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 love the videos they teach me so many things.
I Didn’t know that nasa uses WD40
I love science live!
I really like the things you do on science live. Like the invention to make the bells ring.
That was so cool learning about WD40
i enjoyed this video very much!!
I always learn something new on science live.
I would’ve never guessed that NASA uses WD40.
Enjoyed learning about new types of data storage.
Hello from Kentucky! I really enjoyed the episode!
I never knew wd40 was made for that and what other uses can you use it for?
Wd40 can be used for so many things!
How do you make your own website or school like this one and do you have to code the entire thing to work?
How does Dr. Billings decide what inventions he is going to teach about?
Hello from South Carolina
Hi from Kansas City, Mo. Merry Christmas.
I’m so grateful for Science Live!
I find it really fascinating how the radio wave can activate the bell and the light!
Has nasa ever sent a telescope far out into space?
Thank you for this science live i learned so much!
It’s insane that nasa uses wd40
Its pretty cool that nasa uses wd-40, and it’s interesting to know all the ways it can be used.
How did the shape of dna come to be?
I think electricity is very interesting !!
Pretty smart using another re-occurring signal for the bell.
Thank you Dr Billings for another great Science class
Funny r-51 I love watching science live, it is so interesting.
This video was very interesting. I always wondered how it was possible for them to keep water out rockets because there are lots of gaps between each piece of the rocket.
Wow WD40 is super fascinating! I love learning new things on Science Live!
Were there NO other rust removers before wd-40?
Did everybody noticed the robot at Acellus world?
Thank you Dr.Billings for this video!
I agree with Dr. Roger Bilings that R51 is a conductor.
Its amazing how much DNA can be put in that tiny capsule and saved for so long.
Watching from Texas.
man I wish I could go to acellus world
I like the DNA storage and how it can store so much memory even though it’s so small.
Thanks for making the Science LIVE sessions so interesting!
When I eventually graduate I live in Newnan, GA and most likely not be able to make it to Kansas City MO so could it be possible for y’all to send the diploma to my house?? Lovely Science Live!
its so crazy that nasa uses wd40
I love learning about WD40!!!
It is crazy that you can store data in DNA!
The story of when they created the first electric bell is very interesting!
how many uses does wd40 have
The accellus opportunities are amazing!
Wow! I didn’t know that steel turns rust because of water and oxygen.
codinng is so coo i will be a millatary coder.
hello from nc
I love science live! It is so cool!😎😎😎😎😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😊😊😊😊😊😁😁😁😁
It is very good i love the experience and the experiment.
This is so cool! My parents and grandparents have WD 40.
love the lives !!!!!
I’m very thankful I got put into this school and I look forward to science live
I would like to be there to witness those events in person
so grateful to learn about new things
That is pretty cool we can use DNA for storage, along with how WD40 was made. Also, we all knew R51 would use organic grounding.🤣
hello from minnesota!
I’m so glad to be learning new things can’t wait to learn so much more
I love watching the science lives they are amazing and fun to watch. What do you guys think about when making these?
Hello from Georgia!
Thanks Dr. B for the cool information!
NASA uses WD40? haHahaa
We use WD-40 at my house lots and it is neat to find out that it got its name because of how many tries it took to make it for NASA.
what a interesting story, I never knew that it took them 40 test to make WD-40!
Always enjoy watching Science Live!
these videos always explain well.
wd40 in a world leading space organization is kinda crazy!
What is the biggest plane on earth?
How can helium even be in space i thought that was not possible?
I think it’s funny that they had to try 40 times for it to work.
I love watching the science live!
We use wd40 on doors haha. Thank you for this episode. I really liked it.
Hey from Tennessee! Science Live is the best!
I love watching science live
best one yet
I love science live! I learn something new and interesting everytime!!
Here from kentuckyy!
I love these videos they are always so informative
Wow! What an interesting Science Live, I did not know about WD40 being used in that way. My Mom uses it for our doors when they get stuck in the winter or squeak.
Love your videos
What I learned is that DNA is shaped and formed like a double helix and there sides have to match.
Im surprised to find out WD-40 came from rocket scientists from nasa!
i loved stem 3
I like Acellus because it has interesting scientific facts. : )
I really like this video thanks,
I liked the part about WD-40. My dad used it to fix my door recently because it was squeaking so much.
So cool and interesting to learn about science like this. Never knew NASA used WD40!!
So bummed I missed seeing this lesson live!!
My step grandfather worked at NASA. He is 100 years old.
its amazing how smart people are to invent something that changes the world.
Hi there guys nice to see you again I love science live
hi I am so excited about science 😁🙃
Love learning from theses videos
I’m from Louisanna
Hello from North Carolina
Hey from Georgia
thank you for these lives!
Thank you Dr.Billings
The story behind WD-40 is so interesting! it’s so amazing and inspiring. I do wonder though, if those three guys didn’t have the courage to try one more time, what would our world be like today? As said in the video, the have far over 100 ways to us it, but if WD-40 hadn’t existed, how would that effect how we do things today?
How many tries did it take you to make the hydrogen car?
the relay you cut up looks like one that my dad just took out of our car. He took it apart he said it was for the lights lo and high
We use WD40 all the time around my house! Thank you for this informative episode!
Loved the video! I’m so thankful to be able to watch these every week!
So happy too learn new things thanks dr billings
I love learning from Science live seminars!
Another great Science Live. It was really neat understanding how the circuits worked.
i love this fun way to learn ❤️
Best part of my day!
Thank you guys for inspiring me
have scienticsts figured out how many particles are in earths atmosphere?
i really liked the part with the two spoons. itd be fun to try
This was cool
Hey from south ga!!!
This was a super cool episode! Science live is so much fun!
I love learning new things.
Thanks for another great video! Can’t wait for the next one!
love learning new things with Acellus
Acellus is amazing!
So grateful to learn new things!
So glad to be learning new things everyday.
Hello from Texas!
I’m a little late but making mistakes is okay,it shows you what you did wrong so then when you do it again, you can fix what went wrong the first time.
what was DW-40 originally designed to do, and why is it used so many different purposes today
I really like watching these videos. They make science cool.
wd40 is super cool how can they use it nasa
The dna storage sounds like a neat idea
What are we learning today?!
good video to learn from
r51 is so funny he makes my day!!!
i love science live dr paget is so nice too
That was very interesting and entertaining!
Hi from Massachusetts!
Hi, from Texas
At least no Alien’s came to distract from the great science going on.
hi from georgiaaaa
R-51 says “Just enjoying life” [sips coffee] that got me lol!!!
Does all metal rust or only steel?
hey from georgia
I love learning new things!!!!
I enjoy Acellus because of its flexability and how it lets you repeat steps in classes until you understand it
where does the atlas capsule go to after you are done making does it go into a machine what do you do with it and I love to learn new things
thank you doctor billings!
We have WD40 at our house too!
Storing data in DNA is such a Cool idea!
Is DNA more like a code but different? The way the base pairs come together in the DNA, it feels like a type of code or match.
im very intrested in science live does anyone not like science live its just to awsome to not like i will share somthing i have a electric fence in my back yard because well way behind me is the farmers house and cows come all the way down i got shocked about 3 times IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD! im sorry r-51 i know it does not feel good.
I love Science Live and I love hearing about new classes you guys keep coming out with!
It’s so cool to be learning about WD40 !!
So grateful I can see these videos every Wednesday!!
Does Acellus use the drives? I don’t know what I would do with that much space!
i loved watching the technology live
I love watching science live! It is the best thing to watch!
I really enjoy watching science live on Wednesday’s
The DNA part was so interesting!
Great video this week! Looking forward to next weeks!
Love these, hope to see even more !
Putting dehydrated DNA in a capsule to store is crazy and so cool!
I wonder how the electricity work in massive radio waves?
love acellus
YOOO that is so cool like they use that for rockets
I learn so much from these videos. Thank you.
love accellus!!!
NASA is a very intelligent company!
It actually makes me curious on how only one person knows the contents of WD-40.
I love learning amazing new things
The data in DNA was cool to learn about.
What’s in store for today.
Always enjoy science live! Thank you Dr. Billings☺️☺️
What would happen if the screws rusted?
Thanks Dr. Billings!!!! You rock!!!!
I didn’t know NASA used WD40!
its awsome to learn something new each wensday
i thank yall should go to city to ctiy with this it will be good for the kids
i love watching these. i learn new things
WD-40 sure is a handy invention!