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 »
Merry Christmas Roger Billings!
Omg I love Thomas Edison.
I always look forward to science live! <3 🙂
Wow, for once R-51 says he didn’t invent everything!
Science Live was amazing! Happy holidays!
Science is so amazing!!!!
How many different Acellus courses are there?
I love the cool facts that Science Live shows and tells. They are very interesting to me.
Dr. Billings, I hated school and this has changed my life. I don’t dread going to school and I actually enjoy learning through Acellus. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
Sign language will be so fun! Happy holidays everyone!
I love sign language so much. I have learned so many cool things. And that is amazing that a 15 year old girl wrote such an amazing book
It always amazes me by how people are so talented and creative and have the ability to create amazing inventions from ideas that they believe is impossible at first.
I’m definitely gonna try the new sign language class!
i love science live it makes me smart
Wow! I didn’t know there was another telescope being launched!
I’m interested in the new ASL class. I loved the last one.
It was so much fun learning about Edison and the vacuum tube. I also appreciated the clarification that he did not invent the light bulb, but made it better and more affordable.
I loved the live r51 is awesome
what does the snowflakes say to the ground? it say snowcoming!
This live was so informative! My brother and I watched this together and absolutely loved it!
Dr. Billings who’s one of your favorite inventors of all time?
I hope you guys have a happy holiday!
what is the NASA telescope made out of?
i love roger billings
This was a great one. Thank you!
R.5.1 is very funny 😄
See you next year D.R B and R 51.
Happy Holidays!
So NASA is a photographer for outer space now.
How did Bill Lear and Roger Billings meet?
R-51 is one of my favorite parts of science live!
Acellus is the best!!!
Poor R-51! Hahaha. Also I’m looking forward to more science lives in January!
I love learning new things every week from Science Live! Merry Christmas!
What is your next big invention, Billings??
Happy Holidays!
r-51 is AWESOME
My grandma is learning how to sign because she works with a disabled kid who only signs.
He he! R-51 is so funny! It’s great to laugh every once in a while.
Yesss R 51 I believe in you!! Poor Thomas Edison with the mix up
Who came up with the idea of American sign language?
that was epic ! Happy Holidays.
Happy holidays!
I am so excited about the new ASL class!!!! Happy Holidays everyone!
R-51 is so funny!
happy holidays !!!!!
Yay! Science Live Time! Happy Holidays
I always wondered how a battery worked. This is why I love Science Live. I learn such awesome things.
I realiy want to play the piano like MS. Donnie. But science live is the best
It’s interesting to hear how other inventors are inspired by inventions made by other people. What did the patent do for Edison?
Can’t wait to see Science Live again next year!
I enjoy watching science live Happy Holidays.
My mom had one of those phones!
I think my favorite part of science live is getting to see R-51
when do you we will be able to explore the bottom of the ocean?
happy holidays everyone!
I am excited about the new ASL course!
Science live is amazing!
Happy holidays everyone!!!!
I love watching these every week!
I love the new space telescope information, Thank you Science Live!
Does Roger Billings consider himself a mentor for all of us acellus students?
Science live is so good!!
Happy Holidays, everyone! Science Live is the best
favorite part of my day!!!
I never knew there was a class in Acellus for sign language! I hope everyone has a good Christmas break 🙂
Congrats to the 15 yr old on the book!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
See y’all in 2026!!
I can’t wait to see the new ASL course!
What are some lesser known inventions made by Thomas Edison?
Happy holidays and thanks for the episode tonight!
How did in the Edison Affect the plate attract the positive electrons, but not the negative ones?
Another great video Happy Holidays everyone!
Always a joy when these lives arrive.
I love watching science live its so fun to learn about cool facts
this show is awesome! Keep up the great work!
As the last Science Live of the year it was one of the best.
Happy holidays!
I thought this was very intriguing and loved learning about the Thomas Edison effect and the science behind it. But he did not realize the power of what he had discovered and what it would become. But i cant wait to see what will come in 2026 for science live.
I can’t wait for the new ASL class! i’m so excited!!!
Thank You for another great Science LIVE!
I’m so EXCITED for the new ASL course!!!!!! I’ve already taken the first course. I can’t wait to start the new course. THANK YOU Ms. Donnie😄😄😄😄
Thank you for your time. Thomas Edison is incredible.
I love science live!
R-51 is the best!! I’m so excited for the new sign language course !
😎Wow that’s so cool ❤️🔥!
Happy holidays everybody!!! Love the science lives each week.
Hi from Houston TX happy holidays!!!
Acellus is the best homeschooling program thank you for lounging me join this homeschooling program. Am so happy for her publishing her first book. I am so happy that we have this new course.
OMG! the new class on sign language is gonna be so intriguing, I am so excited for it.
greetings from wyoming. thanks for the live!
I loved learning about the telescope! Happy Holidays!
Silly R-51
Our family is big fans of sign language and we are thrilled to hear about the new course!!!
Science live is the best!!
Science live is the best!! i did not know that Thomas Edison was a mentor. That is so cool!
I really enjoyed watching this weeks Science Live, and am excited to try ASL!
I love watching acellus live every week
Happy Holidays everyone!!
Science live is the best!!! Happy holidays!!
I really love watching Science Live every week!!
Happy Holidays everyone!!!! 🎄🎄🎄🌟🎅
Another amazing livestream! I’m so excited for the ASL course ☺️ Thank you, Acellus!
I love learning about Thomas Edison! He is my favorite inventor.
R 51 is stealing everybody’s inventions
I love r-51! He is so goofy!!
I can’t wait for the new space telescope and ASL class I bet it will be awesome!
Great explanation of the Edison Effect and how early discoveries helped shape modern technology.
Thomas Edison And Roger Billings Are Amazing!
Happy Holidays!!
Thomas Edison Mentored Roger Billings Mentor?!?! That’s Crazy!
While the touch screen keyboard is pretty great I wonder if we could make it a little more accessable? My grandpa has large hands and fingers and has a hard time typing on a tiny little screen keyboard. The new telescope sounds amazing, covering that much sky taking pictures is going to be revolutionary. I’m very glad to be on winter break, but I’ll miss science live till it comes back!
My favorite parts of Science LIVE is R-51 and Technology. Great live! Happy Holidays!
I didn’t know that the mentor to Dr. Billings mentor was Thomas Edison.
Happy Holidays!!
the way he said oh chemistry oh chemistry🎄
My favorite parts of Science LIVE is R-51 and Technology. Great Live!
This was a great science live! Happy holidays!
I’m going to miss watching science live!😭
Merry Christmas from Indiana 🙂
New to Acellus… love it so far!
ASL class will be a great addition to Acellus
New student to Acellus… love it so far!
Happy holidays!
I hope you guys all enjoy your Christmas break, Merry Christmas to the Acellus team!
i cant wait for science live in 2026!
I hope I hear about the space telescope in 2026!
Happy holidays!❤️🎄
I really enjoyed the live today!!especially the break through moments with Tobias.
My middle name is Edison =)
R 51 is the best, Merry Christmas all !!!
I am so excited for the new ASL class! Merry Christmas everyone!
I like science live; can’t wait ’til next year!) I am also excited about it becoming credited!! That would help soo much!
My dad said he learned about Thomas Edison when he was a kid too
sign language is a neat subject, and more peaple should learn it!
The ASL class looks super cool!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year see Y’all next year!
Thomas Edison was so smart!!!
I like how Steve Jobs came up with the idea of the iPhone
Happy holidays to all of you in Science Live
wow Ive always wondered about how the phone was made
That new sign language course sounds very interesting!
Everyone likes R51 he’s so funny. Merry Christmas!
I love Science Live!
You always have to make mistakes before being successful. That’s the way things work!
I enjoyed science live and look forward to the next one,
I truly look forward for the science live every week its so interesting! Happy Holidays everyone :D!
I love Pajet and Mr. Billings!
Wahoo. I always love the jokes on Science Live, and R-51!
I love how they invented all these new types of flip phones!!
Happy holidays, and thank you for taking the time to teach and tell us about these things!
science live is the best!!!
Merry Christmas to everyone at Acellus!
So cool! Happy holidays!
Omg I can’t believe ya’ll are finally adding an ASL 2 class!
Learned a lot this week! Can’t wait for more!
I always love watching Science live its so amazing.
Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii hope you guys are liking the snow! (-;
I love Science Live. Happy Holidays everyone!
DRB is sooo smart!!!!
This episode is great. Thanks for posting these weekly, Acellus!
R-51 I will miss you. You are the funniest on SCIENCE LIVE, and everyone is too!!!!!!!
The Science Live this week was so good!!
To all staff thankyou for all you do ! Merry Christmas to all !
I’m excited for new ASL class
I’m taking ASL and I love it! So I’m exited to learn there’s a new one!
Leave R-51 alone! He hasn’t even put up his “Chemis-Tree” yet!
Science Live is amazinggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
R-51 has a wonderful sense of humor, and it would be especially funny if Roger Billings made another clone called R-52 and they had a goofy interaction. Thank you Roger Billings for adding so much fun and creativity to your lessons.
I love science live so much! I can’t wait to see everyone next year!!!
Thank you for making these every week! I love watching them!!
I love this EPISODE!!!
Hearing the news of the ASL class is actually really great! It’s nice to have more ways to incorporate learning for communication…
I LOVE Acellus
Crazy how computers where so big back then
Comment this is my first week with Accellus and I am so glad and happy, I am learning so many things with science, I cannot wait for NASA to launch the new telescope and see what they discover in the space.