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 did not know that WD-40 could be used to unstick Lego bricks. I need to go by some to unstick the bricks in my dioramas.
I may have to get wd 40 to get my Legos unstuck.
Hi from Indiana!
what are those wires to the left?
hi
hello from illinois
hello everyone!
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!
Hello from TN great show!
How do transistors work?
Hello from TX
Hey from Kansas! I love watching these lives!!!
What was mors code used for when it was first inveted?
Can you teach us more about coheroror
How does a transistor work?
HI!! Im from Indiana
Hello!
Hello! From Texas!!
Watching from Nc!!
I will try 300×300 times before I give up or give down or give in, so I will not fail.
Was not aware of the WD-40 invention! Wow mind blown. I love science
legos and wd-40! awesome trick
I use WD-40 for practically everything. It’s an amazing product!
I love science live.
Greetings from North Carolina. I find it amazing how secretive the formula for WD 40 is. I didn’t know it originally developed for NASA, how cool is that?? Great presentations as always.
That is really cool the morse code thing without wires is super helpful and very very smart! How does that happen? I know you had just said that is was through nothing but how can you send morse code from one place to another without wires?
This is so cool!
Can radio waves go through solid objects?
Morse code is neat, a whole alphabet on just sounds!!
hello everyone
There are so many things I never knew
A little late but i made it for my favorite show!!!
Hi from Maryland! This is so fascinating!
Love the outfit Paja [did i spell your name Wong, sorry]😅
Watching from kentucky here
Does Dr roger billings, have any plans for incorporating hydrogen into larger machinery like cranes.
It’s good to know wd40 can help take legos apart!
Hi!
Watching. Very interesting!
I like the DNA transfer part, love Science Live…..oh and from New Jersey.
Hello from Tennessee best show ever!
Can it transmit throught different different materials?
over a thousand uses and one of them being getting gum off your shoes is so funny!
Acellus is fun!
HIIIII YALL
hey guys its nice to be back im really enjoying the live so far
i love science live
That’s cool that WD-40 can do things from peeling labels to taking legos apart.
Finally back on science live!
Wow! its actually amazing how people think of stuff like this! I would’ve never thought of this
my dad loves WD-40 !
This is my first time live; I just got back from MMA sparring and Ju Jit Su!
WdD-40 works good !!
hi from texas
This episode of Science Live was amazing.
are there more products that nasa has made that we use everyday?
Was interesting to hear about wd40 and how it was invented. I have many memories of being on the farm with my great-grandfather and he would always have cans of wd-40 in his farm trucks and at the shop, they used wd-40 for everything
i love your lives
Hey from Maine
I love this new Broadcasts so cool!😍
Wow, you can turn DNA into powder and store it. I never knew that.
thats cool how they could morse code without wires
It’s interesting how something designed with such a niche use as WD-40 has become popularly used
what if you put water in the cup?
Dr. R are you the one who knows the WD-40 ingredients from savannah j in Texas
Interesting that WD-40 has so many uses
cool.
Can you use WD 40 as lubricant?
Hi, I’m here!
That first name was absolutely gorgeous!
I have a very cool snap circuit set that can create Morse code!
Hi from Texas!
Awesome sauce
hi
cant remember a time I didnt see wd40 in my dads garage
Ms. Monet is a doll! She’s my FAVORTIE teacher! ^^
Hello from SD!
Hello from Virginia Beach!!
I didn’t know WD-40 can be used in 2,000 different ways.
Somehow we are always losing our WD-40 and can’t find it when we need it!
Science live is so interesting.
It was interesting to hear the origin of WD40. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
What happens if the device produces too much eletricity?
Nice to see you for another day of science live, Roger Billings
The Lego thing is so useful oh my gosh!
Love science lives!
Hello! Watching from Missouri!
Hi from Maryland , Dev
Love love science live wednesday is my favorite day of the week
so I’m building something cool but i messed up but i never quit
Hello Mr. Tobias, does the WD-40 have any uses and/or appliances for the covering of various submersible vehicles?
Hi everyone!
wd-40 who
Absolutely amazing!
really cool
here form colombia
I love R51!!
Hello from from Redmond Oregon!
Happy Wednesday!
I love these videos they just entertain me when i am bored i learn many things watching these videos.
Nice!
hi from San tan valley arizona
It’s interesting that WD-40 started out being used by NASA, and is now a worldwide product. Everyone and there dad uses WD-40
Hello coming from texas!
I am Texas too
WD-40 is so cool!
Great live so far
hello from illinois
This is so awesome ❤️🩹
wd 40 is a good product
I was wondering if Mr. Dr Roger Billings and the Acellus team could make a new activity for everyone, also I’ve always wanted y’all to answer one of my questions, I’d love if you guys could answer my question.🙂 And maybe Mr. Billings could make a episode of trains, I’d love that.
we gonna have WD-41 next XD
my mom uses WD40 on our squeeky doors all the time!!
cool
we love wd40!!!
I found it interesting how the name W-D 40 came from 40 attempts to make that perfect product. It is really inspiring to see how many times they attempted to make it. I feel encouraged to keep trying over and over again until I get something perfect.
I like the part about the rocket
Very cool!
Heyy from Chicago
That is facinating to learn that only 1 person knows the formula to make WD40.
Me and my dogs love watching science live, I love how they finally got it after the 40th try 🙂
Hi from AZ
Hi from Mississippi!!!
Hey from VA
Amazing !! We always have WD-40
hi from CA
amazing
WD-40 can unstick Legos!
Commenting from TX!
The WD-40 story was very interesting!! Never would have thought it coated a rocket for NASA then wound up on the store shelves for dozens of uses.
Hi from texas have a good rest of your week
WD-40 is gonna be used for everything that needs it lol
That’s something I never knew about it.
YES, LET’S GO BOYS!
Wow!!! I always am amazed with these lives.
Hello coming from texas!
NEVER GIVE UP! THANK YOU!
My parents use WD 40 around the house and to unstick the garage door.
Hey loving the science live! Bentley from Texas!
Hello from Guam!
WD-40 is 😎
The facts behind WD-40 that I never knew is amazing. Always used it but never knew the history behind it. Thank you.
My Dad has WD 40 Sitting on his work table in our garage! Now I can tell him all about WD 40!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
really w-40 can do all that, I’m going to try permanent marker !
As an inventor, how do you stay optimistic when you feel as though your consistently failing?
Comment I am grateful to Dr. Bilings for this incredible opportunity to learn the best lessons from such incredible teachers.
I really love the comment don’t give up, maybe you need to try 39 times, or more like 2,000 like, WD40 you can overcome, and don’t be discouraged just like all the amazing inventors.
Could you use DNA storage to save the WD-40 formula?
Hi from Maryland. Excited for another Science Live!
Happy holidays from Tx
we always have WD-40!
wow so cool!
I find it very interesting to hear the stories of origin and the beginning ideas for things that we use today! Super cool to think about how things came to be.
The Optimism curve is very interesting! And I find it fascinating that wd 40 can be used on legos… I’ll have to try it!
I think its funny that you can take off legos with WD-40
WD-40 can do a lot more than I thought !
optimism curve very interesting
Very interesting information!
Hello hello from NC!
Wasn’t WD-40 used during the Manhatten project of WW2?
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE
hi
Was the Rocket Chemical Co. taxpayer funded?
Hello from EP TX
jajajaj that’s funny
Thanks for the encouragement never give up.
amazing live as ALWAYS!!!
hi from nc
That is so cool
Hey
I LOVE SCIENCE!
This is so interesting, Im gonna tell my dad about the shovel and wd40
Hello from NC
I always look forward towards the different jokes they say!
Thanks Tobias!
I am definietley using WD 40 four my legos now
WD-40 reminds me of the Krabby Patty formula from Spongebob.
Is it possible to reverse engineer it though?
How do you make a good idea become an actual product?
hi from md
Hi from Redmond Oregon!
that was cool