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 »
My dad used WD-40 to stop our doors from squeaking. Interesting that it was made for rockets.
It was so fantastic to learn about how wd40 was created. My dad has a couple of them in his garage and uses it for everything! Who would have guessed that it all started with Nasa’s rocket!
Storing through using DNA is insane, and exciting!
I feel bad poor R51
WD40 is so useful my dad uses it all the time.
This helped me understand how a relay uses electromagnetism to turn circuits on and off.
I didn’t know something so small was so important.
I actually spat my drink out when R51 got shocked lol
I really liked this science live!!
The WD40 was crazy! I love these science lives!
Dr. Billings wow!
WD-40 has a lot of different uses. We use it all the time!
Will there be a Morse code class?
Thank you Dr. Billings!
I should get some DNA storage for my phone LOL
I loved this Science Live and the story about WD 40!
40 different formulas is crazy!
Im an electrician and i have never heard the term or joke ” high impedance air gap ” that’s hilarious Dr Joseph !
Science live is so interesting!
I love science live it so cool and so much fun!!!
R-51 is for sure a conductor!
I love the story about wd-40 and R-51!
What is the technology class called that Dr. John teaches that was mentioned in this video?
WD40 is the best. We always have that around. Use for bike chain.
I think it’s fascinating how much data our DNA can hold.
The Relay switch that doesn’t require much force to send electricity is cool.
It’s always so fun learning about the history of stuff you use on the daily. Thank you for teaching us!
He got shocked!!
Great live! I enjoyed this one!
DNA stores data. That’s really cool!
I had seen the coil of wires but did not know that it made an electromagnetic field.
I’m learning a lot about science.
I didn’t know you could use WD-40 for so many different things
Love science live it’s always fun to watch
listening to science with Tobias is one of my favorite parts ( is my favorite part)
Id love to go meet with the other students. wow i did not know wd40 have sush a cool story! We love r51!
I really like watching all the experiments. It’s so neat to see how we can make things happen with different objects.
Hello from Texas. Science live is so cool.
i love learning with acellus
I liked learning about the inventions.
I never knew there were so many uses for WD-40
Excited to graduate in 2026!
It’s great WD 40! I love science live I learn a lot.
I never would have guessed that history on WD-40! Love learning something new every live!
I really enjoyed how Dr. John explained hpw DNA could be used to store data!
Dr. Billing is so fun to watch and makes this very entertaining !!!!
Wow I can’t believe that such a everyday object has such a crazy story behind it!
Hi, I am a little late posting, had a bad cold this past week. Thank you Mr. Billings for your advice and mentorship! It means a lot!
I hope everyone has a great winter coming from Georgia!
Could they have used resin to coat the rocket or would that be too messy and thick? (I ship R 51 and Pajet)
This was super cool! Thanks!
I love that wd40 can fix more than a squeaky door.
WD-40 Has a ton of uses.
that was so cool dr. billings is so cool.
So cool Mr. Billings! Thank you for helping me learn more!
💯👍🙂❤️👏😄
Watching from South Carolina
WD-40 is so cool!
One big commencement sounds amazing!
My brother is sophomore at university of miami and studying computer engineering. He says he likes the electrical part of it. Maybe he will build the processor chips.
I love Mr. Billings!
My mom and I really enjoy learning about space and our solar system. NASA has great information on when ,where, and how to see comets, meteor showers and other planets
It’s incredible that they haven’t changed the WD-40 formula at all since it’s first successful formula.
This was so fun to watch! The WD-40 thing blew my mind!
I never knew how they made WD 40 that’s pretty cool, along with the DNA. And tell R 51 to get better and no more taking other peoples inventions as his own anymore.
2,000 certified ways? THAT IS CRAZY! #nevergiveup
Watching from Acworth, GA! Christmas is almost here
Thank you Dr. Billings! I now know a lot more about the WD-40 🤍
This mouse came up to me and asked, “Can I bowrrow some WD-40?”
I asked, “Why?”
He replied, “Because I keep squeaking.”
My dad works on and uses WD40 all of the time.
I love science live😎❤️❤️😎😎😎😎😎😎😎❤️❤️😎
The WD40 story was really interesting!
I liked that fun fact about it taking 40 tries to make WD40. Beyond impressive.
Coming from public school, I just want to say THANK YOU. From Dr. Billings and Pajet, to all of the amazing teachers. You all break every concept down, so it clicks in our think tanks,I’ve learned how all the things actually work and make sense, so much better ( and I’ve retained it) in my year and a half here, than 10 years in PS.
I had no prior knowledge on WD40, very cool to learn about!
My dad has told me the wd40 story so many times. I think it is his favorite
the history of WD-40 was very interesting.
I had no clue! Interesting to know that’s where the name WD40 came from!
I LOVE ACELLUS SO MUCH 😍😍😍😍😍😍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Comment I have a few years before graduation. Every time I see others getting ready to graduate in Kansas City the excitement is just overwhelming. One day I will be walking across that stage thinking “I did It”.
This is always so amazing to watch…I love it !!!
I like watching about the different uses of WD40.
Enjoyed all the information packed into this video!
I think the DNA stuff is really cool, we should do more of that.
I didn’t know that about the name of WD-40! And I like the mystery of no one except one person knowing the recipe; kind of like the legend that only two people on earth know the recipe of Coca Cola and they can’t travel on the same flight, so that if the plane crashes there is still one person.
It would be cool to see the inside of a radio station and how it works on a larger scale.
Does anyone read the comments if you are unable to watch and submit comments live?
Good video 👍💯
I really want to attend acellus world in 2026, my family has started to look into lodging and arrange work dates. Looking forward to meeting teachers in person.
I love science live!!!!!!
Another fascinating science live! It was quite informative especially the facts about WD-40!
It’s crazy to think how quickly data storage has grown over the years.
I think R-51 is funny!
Watching form North Carolina!!
I really enjoyed watching the process for creating a relay. Is there something else we can use in place of the silicone?
I loved learning more about coeherers and learning the history of WD-40. I had no idea that NASA pretty much inspired the invention of it by the Rocket Chemical Co. In addition, thank you Dr. Billings for explaining and experimenting Relays for us!
Persistence pays! Keep on keeping one. Thanks for another wonderful episode if Science Live!!
That is such a cool story for the WD40, keep going Tobais!
Great Show!
What kind of materials are used to made industrial relays?
Mr. Billings is awesome!
Roger Billings if you see this I said hi.
Thank you for this information!
It’s so cool how the relay of electrons work!
WD40 is a great invention!
WD40 is so useful. My dad uses it all the time.
R-51 is so funny! Haha!
NASA using WD40 is cool
This was a really interesting science live!
Thankful for WD40!!!
I love snap circuits
I love science 🤍💙❤️
i love acellus.
LOVE THIS!!!!!
THANKS DR. BILLINGS
Learning with Acellus is so fun!
My granddad uses WD40 on his farm. Interesting video
This was the first week I watched Science Live since my break. I enjoyed watching it so much!
Looks like R-51 didn’t watch Science Live
This is so cool! Im so glad we get these!
I love science LIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Dr. Roger Billings for teaching us about radio waves.
hey im watching the science live from nova scotia canada
thank you acellus!
these are so motivational and cool 😆👍, I wish DRB could mentor me haha
It’s crazy how science is like magic
I really like Acellus. Thank you
Thank you Dr Roger billings!
The DNA part was 😎 cool.
i think it’s cool how the lighter made the bell ring
Wow, I didn’t know students had to go to Kansas City to get their diploma :0
Thank you acellus
I like the story and explanation of how WD40 was made and how it took 40 try’s to make WD40.
R51 is just peacefully drinking his coffee. 😂
Wait…. if the original thing you tried modeling has high voltage (110 volts) and r51 got shocked trying to “experiment” with it, then you’re right to say he’s a conductor, I guess. Also, about WD-40, I now know why it’s called that. I learned that WD-40 stands for Water Displacement Experiment 40, because it took 40 attempts for it to become a dream come true!
We loved watching the spoon experiment. It was really neat to see how it works and then with the added light on the end was pretty neat.
learning about circuits is surprisingly interesting!
Learned something new again tonight. The WD40 conversation was pretty interesting. Didn’t realize how complicating the formula was to make it.
We love you Roger billings!!
Hi Dr. Roger Billings and Pajet!
Joining from Georgia, love R-51 so funny.
WD 40 is so cool! I love science live!
Thank you for teaching me about the history of WD40. It’s crazy it took 40 tries.
R-51 always having a cardboard cut out of Pajet Monet is just so precious!🤣 he really needs more screen time in these lives.❤️
I love science live!
love from Vietnam
r51 is very funny and he makes every Science Live better
what are the supplies for the spoon relay and the pyramid light?
Thank you Dr. B for everything you do for us!
Failure is a good teacher.
I hope I get a chance to meet Dr. Monet in person some day. She is someone I look up to. I really enjoy the courses she teaches.
40 tries to get the wd40 formulation – that’s dedication!
we love science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love science live so much
The DNA storage is interesting.
My dad use WD40 to prevent the door from squeaking. Now I know how the WD40 came about. Cool!
It was funny how R51 said that the battery was a hair thingy.
My dad worked on vacuum tubes for radio stations many years ago.
I have a new appreciation for WD40
My mom taught me this. Her dad is a mechanic ! This is so cool.
I love Acellus
I like to hear about the campus and the kids graduating.
I never knew that WD-40 took 40 tries to make, that’s insane!
I was impressed by the persistence of the scientists who developed WD-40.
It really is amazing how scientists do not stop trying if they know that it is possible. very inspiring.
Dr. Roger Billings always has something interesting to say.
Science live is the best!
Always super cool topics! Acellus never fails to impress everybody.
Learning about another way to store information by using DNA is very interesting to me.
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE
I love watching these videos! They’re so cool!!
Love to learn new things. Thank you.
watching from Louisiana, this was cool
I appreciate this opportunity to learn with you science is my favorite subject.
I like to study Science, this program is so great!
I really loved Dr. John’s explanation on DNA. I love the way he explained the purpose of DNA replication by demonstrating the basic process and how it is useful for cell division.
OH MY GOSH! Acellus world sound like a blast! I wish I could go but unfortunately, I’m not in Kansas.
I learned that you need radio waves over a long distance and be able to pick it up.
R-51 is an interesting person
It’s amazing how many uses WD-40 has that the average person doesn’t even know about!
I didn’t know any of that about WD-40! How cool.
I need to try the WD40 on the shovel for the snow and also thank you for explaining relays.
I liked learning how a relay works