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 enjoyed this video.
Thank you for the Live. You’re knowledge is incredible!
So cool how tin foil balls can conduct electricity if there is a radio wave.
It was very cool to learn about WD40!
learning is so much fun with acellus!:)
Hello from Texas.
The two spoons and the coil create a relay. R-51 is shocked!
Great lesson! The Relay was super easy to follow.
r51 got shocked lol
If you were flying at a speeds over a thousand miles per hour to space, would the paint peel off?
When you make a mistake never give up always keep trying. I really like that.
I LOVE SCIENCE
Watching from texas -(*_*)-
Storing data as DNA is very interesting.
Dr. Billings were you ever in a movie? It looks like you were in a movie that I’ve watched.
Wow. A singular living human cell having around 3.2 gigabytes of data stored in it was rather interesting
DNA is really cool
When was Morse code first used, and when did it start becoming more frequently used?
I really liked the bells.
There is nothing more fulfilling than getting to absorb so much useful knowledge in just the span of an hour, watching science live is always so amazing!
Poor R51 he was shocked! I googled all the uses for WD-40 and the list goes on forever it seems. Truly amazing
I think its cool Joseph Henry invented the first electric bell in 1831.
This was one of my favorite science live EVER
My dad would be really interested in hearing about what I learned about WD40 today! can’t wait for the next episode!
this live was soo informative! thank you! cant wait for the next one!
I never realized w-d 40 had so many uses!
I enjoyed learning about how they created WD.40.
This episode is so cool
I have heard about DNA storage from somewhere but I forgot where but I’m pretty sure it was from Acellus. DNA storage sounds like a awesome idea though.
this is cool love R51!
i loved this video and storing DNA is so cool
It’s so amazing that we can store data on DNA!!! Technology is getting so advanced!
Amazing episode 🥰
I never knew that about WD40, i use it quite often so its cool to hear the history about it.
I think it is cool that the first electric bell used a loop of turning it off and on again to ring it.
Hi from Ohio
The story of WD-40 is extremely interesting and I want to learn more about it!
definitely buying WD-40 now.
I love Science Live!
I enjoyed learning about the WD40.
Acellus is so fun!
The conversation about the exoplanet in the beginning reminds me of exoplanet WASP-12B. WASP-12B is a planet that is also being ripped apart and absorbed by it’s star. It’s so distorted that it is shaped like an egg. The same things that apply to submersibles in the ocean apply to rockets and spaceships in space. If you don’t build them right, they will implode when put to the test. The experiment with the bell circuit reminds me of Ben Franklin.
Wow, this was amazing!
I really enjoyed this science live! I like that we learned about DNA.
I liked this live and learned so much that I did not know from it, but as always r-51 is my favorite part of the video
I thought the WD 40 was very interesting.
I like that Thomas Edison said he never did a day’s work, it was all fun.
It’s so amazing that we can now store data in DNA!!! Technology is getting insanely advanced!
My dad uses WD 40 all the time when he is working on the cars or trucks especially when the bolts are stuck.
I love R51
I loved learning more about science all the time. I loved learning about the DNA!
I did not know WD-40 has over 2,000 uses.
Science live is Great!
Loved this vid! I was one of the people that complained about the app but now its working great
I loved it!!!!!
I loved learning about transistors!
Wow, Mr. R51 is super funny 😁!
The relay invention is cool.
thank u so much for acellus i have learned so much it has helped a lot and I am in South Africa and today is Thursday.
Thank you for all the new knowledge!
The wd40 segment was awesome!! Thank you for another awesome live!
I wonder what mischief R51 would do next in the next episode😆
watching from Tenessee 🙂
Great video, I loved learning about relays and how they work, can’t wait for next week.
I liked the electricity segment.
Has Dr. Tobias ever invented anything with Dr. Billings related to hydrogen operated products?
This was a really cool Science Live!
imagine if they never kept trying on WD 40, how would we unstick glue from shoes. 😂
But wow. And only 1 person knows the full formula? What happens to that formula when that person is no longer around?
WD-40 is very useful.
I love science!
It’s always fun to learn with Acellus live!
Wednesday is my favorite day of the week!
In my opinion that was one of the best R-51 moments I have yet to experience, I feel bad that he was shocked but I have to admit it was quite funny, I loved the intro this time when he was just relaxing and drinking his wonderful beverage, I believe that is the calmest I have ever seen him.
Looking forward to every Wednesday!
R -51 is so funny and that he got shocked poor him.
The experiment was very interesting. R51 is very funny
I really like science live!
I am watching with my mom. I like Science live a lot.
The live was so entertaining
i really liked this science live this week!
Watching all the way from Peru!!
WD-40 works has so many uses, Enjoyed watching this Science Live today!!
this was such an informative episode as always!!! cant wait for next weeks!
I enjoy learning about all the things in this experiement!
What is a cassette tape?
I like to see your work with projects. It is cool.
Inventions have come a long way but is amazing how much data we carry in our DNA and lord willing we can find a patter of how we can store more data< I can only imagine if we had the full use of our brain since my Dad said we only use a portion of our brain
How does the spoon connect electricity.
We love you R-51
If only one person knows the whole formula list for WD-40, how is it being mass produce it?
I learned a lot from this live.science is so fun to learn poor r-51
I never knew that there were so many ways people use wd40 or how it got that name pretty cool
So cool about the WD 40 invention!
Talk about shock therapy!
R 51 is so funny
Another fascinating science live! It was quite informative especially the facts about WD-40!
I was excited to see that Acellus has a huge Conference Center for graduations, as I am graduating next year and hope to go to Kansas City next year for Acellus World during Memorial Day weekend. It will be fun to meet new people and some of my classmates.
Hello everyone! Here from WI.
here from florida
Me and my baby brother Michael are watching and he keeps pointing at Dr Roger Billings, I think he likes Dr Roger Billings .
Wednesday is my favorite day of the week because of science live
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!!
Comment
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.
Thank you so much for this lesson.
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!
Science is interesting
I love science Live
R51 is so funny!
He is!
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.
Hey Raven, Dr.B said it was the sparker in the lighter! When you make a spark you send off a radio wave! The LED was being used to sense for raido waves, and the spark sent it one the part cohered, (I hope I spelled that correctly!), and completed the circuit, making the LED go on!
Hope this helped!
-Coralynn, watching from Tennessee!
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?
Thank you for science live!
The WD-40 part was interesting!
How expensive was it to make the WD 40 formula?
Hi from Minnesota.
what would happen if the transistor just stopped working?
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!