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 got WD 40 in the garage! He uses it a lot!
My dad uses WD40 sometimes when he is working on a project to make things loosen.
This is a very informative and interesting episode.
We have only just started this program but already love the flexibility of the access. We have it on my son’s laptop and iPad a love that he can easily complete classes while on long rides.
Acellus is the best!
I love learning about how WD-40 was invented and how many uses it has. I also thought it was so cool that no one else knows how to make this product except the company.
I did not know that NASA uses WD40! So interesting!
I love this science live!!!
I thought the WD40 part was funny because my parents use it for many things. 2000 uses is a lot.
My mom said we had a tripped braker in the braker box. Is that a relay?
Im so excited for Christmas. are you guys
This was a good video today. I liked the part at the end about the spoons and relay.
THIS WAS A COOL VIDEO THIS WEEK
I learned something new today!
This show has taught me so many new things!
I liked the thing that Dr john said about the right molecules and the DNA
It was so cool!
Thank you so much for this amazing video
My goal in 2026 is to go to Acellus World and Graduation weekend with my family so I can meet my teachers and classmates.
How does fire produce radio waves?
I did not know that about WD40!
It’s pretty neat that NASA uses WD40
North Carolina here!
That’s super cool that they are doing a graduation in Kansas.
Science live is fun to watch.
It’s cool to learn something new from Science Live.
Hello from Nevada.
yayayayay science live so great to learn this stuff
I’ve heard of storing DNA, I just never knew exactly how it was done.
Wd40!
Done for the day. TIME FOR SOME SCIENCE LIVE!!!!
– Love Baylee Merry Christmas
I think storing data in DNA would be interesting. Under the right conditions, it could probably last for thousands of years without being worn down.
DNA helix have always facinated me so much, its crazy to think of something functioning that small.
What exactly is WD-40 composed of?
we use wd40 on squeaky doors.
It’s so awesome how much logic that we learned from relays that we can apply to other aspects of systems/functions.
the thing about wd40 was cool
my dad’s a plumber, and my grand father was a pipe fitter. Its hilarious to see so many uses to WD40. Who decided it was normal to use WD40 on the gum on there shou! lol
Using DNA for storage is very interesting and it is also a great idea.
That was interesting.
I love science live!! Thank you, Dr. Billings!
This is really cool! Thank you
I loved
Dr Johns part.
WOAH! I didn’t know that NASA uses WD40 that’s super cool?!?!
I knew Wd 40 was a water displacement formula, but I didn’t know it was formulated for NASA.
I am very grateful to learn brand new things!
Great science live !!!!!!
Very good lesson thank you
The electronic topics you teach are very interesting, especially when you show examples with everyday items.
i didnt know nasa uses WD40 its really cool thats they cant find anything better
So grateful to learn something new.
Grateful to be learning new things every wednesday !
very cool live I love learning all of these new things!
So grateful to be learning new things!
Electric bells are cool!
Wow! this is really interesting!
So crazy that nasa uses WD40
Woolly Mammoth DNA! What are the scientist going to do with that?
Super awesome live today!!!
I really didn’t know you could use WD40 for so many things!
I enjoyed this video a lot thank you!!!
The experiment with the lighter’s radiowaves and electricity was very interesting to see.
I’ve learned so much from science live
I lliked how dr John explained how we use human dna to make storage on a devic and when dr billings used electrical signals to make the spoons collide
im so grateful for this program!
Science live is cool.
Great to learn about electricity and circuits
So WD40 was originally used on rockets ?
I like what had to say about the relay.
I am so excited for acellus world!
Technology is so cool!!
very interesting !I love this school
Hello from Hampstead
I use WD-40 all the time; It’s kind of funny that NASA uses it too.
Hey Dr. Billings hope your doing well, I’m so exited to watch this episode.
This is so interesting. I always learn something new!
Would the liquid change the conduction.
I like space can that be the next episode about space
Thank you for the Science Live this week! I really enjoyed learning about DNA being used for storage.
Love how we are taking inspiration from God’s design to create these new storage inventions! It reminds much of how we took inspiration from the design of a whale to make the first submarine.
thanks for science live videos!
Love to watch these.
so glad im learning all this cool stuff
so cool that NASA uses WD40!
I’m grateful for this opportunity to learn new things
Science live is always fun!
I loved the part about WD40!!
The first thing I think of when it comes to the word relay is “race,” though I’m sure you’re talking about a component.
Outstanding episode Dr. Billings!
Comment* Nasa loves that WD-40. I wonder what else they use.
Wow this one was the most interesting so far!!
I love what Mr. Billings had to say about the topic for this week.
So interesting about the WD-40. I might need to use it on my Legos !
I am beyond thankful for the learning opportunities the Acellus team presents to us each week!
Only one more science live till christmas
Wow! I didn’t know all of this about WD40. This is amazing!
To Dr. Paget Monet:
is there a certain person that was not apart of your life, that you looked up to, and inspired you?
I love Science Live!
Storing data in DNA is great, especially if it’s important and needs to last a very long time, the only immediate downside I see is it can’t be read quickly.
I thought it was great that Marconi didn’t give up.
DNA storage is cool
That is so interesting about the relay!
How old do you have to be to graduate from Acellus?
Hello from VA!
grateful to be learning new things!
It’s pretty cool that DNA can last so long compared to other forms of storage.
Science live is awesome! The best part is learning something new!
R51 one always gives me a laugh
WD-40 is so universal!
love to watch every week!
I think it’s so wonderful that Acellus hosts commencement ceremonies to celebrate graduates!
I really enjoyed this live. Thank you for all you do for us!!!
Keep trying to come up with a solution even if it takes a lot of tries
I’ve used relays before is some of my electronics projects, pretty cool.
I liked watching Dr. Billings do the experiment. I liked his drawings and how explained it .
Can relays get tired if they keep turning things on and off all day?
That was so cool! Thank you Dr. Billings!
The WD40 is something so interesting to learn about, Thank you for sharing that information!
All the planets in our solar systems are named after Roman gods, but exoplanets are named with letters and numbers. How do scientists come up with these names?
Learning about advances in data technology was so interesting, I’d never imagined data would be stored on cassette tapes!
It’s so amazing how much DNA our cells store. Especially with how many cells we have in our bodies.
That was cool i loved learning new things
I learned all about radio waves.
My dad used WD 40 all the time. It was nice to learn a little about it.
Storing data in DNA is incredibly fascinating, and I hope to see further advancements/implementations of DNA storage in the near future!
That was so cool! I love Science live
The WD-40 story is very interesting!
I want some WD40. It sounds awesome.
Does the storage that dr john talked about use more energy since it’s more dense? What is the environmental impact?
I love Acellus and all the fun things I get to learn!
So grateful to be learning new things!
Have a merry Christmas !
IVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE
I’m truly thankful for Acellus and Science Live.
I love science live.
Thank you Dr. Billings!
Lady Pajet’s laugh is the best!
Thank you dr. Billings! 🙂 happy to learn new things
it’s cool you can use dna for data storage(:
So appreciative that I am able to be here!
Thanks so much for the effort put into this weeks episode and all the others.
Have a great week!
Hello from Colorado
Interesting fact about WD40!!
I love Science Live! its the best!!!
Just like Thomas Edison— Acellus is fun, it’s not doing work!
How does the electromagnet in an old electric bell cause the hammer to strike the bell repeatedly?
Thank you very much
Loved this episode!
I love watching science live! It is the best thing to watch!
I really enjoyed this science show. I learned a lot!!!
I thought the part about WD40 was so cool.
That’s funny that’s NASA uses WD40.
This lecture are always amazing.
Is it possible to find a new planet in the future?
I love watching these! I learned a lot about NASA that i didn’t know before!
I actually did know that about WD40, my grandpa is a mechanic and builder. He works with tools and has skills that he passes down to me when he can!
WD40 is honestly so impressive using radiowaves to conduct electricity.
Another amazing science live!
Happy new years!! From lousisana, love this weeks science live
Thank you Dr. Billings!
R51 used organic grounding😂
ya he did that is so funny
Wd40 is a staple in my grandparents house it’s used more than anything
I actually did know that about WD40, my grandpa is a mechanic and builder. He works with tools and has skills that he passes down to me when he can!
Acellus World look’s like fun!
it’s so crazy that nasa uses wd 40
I didn’t know that the NASA uses wd40 that so cool my dad always uses it for work.
Dehydrated dna is interesting
How old do you have to be to graduate from Acellus?
I think you just need to pass and finish all of your subjects
You have to be 16 years old.
I enjoyed everything about this video and how each subject was explained.
It’s astonishing how small inventions can become so vital even in projects that are a lot more complex.
To be honest only taking 40 tries to make WD40 is pretty impressive. You’d think it would take alot more trial and error.
This is amazing!
We use WD40 at home!
WD40 can be used for so many things
I liked seeing Acellus World and would love to go there someday! Also, I liked hearing about DNA being used for storage.
WD-40 has so many ways to use it. Im going to tell my mom all these ways
R 51 is hilarious😂😂😂
😂
Ive been really liking the episodes on radio waves. This lesson on relays was really good. I cant wait for the next science live.
So much fun learning about DNA thank you!
I never knew it to 40 try’s to make WD40!! I liked learning about the DNA facts as well. Dr. Billings is so smart. 😀
I never knew that about WD40!!!
That’s so cool to learn about WD40!
I liked hearing about how WD-40 was invented and proving to never give up!
This episode is great. Thanks, Acellus!
Science live episodes are so interesting!
whoa! I didn’t know that we found a way to store data in dna.
WD-40 is actually something that cool to use!!!
I will be trying wd 40 on lego!
I really liked to learn about WD40!
I love science live!!!
I told my dad I was learning about WD-40. He thought that was pretty cool.
Thank you very much for making these videos. I love Science Live!
This was great I did not know that it took 40 try’s to make WD40!
Thank you Dr Billings! I loved learning about the DNA and WD40!! 🙂
Are radio waves the same thing as WiFi?
The story about coating the NASA rockets was interesting.
It’s neat how those little balls make electricity.
watching from Ohio! theres so many things you can do with WD40!
its crazy how they came up with WD40!
Thank you for another week of education
Thank you for this video Mr. Billings!
Science live is so interesting!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe how small DNA is.
I never knew what WD-40 stood for, or how it was invented. That’s so interesting.
That’s so cool to learn about how WD-40 was created!
I love Acellus!
DNA for storage? Wow that’s certainly something. With that kind of storage I can collect memes ‘till my heart’s content.
I love the WD 40 story!!