watching from NJ
Thank you Dr B. I really enjoyed this episode, I really liked learning how WD 40 was made!
This is was interesting learning about transitors. I always enjoy watching.
Science Live is always so interesting. The jokes are always so funny.
I will now be asking for WD40 for Christmas, thanks!
its crazy how a small company soon becomes a multimillion dollar product it really shows that hard work pays off
Really interesting part about the use of WD-40. I had no idea that it had so many uses, and was used by NASA, also.
I really like how in every video they present everything so clearly for us students to watch. Great job!
Science is the best
I think the new conference center look really cool.
Amazing episode. Hello from South Africa!
I love science live 🙂
Amazing! Can’t wait for the next one! 🤩
Watching from Louisiana.I love Science Live
Watching From Alaska!
I am ready for next weeks live already!
This is one of my favorites so far! Poor r-15 though h3 got a little shocked
Hello,
Watching Science Live from Italy. I love how Dr. Billings used a foam ball to make the relay more visible and see the actual spoons touch and create the 110v actively run.
Thank you so much.
You are very inspiring🌏
I learned so much from these lives and I enjoy watching and learning new things!
checking in from the Netherlands.
Sending love from Vermont! Thank you for the opportunities you provide through this Science Live.
I love how they conducted electricity to the little light bulb.
R-51 is always getting into some form of situation! So curious
Hello Acellus Familiy,
Watching Science Live from Italy. I would love to one day watch Science Live in person in Missouri, Kansas and meet my teachers also.
I am always “shocked” at how much I learn in Acellus Live!
Very interesting what the James Webb telescope was able to find!
r51 got zapped
So cool ❤️🔥
I enjoyed this weeks science live, coming from California!
Watching from South Africa
R-51 is always making me laugh. In this episode, he gets a shock. Literally.
R-51 is definitely a conductor. Both kinds.
I always know R-51 will be funny.
breaking new R.51 this very evening was delivered to a rather SHOCKING experiance would you not agree.
watching the replay!❤️
It was interesting to learn about Marconi and his process of inventing. Relays are important to learn when it comes to inventing.
Learning about DNA was really interesting!
The coherer, which was invented by Edouard Branly in 1890, is a tube filled with tiny, sharp metal particles, which creates a very high-resistence that prevents electricity from flowing through. But when a radio-wave reaches the metal fillings, the sharp edges of the metal particles begin to attach to eacother like magnets, resulting the allowance of electricity flowing through the tube and being transmitted. Coherers that are currently used need to be struck by a detector to return to its high-resistence state from the low-resistence state, but the ones that were early invented would always return to the high-resistence state momentarily.
DNA is amazing. I have learnt with Mr.Levi Goes last week.
Hello from West Virginia. I enjoy the interesting subjects you always cover.
The WD40 part was very interesting!
It’s cool to learn about DNA.
Science live is the best! R-51 is so funny
I really learn a lot from watching Science Live
I look forward to theses every week!!
I love hearing about the James Webb space telescope, I’ve seen some photos it has taken over the years and it leaves me speechless every time.
Loved how a keystone inventor thinks and how that connects to real innovation