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 »
Great video I will strive to not give up.
That was a cool fact about Wd40 and very neat how he actually got the light to turn on.
Thank you for this weeks video I really enjoyed it can’t wait for next weeks science live.
Wow I love the origin story for WD-40 ;]
That R51 video was so funny I am R51 s #1 fan not Pajet.
This relay demo is awesome!
There is always so much to learn in science, thank you
My dad always told me that WD40 and duct tape could fix just about anything.
The information about WD40 was interesting I told my dad as he uses it a lot.
So the 40 in WD40 is 40 tries.
Very interesting episode and loved learning about the WD40..
The cassette to storage info was impressive
How do you store data in DNA?
It was very cool learning about DNA!
I really enjoy how NASA used WD40.
The funniest part that happened was 51 getting shocked!
Woahh very funny Area 51 ahahaha
I love watching science live it is so fun learning new things
Learning about DNA was cool! Thank you.
I’m really glad we get such amazing livestreams every week!
I love acellus!
Great lecture! Dr. Billings is so bright!
Those inventions were fun to watch. I learned a lot to!
WOW! WD40 took a lot of tries!
How do they mass produce WD40 if only one person knows all the ingredients? It would be hard to keep it a secret.
Im so happy that i am able to watch science live every week, Thanks Dr. Billings for making my school possible!
How do they not get frustrated when it fails so many times?
How do you become an inventioneer?
Dr. Billings is smart
Poor R-51 !
WD40 is cool.
science live is the best!
R-51 IS A LEGEND. LEGENDS NEVER DIE
The James Web space telescope is so cool! It amazing how far we can see with the space telescopes!!
Great Podcast. Thank you Mr. Billings
Wd40 is used for a ton of things I’m glad it was created!
How much energy or force was required in order to make that bell ring for a little bit longer than a minute?
WD40 is such a useful household object, and seeing this informative Science Live only makes me have even more joy for it!
This was great I did not know that it took 40 try’s to make WD40!
Thank you Dr.Billings!
I love science experiments.
I LOVE R 51 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Science live is the best!
r 51 was shocked!
Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
Joshua: How students are struggling with the Acellus app but make progress
Dr. John: How you store data in drives, cassettes, and such.
Tobias: How people try to invent new things like WD-40.
Roger & Pajet: Inventing a Relay
Poor R-51 getting electrocuted..
When will the event be held for class of 26?
Dr billings is so smart I had no idea that it ended up taking 40 try’s to make WD40 !
Radios and different frequency devices are always interesting to me and i love learning about it!! Great live again Dr. B!!
Wow! I didn’t realize there were so many uses for WD-40. Good to know.
I find the story of WD40 so cool!
What was your inspiration behind the hydrogen car
Science live is my favorite
My mom told me helium is what makes balloons float, thats good we can find more.
Cool, Mr. Billings.
Thank you for this information Dr. Billings!
i love learning about dna, its so facinating. isint it crazy how everyones is somewhat different?
I liked the part about encoding DNA to literally hold storage and how it can last for thousands of years.
I love your term “organic grounding.” That made my mom and I laugh. We live on a farm, we have all been “organically grounded”.
The next time I see someone get shocked by an electric fence I am going to use that term and I will look so smart!
Thanks for that wisdom.
I love when Dr. Billings is on science live
I didn’t know I could learn so much about WD40 and all the tries it took to make it. Also the Area 51 bit at the end with the cardboard cut out made me laugh so hard!
I like learning how relay can help with circuits! That’s what I’m learning about in science right now.
I like how you can just tell you guys love what you do. You love science! We all should do what we love. Passion is so powerful.
We love Mr. Billings!!!
James web leeets goooooooo I think the James web discovered the bubble nebula
Thanks Mr. Billings!
So how do exactly do they implement the DNA to help with the storage stuff
Wd40 is such a prime example of why you do not give up. It took them 40 times to get it right and people use it every day all over the world.
Never stop believing in your ideas.
Thank you Mr. Billings!!
I always wondered what WD30 was used for.
Love science live.
This weeks live was so amazing!
I love watching science live!
interesting information on WD40. All I knew is it makes the squeaky things not squeak anymore HA.
is helium like a gas?
I LOVE ACELLUS <333
Can you guys do a science live in Boise I would love to attend one? If you do come out can you do it about engines I’d like to know how certain engines work? I would also like to see some models of different engines. I love Area 51
I never knew that they painted Rocket ships with WD20! That is so cool, I always thought it was normal paint or just regular metal.
Wow, so that’s how WD40 got its name. Interesting
Mr. Billings is so smart!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE! COOL!
Hello from New Jersey
it is cool that the coil makes the bell ring how does it work
The storing data in the DNA is a quite intelligent idea.
Can you tell me more about the DNA computer? That is crazy that they are putting the DNA info on cassettes tapes. Wow! Also, what is the name of the person that knows the formula to WD-40?
How big does the aluminum ball have to be?
Seeing the video from the graduation ceremony was so cool! I hope we can make it one year soon.
I really enjoyed the WD-40 story
watching from Montana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like how NASA used wd40
I love science live! even though I don’t watch it every day, but I like science
Does math have anything to do with electricity?
Science Live is Awesome! I earn something new very day!!!!!
The lesson was very informative. One of the lessons today was about DNA being used to store data like in phones and cameras. Another lesson was Dr. Tobias talking about never give up on your dreams even after you had a lot of failed attempts, eventually you will get it right.
Loved todays science live!
I hope R-51 is ok after getting shocked lol ;]
I love how on each Science Live I learn something new that always surprises me!
Learning about WD-40 was cool can’t wait to share it with people.
My dad uses WD40 on everything!
Is it true that your mentors mentor was Thomas Edison?!
Awesome my dad uses wd40 all the time at work!
Love science live.
WD40 is very useful !
WD40 has a crazy backstory and came a long way!
My favorite part of todays video was learning about WD40 that’s so cool!
Thank you Mr Billings!
Hello from MA
I love that this simple idea has become a building block for modern technology.
Dr. Bilings is so smart!
What gave you the idea to make the hydrogen car?
My dad uses WD-40 all the time for a lot of stuff. but I couldn’t think of 2,000 way’s to use it
Love learning about science with my siblings
Hello, I’m from Mesa, AZ. I really like this science live, it was really cool.
I didn’t know that Acellus had a place how fun!
R-51 needs to stay on here longer, he’s so funny. Also is he okay?
Dr. Joseph’s jokes always crack me up 😀
Loved the history of WD40.
So that’s why it’s called WD-40. So cool.
Thank you so much for this weeks Science Live!!! I really enjoyed it.
My dad has WD 40. That is so interesting about how they named it.
The invention with spoons playing jingle bells was amazing
I can’t wait to experience the graduation ceremony.
I will forever love Science Live!!!
The r 51 thing was funny.
I am from California!
I thank yall so much for y’all showing us how great science really is i enjoyed were yall used the aluminum balls to conduct electrical signals thank you guys for everything .
NOOOOOOOO. Don’t shock our poor R-51!!!!
The facts about DNA are very interesting. Cool to know where WD-40 came from!
I feel bad for R51.
Dr. Billings is the BEST!!!!!!!
A DNA cassette tape is cool
Wow I didn’t know WD40 could do that!
Now I want to know what is in WD40!
thank you for all the effort into this!
I would have never guessed that NASA used WD-40.
Thank you Dr. Billings!
So cool I can’t believe it took 40 try’s to make WD-40!
I love the science live videos so much!
how can I become a scientist
Love these!
HOLY MOLY!! this is so awesome WD40 is wild.
thanks acellus i have all B’s and A’s
another good episode, I love science live!
I love all the fun facts in this!
I love the science lives❤️
This live rocked!!
Very cool science live. Interesting to know the ins and outs of the coherer
I love watching these videos.
This was cool! We use Wd40 all the time!
That just goes to show that you shouldn’t give up too soon. Your next try might be the winner.
I loved the parts about DNA!
I had no idea WD-40 could be used for so much! I thought it was just displacing moisture and protecting metal from rust! Very cool!
I didn’t know international reachers were recently able to detect enormous cloudes of helium. That is some thing i didn’t know
The company attempted 40 different formulas before successfully creating WD-40 that kept water off steel. I like how the story emphasizes the importance of persistence and innovation in overcoming challenges.
Wonderful science live!
I didn’t know our DNA stored data. That is pretty cool.
WD40 sounds cool!
My first live lesson and I learned so much. Thank you.
I loved this science live so much
It’s crazy to know that the chemical invention of WD-40 started with only 3 people working for a huge company like NASA. And nowadays the product is still being used for 2000+ different things! A product with so many multiple uses truly proves how advanced our chemistry is and always was. Since we use the same secret formula till this day! 😁
I did not know they called it WD40 because it took 40 trys!
Thank you Mr. Billings, science live is always so interesting to watch!
Watching science live from Wisconsin!
R51 really is a conducter
Its always nice to come on here to watch science live
The WD-40 story was really interesting.
i love r51 he’s really funny
Rocket ships are cool.
I can’t wait to see next weeks live to hear about vacuum tubes
I never knew WD-40 had such a interesting history behind it.
science live is the best.
Dr. Billings is so smart.
I’ve always wondered what the 40 in WD40 meant, now i know.
Awesome Science Live! I really enjoyed the WD40 bit!
Thank you Mr. Billings!
The concept of WD40 is so cool!