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 learning new things!(like A LOT!!!)
This is actually very interesting to me, as i want a career in computer engineering and tech! thank your Dr. Billings!
science is genuinely so interesting
I liked learning about the WD40.
How does electrical energy pass through the metal balls?
I had no idea WD-40 had so many uses!
How long did it take to make the formula for WD 40
I loved this Science live ❤️ 💜 💕 🔬
I am learning about DNA in my science class right now. I think it is very interesting!
That was an interesting video about relay/electrical functions.
DNA used as storage is very interesting. If we humans ever go extinct, our history and footage of us will be on those drives.
How long does it usually take for metal to rust?
I feel bad for R-51. He got shocked so badly.
Love the Science lives, watching while on holiday!!
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I really liked the part where they compared passing the baton to sharing knowledge — such a powerful reminder that learning is something we carry forward together!
I always thought that many of the problems we face today there is an answer inside of us, just like when they talked about the DNA.
Interesting how WD-40 was invented.
I liked the part about DNA being used as storage.
WD40 is super interesting. Thank you!
hello from Costa Rica!
I feel for R-51!!! He got shocked so badly. Also it was really important the WD-40 on how it failed and failed until you get it right.
I am happy to be watching Science live.
I love science live it helps me learn a lot thank you for doing science live every Wednesday. It really helps me out.
WD40 is super interesting. Thank you!
Thats so cool that with electricity you can make the bell ring!
I love it when during science live we have experiments, especially the ones that we have now on the topic of radio waves.
I love science live. I learned a lot from this. Thank you for doing science lives every Wednesday.
I always love these and can’t wait for the next one!
Hi from Claremore, Oklahoma
I really liked the part about WD40!
Learning more about DNA was interesting.
Never give up, keep trying!
I liked the spoons
My favorite part of Science Live is definitely Mr. Tobias’ segment.
this was so fun to watch!
Dear Dr Rogger Billings I really loved this weeks Science Live. I think that r-51 is really funny.
Learning about DNA and WD40 was awesome. This science live was interesting!
Definitely one of my favorite lectures I learned SOO much this week!
I love science Live
R51 is so funny!
i didn’t know that wd-40 could be used for all that
R 51 is funny 😆
I love science live!
It is so cool that we can detect things 210 light years away!
R-51 is so funny! I laughed when he got shocked too! My dad uses WD40!
Learning about the rocket ship and WD40 was really fun.
watching from Maine here!
I think it is so cool that the wd 40 is used for so many things. It really amazes me that people just figure these things out.
The WD40 segment was very interesting
I enjoy watching Science Live and learning interesting things!
I love R-1, you guys are so funny
Science is cool
Hi Im raven and my question is what is in the lighter that causes the circuit to work.
I thought that it was so interesting that WD-40 came from trying to keep moisture off of rockets. I had no idea that that was what it came from. This was a very interesting science live.
I really liked the circuit and want to build one.
Hi from Minnesota.
What stuff do you need to make a circuit like that?
Where did that light up cube behind R51 come from?
Hi I am in Las Vegas
I don’t think I could have imagined WD-40 having insane lore like that!
I think it’s really special you hold a commencement for your students, so they can experience graduation like any other student.
This science live was awesome. Can’t wait for next weeks.
I liked the part about WD-40, it was cool!
How does the spoon relay work?
The WD-40 part was interesting!
How expensive was it to make the WD 40 formula?
Haha r-51 was verry funny today.
Science live is great! super entertaning
It was really fun to learn how WD-40 was invented! My dad uses it for so many things so I can’t wait to tell him the story.
I didn’t know that was how WD-40 got its name nor that it took so many trial and error before they finally got it right. It was really intriguing to learn that we as humans can store data in our DNA.
Nice hair thing, r-51!
Tuning in from Texas!
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!
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