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 »
This was such a cool lesson! Thank you!
Watching from Nevada
this is so fun
Dr Billings
Wow I never knew that about WD-40 ,that’s so cool!!!
I can’t imagine how excited those scientists must have been when they finally found the right formula after 40 tries!
This was very inspiring information. It reminded me to never give up no matter how manys times it takes.
Roger Billings is so amazing 👏
I liked how R51 got himself electrocuted by Mr Billing’s device
WOW, I’ll be trying to use WD-40 to get gum off my shoe. Thank you so much!
My dad uses wd-40 a lot and I don’t think he knew it took 40 tries to make.
WD40 is super useful I use it at home all the time, I didn’t know that it had so many uses though.
Thank you Mr billings!
My dad uses wd-40 all the time I don’t think He even knows it took 40 tries to get it.
Being able to store data in DNA would be pretty cool.
Wow for it to take 40 try’s is huge determination!
Merry Christmas R51!
mind blown 🤯🤯i
I liked the story about WD-40, never give up!
i have been able to use wd40 for getting things out of dolls hair too!
I feel sorry for R-51 that he got electricified
That is so cool how WD40 took 40 tries to be perfected! especially how it was originally supposed to be used for the rockets at NASA!
Dr. Billings is cool
I literally love Science Live so much. Dr. Billings is so funny!
Great live show really enjoyed it!!
Greetings from East Texas!!
is there a specific type of DNA needed to make that device?
Congradulations to the graduates!!
I love Science Live! Thank you Mr. Billings! 😀
A wise man once said “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”
I think the graduations at Acellus look fun.
It was cool to learn about WD-40.
It is pretty cool wd-40 was made for NASA. Thanks for teaching us about relays
I love WD40 it is a life saver 100% my great grandmother use to say “my joints need some WD40” lol
Watching from California:) always awesome watching your science videos
Thank you DrB!
Watching from Spain. Thank you!
Roger billings is so smart! I love these science lives
Wow this is super entertaining and helping me learn about science .
Using DNA for storage would be interesting
Dr billings is smart and cool and funny
Hey guys, I hope you all are having a wonderful day and week. I love science live so much its so cool to learn new things. Thank you guys for these science lives. May God bless and keep you! Love you guys!
Wow WD-40 is cool!
I love the Atlas rockets and learned so much about WD-40 and relays.
R51 is very funny.
Cool Science Live, it’s always nice to have a physical demonstration of the topic during these.
I never knew that it took 40 tries to make wd-40. thats a lot more than i thought
Acellus is the best homeschooling app ever i love it so much i love the class and the teachers to it is literally the best
The invention of WD-40 was very interesting. Thank you for the video.
Thanks for the episode mr. Billings!
Another amazing episode! I loved learning about WD40 and how it took 40 tries to figure it out. Those were some pretty persistent inventors.
I love science live
I wonder what mischief R51 would do next in the next episode
I love watching Science Live, this is one of the best times of the week. Thank you!
Thanks for teaching us about relay!
Love science live!!! my favorite part is R-51 he is so funny.
This was really eye-opening. Esp with something we’ve all seen an adult use -my Dad loves WD-40 lol. It’s so functional for so many things – but the fact that a big product can take so many tries to perfect, etc makes sense. Crazy it took 40 tries. Nasa component was cool as well. Makes me think about creating something in the future, getting it patented.. but would probably need to fundraise I assume to get off the ground? Thanks Dr. Billings
The WD40 section made me think of that one scene from King of the Hill where Hank opens the big can of WD40 with a smaller can of WD40!!
R 51 needs to wear insulating gloves if he wants to touch those spoons!
Hello from cold and windy iowa!!!
I love r-51!
Hi from Florida. R 51 is so funny!
I love r-51’s funny stuff that he does!
Thanks for another great science live. I loved learning about WD40.
R51 is hilarious
My mom uses WD-40 all the time!
Thank you Mr. Billings your the goat
wow, 2,000 uses for WD40, never would have guessed!
My Dad is using WD-40 all the time!
Watching from costa rica
I like watching all the experiments.
Watching from Nevada.
WOW SO COOL!
Tobias’s lesson was really interesting!
Wow! I can’t wait for the graduation! That will be fun to watch!
Hello from Georgia! Science Live is so awesome! It is so amazing how with just a tiny spark from radio waves, it can do so much! By the way, R51 is quite the character! Thank you for teaching me so much! Dr Billings is incredible!
Science live is our favorite!!!
WD40 is very interesting for the ways you use it.
Watching from Georgia! I love r-51, he’s so funny! Next time he needs to be more careful to not shock himself!
This science live was awesome I loved it R-51 is so funny I’m from ohio.
Hello from Georgia! Science Live is so awesome! It is amazing how just a tiny spark from radio waves can do so much work! By the way, R51 is quite the character and he brings so much joy and laughter to the show. Thank you! Dr Billings, you are incredible!
Thanks for another awesome episode! That was neat about the WD40!! Happy Holidays!
I love R51!
Science is really amazing!
This was really cool! Thank you!
Great as always. Y’all make me love Science.
Wow I didn’t know you could use wd-40 for that much things!!
i just thought of wd-40 as the magic spray, now its even more magical lol, nice science live!
My parents do not believe WD40 will take bugs off your windshield, we are going to try it.
Acellus is such a great program thank you for making it
I loved finding out about the company that made WD-40.
Watching from Arlington Washinton 🙂
I LOVE Science Live!
I love the weekly videos, I learn something new every week!
Thank you!!😁
Thank you Mr. Billings! so Cool!
Hi from Montana, that was a great episode. I think r 51 needs to learn more about “his” inventions before he touches them. Can’t wait for next weeks episode.
WD-40 and Tape is the solution to everything lol
Loving Acellus! Enjoyed learning about WD-40 and how the bell worked for Morse code. Very interesting stuff. Thank you!
Science Live is super cool, funny, and is a fun way to learn science facts that normal classes don’t teach you.
Thank you Dr. Billings!
Hello from Massachusetts! I’m Shayla, and sorry I’m late! Magnets are extremely interesting, even today. I like it because it’s kind of linked to space and the atmosphere. Dr. Roger Billings, Lady Pajet Monet, and R51, you three are absolutely adorable, and I can’t wait for the next science live. Really want a morse code class. Excited to see if I can go to the graduation event! Hope you are all having a great day, be careful of R51! 🙂 Question; why not just connect the device to our brain, infinite space! Thank you for Acellus.
The things I liked about the video is the bell because it had magnetic energy to ring the bell. I also liked the funny parts of the video and I also liked the spoon part because it also had magnetic energy.
It’s so cool how WD40 can be used for so many things!
I really liked this episode of science live! Learning about the DNA and WD-40 was really cool. And what Dr. Billings taught was fun to learn. It was all really good this episode.
I LOVE THIS LIVE
WD40 is amazing and the dna facts were super interesting!
My mom uses wd40 when she works on my dirt bike and cant get a screw off. She says it helps
r-51 is so funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the class! I enjoyed Tobias segment .
I think WD40 is great, I love how these inventions led to one another.
I never knew the 40 in WD-40 meant it took 40 tries that’s very interesting I would’ve never knew that if it wasn’t for science live.
I hope R-51 is okay.
i love science live and the guy that always says {-“great to have you all with us”.}
The way electronics work is so unreal! I love how science can explain the logic behind everything.
We are going to NASA soon for a field trip I am excited to go and see NASA. I know something now about it from you. the WD40. Also my daddy is a electrician.
I really enjoy Science Live and learn so much each week! So interesting that radio waves can be sent through the air in Morse code by using a relay to switch the transmitter on and off!
Science Live is so nice I love how it feels like i’m right there next to you guys and I can just tell that you guys are good friends.
Awesome science as always!
I really like hearing about how DNA works. That’s so cool.
Wow this episode was awesome. Learning about the DNA and WD-40 was so crazy. i would have never expected that from WD-40!!!
I enjoy your class very much!
I had no idea that WD-40 was used for NASA!
My dad uses WD40 for things that need it and it helps when doors are messing up or squeaking
Thank you Mr. Billings
I thought that the silicone with the spoon relay was milk…😅😅😅
That was an amazing story about the WD-40 and how it took them 40 tries. That definitely inspires me to never give up.
I think its cool how WD 40 is cool and how NASA used it!
This was the best science live!
Your so brillant Dr. Billings, thanks for the class!
I love Science live
I liked hearing the DNA facts, it was really interesting!
WD40 is a smart name, given it took 40 try’s to make.
Dr. Roger Billings, I have tried to invent something for a while but it always seems to already exist, invented by someone else. How do I come up with something I can invent to fix a problem?
Dr. Billings great show today!
WD-40 can be used for lots of things, wow.
I use the WD-40 on my bike!
Thank you for the live! Very cool to learn about WD40
Hello Dr. Billings, Cj from GA here.
It’s amazing that a single cell holds 3.2 GB of data! It was also interesting to learn how WD-40 was made and its initial purpose.
I can not wait for my graduation! The activities look so fun. And i did not know that about WD40.
WD40’s story is crazy!
Love from Chicago!
Crazy it took 40 try’s to make WD40 that’s a cool fact to know
My dad uses Wd40 all the time around the house and in the garage!
The coil mechanism and bell mechanism is pretty interesting! And the WD40 creation was amazing, taking 40 tries shows their dedication!
I was always interested in circuits and electronics and stuff like that. This was an interesting Science Live
Very cool episode!
This video was great, i never knew it took 40 or more tries to make this video.
Dr. Bilings is so smart
I loved this science live!
very interesting video on wd40! thank you for sharing Mr.Billings!
We missed Acellus World this year but we really want to make it next year.
40 tries for WD-40? That’s insane!
I its so cool the way he just touches it and it turns on.
I loved learning so many cool facts about DNA!
Thank you Dr. Billings!!
Super cool!!!
I’ll never look at WD40 the same again
I wonder how much storage we can achieve in the future.
Watching from South East Georgia. Learning about WD 40 was so interesting!
I love science live!!
Loved this episode!
If you are recieving a message in Morse code, how do you tell where one letter ends and the next one begins?
Awesome show!
How much data can the human body store in total.
I never thought a relay could help understand electricity so well. 😲
It was cool to here about the dna!! Loved this live.
Really good! I love R51!
Wow I didn’t know it took 40 tries to make WD40 now I know where it gets the name from.
Acellus is amazing!
I love learning from science live.
That is crazy how many uses WD-40 has
Science live is so fun and educational.
How does electricity/radio waves move through the relay to make the light and buzzer go off?
It was funny when R51 got shocked by the 2 spoons!
Thank you, Mr. Billings.