The Edison Effect
December 17, 2025 • EPISODE 291
What if Thomas Edison’s greatest discovery wasn’t the light bulb? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings explores the Edison Effect and how Edison’s experiments paved the way for electron tubes and modern electronics. Discover why this overlooked breakthrough mattered then—and why it still shapes technology today.
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 »
Who was Thomas Edison’s mentor?
I guess someone named “Franklin Leonard Pope”. Apparently he let Thomas Edison live and work in his basement, which I apparently allowed Edison to begin on some valuable experience and work on telegraphy. Which has as well inspired many of his early inventions. This lasted in his early ages. Later he moved to his own workplace in Menlo Park, New Jersey, in 1876. Unsure if his mentor followed.
I did some research on this, and I hope I am right about this, along with making this helpful.
It was his own mother, Nancy Edison. She supported his early experiments and always supported him!
Science live rocks! R51 is funny! I’ve been home schooling with Acellus online for almost a year, I love it. I love learning from Mr. Roger Billings.
I have heard that Thomas Edison did not have a mentor but he had been influenced and encouraged by multiple
people throughout his life.
I love science live!!
Science live is the best!!!!!
Happy holidays Acellus family!
Thomas Edison did a lot of good things for us!
I am looking forward to the next science live in 2026!!
The talk about the first Apple phone was my favorite topic
I’m really looking forward to learning sign language in this new course. My friend is deaf and I want to properly communicate with him.
Wow ASL classes seem pretty cool, my step dad is partially deaf, but he can hear me if I talk really loud. Merry Christmas!
The infrared images of the Milky Way galaxy look beautiful. Merry Christmas and see you in the new year!
You’re such an inspiration!
This episode was really interesting. Happy Holidays!
Science live is the best!!!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!!
I’m understanding science a lot more than i did because of this show
Happy holidays everybody!!!
Science live is the best!!! I love science!
Of course we love R-51! Happy Holidays to everyone!
Yes of course we love him! You too of happy holidays!!!!😍😍😍😍😍🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💖💖💖💖💖💖😜😜😜😂
Happy Holidays 🎄
It is incredible how our technology has truly evolved and become so precise. This definitely expanded my perspective and it’s increased significance of electrons. I always appreciate R-51’s creative and innovative skits, happy holidays and happy new year!
I LOVE R51!
Hello from Ohio!
The new course on sign language is gonna be cool.
Soooooooo cool yes!!!!!!
Merry christmas Roger billings!!!!!!! and pajet if you see this I wish you can talk about this comment on science live !!!!!!!!! I wish you could I’m jaden I love Roger billings!!!!!!!!!!!
This episode highlights how overlooked discoveries can end up shaping the entire technological world. Edison Effect was so foundational to modern electronics, but it’s barely mentioned in schools compared to the light bulb.
It was cool learning about the space telescope! I’m also excited for the new ASL class!!!
I am so happy that I can learn more and more every Wednesday, I appreciate all that everyone does!!
happy holidays!!!
I 🩷 science live!!!!
Thanks for making these every week! They are really informative.
yes they are ! I learn every week my mother is so impressed
Thank you for the information Dr Roger!
This science live was so good!
I personally liked learning about the phone! It is such an amazing invention! Can’t wait for the next science live!
I love R 51 and I love not being in complete dark when my dad is driving so don’t let R51 “invent “ anything electric so the world won’t go black . And also don’t let him anywhere close to spoons or vacuum tubes or every day vacuums.
I love that they made ASL2!
I was cool learning about the space telescope!! I’m also excited for the new ASL class!!!
I enjoyed watching this science live happy holidays everybody !!!!
My favorite parts of Science LIVE is R-51 and Technology Spotlight with Tobias.
I didn’t know Thomas Edison was a mentor to another person who mentor one of our science teachers
I thought that the part where Dr. John was talking about the new space telescope was interesting.
I love r-51 he’s funny.i learned about the Edison effect it’s cool
Merry Christmas! love the videos.
I enjoyed this live so much, I love all science lives!!! Happy holidays everyone!!
Hello
Hello, I like when Mr. Billing said remember when we left our little friend shocked and I leaerned about the Thomas Edison effect!
Happy holidays. I hope everyone has a nice break.
Crazy how influential Edison was with all his inventions.
Merry Christmas Mr. Billings!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love these science video’s especially area 51
Great Science Live, I always forget just how much Thomas Eddison did in his life.
Happy holidays, and amazing science live!
Happy holidays!
It’s amazing to see all of the advancements in technology and to know that eventually someone will invent something else that we never thought we needed or thought could actually happen.
Science Live is the best!
R51 is a little confused, but he’s got spirit.
I LOVE R51!
That was a great episode, I always enjoy science live. Can’t wait for 2026!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year❄️🎉🎅🏼🎄🎁
Thomas Edison was very smart.
I never knew that Thomas Edson didn’t invent the light bulb.
Thomas Edison was really a genius!!
Cool science live this week! Thanks
Happy holidays everyone, see you for more science lives in 2026!
I like Thomas Edison A lot.
I really liked at the start of the video, he sang ” Oh chemistry oh chemistry” instead of, ” Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree”.
I Love you too r51 💖
I really enjoyed this episode. I am really excited for the new ASL 2 course, I am currently in ASL 1 and I am enjoying it so much! I can’t wait to finish it and get started on the ASL 2!
Thomas Edison was a genius! I enjoyed learning about his inventions today. Thank you!
I can we have more of r51? He’s so funny that my mom laugh
Loved todays live, I really enjoy learning ASL its so fun and interesting thanks for sharing!!
We love you too r51! I’m glad you feel better! Merry Christmas to everyone at acellus!
Merry Christmas! I hope you’re Christmas is filled with joy 💚❤️
Thank you for science live! When did you first meet Thomas Edison?
This is awesome!!!!!
It is so cool to be learning from someone who was mentored from someone who was mentored by Thomas Edison! Happy Holidays! I can’t wait to be back to learn more!
I loved the lightbulb section of the video showcasing Thomas Edison’s affordable more usable lightbulb invention
Science is so cool, i love learning about it!
That science live was shocking! Be careful with electricity. Merry Christmas everyone!
I liked when Dr. Billings was talking about Thomas Edison because if we didn’t have light bulbs, there wouldn’t be any light. P.S. Merry Christmas!
Roger Billings is amazing!
Science is so fun!
I love science live it would be cool if you could build a hydrogen car on activities!
As always, Science live impressed me! Happy holidays everyone!
I love the way dr. Tobias teaches.
R 51 was so funny this live stream I love r 51
Super interesting!
i loved learning about the cell phones! its amazing how far we’ve come!
That was super cool learning about the light bulb! And I am taking ASL at the moment, so I look forward to taking ASL 2 next year!
I love Science Live!!
happy new year see you all in 2026
R-51 has to be my favorite
I can’t wait to see NASA’s big telescope.
My mom knows sign language and I take a class.
I really liked this live! Have a happy holidays
I thought the evolution of the phone was interesting.
I’m a two year Acellus student, I love the fact that this program has helped me learn faster and more stuff in a shorter amount of time! I used to struggle in math and now I was able to catch up in no time. They continue to help me with my courses and learning new and exciting things! Thank you Acellus! sending love and happy holidays to all of you from South Carolina!
Merry Christmas! 🎄- Courtley Rae
Thomas Edison inventing the vacuum tube was something I wasn’t aware of; he really was a wonderful mind.
I hope I can be as smart as Dr Billings one day, and maybe have my own science live!
I believe in you and your wish!!!!!!!
I look forward to the next science live ♥️🎄
Im enjoying these livestreams! This is my second time attending to these! Can’t wait to see more next year!!
Happy Holidays everyone! I loved this live!
I think Thomas Edison is interesting because even though he didnt do very well in school, he was still a genius.
Science is like the worlds greatest puzzle.
Happy Holidays!
Great video as always! Can’t wait for 2026!
I think Edison is pretty cool because of how inspirational he is one of the hardest things he did was reinventing the lightbulb as it took him over 2000 tries!
r51 is hillarious!!!!
Happy Holidays! Excited to keep learning.
Can’t believe this is the last live of the year!
Seeing the phones from the early 2000’s vs now is interesting. They had so many buttons.
Phone keyboards have come a long way!
thank you science live you guys are truly inspirering
NASA’s new space telescope looks interesting!!
I’m really looking forward to the new sign language class!
science live is the best part about school on Wednesday
Keep inspiring us Rodger! See you in 2026!
I love the part about telescopes!!!
I love using Acellus
Love these so much!! r51 is so funny!
I like how Dr. John tells us about the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope and it’s interesting because it is able to take pictures with infrared light which makes it easier to see how beautiful space truly is.
In my opinion I think ASL is going to be an amazing and healthy class for us students, and it’s vary interesting that there is an AI that’s able to to discover a molecular switch, which sounds kinda cool. I was also very delighted to hear that N.A.S.A just recently made a space telescope, which looks vary huge and mind blowing!!
When was the first iPhone released?
Keep up the good work r 51
Poor R-51 we all love him!!!
”oh chemistry oh chemistry🎶🎶🎅
ASL has been something I have been waiting to learn for years! So that is a really cool new class.
Can you guys please make another Portuguese class? I love the first class, and I think that a lot of people would love it too.
Great Science Live. Looking forward to 2026 with Acellus.
I loved this Science Live presentation.
Science live is cool and I love learning new things every week!
The new telescope is really exciting! I wonder what new discoveries we will make and if it will significantly change what we know of space up until now.
R51 is the best!!
R51 is just to funny🤣
I can’t believe that Roger Billings mentor’s MENTOR was Thomas Edison. It’s absolutely crazy to think about!💡
Science live is so cool and I look forward to it every week!
i really liked when Dr. joseph was making that funny chemistry song! HAHAHAHAHA
Happy Holidays!!!I hope every one was a good Holidays!
I can’t wait until next year of Acellus!
I love watching Science Live every week! Happy Holidays everybody!
I have so much fun watching Science Live!
I love watching Science LIVE! Thank you for an amazing and awesome year! See you in 2026!
Thank your for the video. the invention of the computer and the phone was very neat and interesting. Thank you and Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
R51 is my favorite!! And it was so cool to see the big big telescope in space
Science live ROCKS!!! Merry Christmas!
This science live was so awesome! I didn’t know that Thomas Edison just improved the lightbulb. Also I am glad that R-51 is ok! He kind of scared me last science live. 😅
You are super cool Mister BIllings
I liked learning about Thomas Edison making the vacuum tube, how it works, and the story behind it.
r51 is my favorite. He makes me laugh.
Thomas Edison is one of the first inventors that I ever learned about!
I enjoyed learning about the ” Edison Effect “.
We love watching R51, he is so funny.
Merry Christmas to you all at Acellus!
I love R-51 ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️
Hello from Texas! Thank you for science live I really enjoy watching them!
Great last episode for the year!!!
Science live is so cool i love it so much. Acellus actually makes learning fun.
Hello from Costa Rica! Thank you so much for this show, love it!
I am so excited for science live next year though I wish that it would go on every Wednesday forever.
Happy Holidays!! ASL will be a cool new class!!
I can’t wait to sign up for the ASL course!!
I love page Monet she’s my hero
I love science live so much. I learned so much!
Is it just me or is r 51’s inventions looking more professional
Got to love science! Thanks Dr. Roger!
Thomas Edison was an awesome inventor
Happy Holidays to everyone.
My Mom said she had one of those phones and it took her forever to text.
Happy holidays!!!!
I wonder what r51 will do next
Science live is always the best to watch!
I really enjoyed the first asl course and am so excited for the new one!! 🙂
Learning about the phone was very cool! Can’t wait for another science live!
I love you too r51❤️🥹
I really enjoyed this live!! Happy holidays everyone!!!
I love science live!!!!
Happy holidays! 😁🌲
New sign language class is going to be amazing. Acellus is the best!!
Why doesn’t R51 have a class
Science live is so fun and interesting!
Happy Holidays! I hope all is well. Thank you for the wonderful chemistry Christmas song! Lol
Super happy for the new sign language class! See yall when yall come back. #ilovescience!
My favorite part of the week is watching these!
The Edison effect was a major breakthrough at the time because it showed how electrons come flow from a heated tube into a vacuum.
I enjoyed learning how a simple observation turned into an important step towards modern technology, including radios and computers.
It’s amazing that there’s now a new American sign language class. This for sure will make an impact on acellus and help allot of people.
Great episode! Hello from Florida! 🙂
I am excited for the knew ASL class
The story behind Apple, and how they invented the iphone was pretty interesting. Never knew what they went through to actually get the final product.
This Science Live was great! The new sign language class will definitely have many students intrigued. However, for me, I found the fact that Dr. Roger Billings’ mentor’s mentor was Thomas Edison is absolutely amazing!
Congratulations on publishing your own book Laurelei!
Nearly done with 2025! a whole year of Science Live. I wonder…. what awaits us in 2026?
That’s awesome! How do you publish your own book?
These lives are the best!!!
I love our 51
R-51 is so funny
Acellus is great!
I use to learn sign language but then i quit, because of things at home, but now that im home schooled i can finally learn sign language again with the new course! 😀 😀 😀
back then how long would one light bulb last before you had to change it.
I’m so excited to see the new ASL course, I learned the abc’s by myself, so I am very happy I am able to learn more about ASL!
How much would Edison be worth if he trademarked the lightbulb and was the only person who could produce them?
R 51 is so funny
Thanks for this weeks science live!! I hope your holidays are awesome!