The Vacuum Tube Diode
January 7, 2026 • EPISODE 292
What invention helped spark the age of electronics? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings and the Protégés break down the vacuum tube diode—one of the earliest electronic components that made controlling the flow of electrons possible. Learn how this simple device works, why it was so important in early radios and computers, and how it laid the groundwork for modern electronic technology. Join us for a clear, engaging look at a key milestone in the history of electronics.
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 vote both
I love Acellus
I put Caleb just because but I choose both
Liked both David and Caleb. Great episode.
I vote david !
you need to get both
Caleb
Watching from Cedartown GA
I like the idea of a drone for the tornado warning but it would be cool if their are multiple ones that are able go around to alert and show people where bunkers are.
i vote david.
Caleb=yes David=yes
Both 👍👍
How do you guys do the end bit? Green screen?
you should hire both of them
Loved it
Both are awesome
This Science Live was awesome!
Caleb yes, David yes
I vote for David, and I hope we can see both of them again!
Such a great video I loved it so much thank you. See you next week.
This was an absolute masterpiece of an episode I gained so much knowledge from it.
Both
i love DRB
Love today’s live!
I vote for David
David✅ Caleb✅
Science live is fun. Love it.
I like both
David and Caleb yess
Glad to have science live back again!
Thank you!
David is the best.
I love all these subjects!
i love r-51
I love science live
I’m signed in from Michigan.
Both! awesome video!
It’s crazy how we get to see Dr. Roger Billing’s son and grandson
YES these guys are so cool!
David yes
The Edison Effect is when electricity “jumps” from a hot wire (like a light bulb’s filament) to another piece of metal inside a glass bulb, even with no connection, paving the way for modern electronics like radios and TVs, and it started when Thomas Edison noticed black spots on his light bulbs from his experiments.
I loved both of the proteges! I hope to see them again soon. They’re so funny!
Love the new things! Thanks Acellus!
David!
David yes
Hello and happy new year 🥳 I hope everyone had a great year and hopefully many more to come. I enjoyed today’s science live it was nice to meet, Caleb and David. I love learning about all types of telecommunication methods even though there many, my favorite is Morse code I love the telegraph key. The telegraph keys original design does remind me of an old record player though which I find very interesting.
Caleb Yes
Glad Science Live is back!
That was a great science live!
Both
Both
yea hire both pls
david!
I vote for David to be hired.
hire both. and when will the conspiracy history class start? I cant wait to start the class!
i vote David!
David and Caleb were pretty neat for Science Live. I liked their segment about previous knowledge like the Edison effect.
David has my vote.
Hello from Florida!
How would the robots work besides building stuff? Would they be able to predict the weather?
Thank you. I had fun and learned something tonight.
I vote for David.
Both
Caleb!
CONGRATS Caleb and David!!!!!!!!!! Good Night everyone!!!!!!! 😀
Thank you!
Caleb
Hire both please. Hello from soda Springs Idaho. Hello R-51 and good night
Yes, he seems fun
happy new year 2026
Both are great!
R-51 is really something else.
I like both I can’t choose
Both are good! Loved todays live : )
Thank you all! See you next Wednesday! Happy New Year!
both!
Both are great
Both are great!
their both good
Both!!
R51 is my favorite
Will Caleb and David teach some classes?
Caleb for sure.
David but both would be cool
I like both
WE like both of them . I like to see them both more on science live
Both plsss
Both
David and Caleb are both great teachers because they make the class funny and entertaining!
I like both of them!
I did say David yes but, bring both, they are cool.
R-51 is something else.
I think David and Caleb are a pretty good team and a chip off the old block! Please keep them both!
Caleb got my vote
I liked both David and Caleb, they both showed us interesting things and explained very good!!
I like the story of the student Anastasia and the talked about the telegraph.
FREE R-51
YES! They are great together!
So excited from Nebraska!
David and Caleb, yes.
I like both
I loveeee this part
I vote for Caleb…
OMG CALBE IS GORGEOUS!
Caleb-yes David-yes
Hi from Texas!!
Hello R-51!!!
CALEB… This live video has so many interesting subjects.
I like them both working together.
I think both did a good job.
Caleb-yes
k yes
David and Caleb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ofc its ai in r51’s segment.
nice explanation on the edison effect
It’s close but I really like Caleb.
I like both
Caleb
Caleb
GOO R51!
Both David and Caleb were awesome! I loved the presentation
Thumbs up for Caleb and David
David yes
Caleb yes
David
so funny
Hahaha
David & Caleb inspired me 🙂
I enjoyed both David and Caleb.
I vote for David. Voting from Illinois….
I hope everyone has a good year!
both of them.
Caleb
both
David yes Caleb yes! I really liked both of them!
Both of them!
Both
I vote for both
I think both David and Caleb should do it.
Can’t they both of them be able to do it?
I really liked David’s intro
The Science live is wonderful.
Caleb
Both!
Caleb yes 😭
I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year. I would love to have a class with David and Caleb. They make learning fun and I love the way they explained things!
David
yes to david and caleb.
both are great!
Loved this lesson can’t wait for next week
Jeromiah January 7, 2026
So glad Dr. Billings is back. I learn so much.
Caleb yes
both !
caleb and david!
Caleb yes
I like them both….But David has my vote
David Yes and Caleb Yes
I cannot decide which one to choose so I choose both!
It looks like r 51 is up to no good again!
voting David
i voted for both of them!!!
Both
David (yes)
Yes to both
Both of them!
yes and yes. both are extroidinary people. good job raising them. they are funny like you.
Caleb – yes.
David is great too.
Awesome stream!
Its fun to have new people on Science Live :0
David yes. Caleb yes.
My family and I all came to an agreement that we appreciate the back and forth between David and Caleb. They work well together. David had a slight advantage when presenting as a teacher and educator. Caleb had a sense of humor like his Grandfather 🙂 However, we were curious why there is not a female protege candidate?
Keep them both, they work well together. I also loved the first live of 2026.
Great video and see you next week!
David yes Caleb yes
I am so glad to be back! I would love a class with Caleb and David as the teachers because of the way they make learning enjoyable and easier to understand.
I vote caleb!!!!!!!!!!
Area 51 is so funny
David: yes. Caleb: yes.
david
Both are great
We definitely both the duo synergy always works great for these sort of things.
i vote for David and kaleb
both David and Caleb
David yes Caleb yes
Happy New Years! Greetings from West TN.
Caleb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Yes Caleb Yes
I vote for Caleb because he plays the guitar.