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 caleb
both are great
David and Caleb were both great tonight thank you guys for being there!
Vote both
You should hire both, they’re both good choices.
I think both are great!
Both
Caleb yes
Would love both, it would be amazing.
I can’t wait to be a graduate like them.
Hi, form Tenneesse! Great live stream!!! R-51 was hilariously funny! Caleb.
I vote for Caleb!
Both!
I vote for both..Great show and so glad everyone is back!!
both are awesome 😀😀😁😁😁😁
I really missed science live
I vote David
very fun facts to learn about thank the lord for acellus
I love science live I vote David
Bring both Caleb and David back!
Both are great! Thank you!!!
This is a pretty good show
i think Caleb and David make a good team and i love them working together they are a great team, and hi from Texas
I liked David and Caleb.
Happy 2026 everyone!!!!!
R51 is my favorite
Definitely both
Both are great❤️
I vote David
Caleb and David are amazing! Happy new year everyone! First Science live of the year!
I love watching Science Live.
Hi from Colorado! Can’t wait to take the history of conspiracy’s class whenever it comes out 🙂
BOTH!
I liked David and Caleb they should come on science live again.
I vote David and Caleb!
celeb yes
Tonight we learned about the smallest robots in the world. Very interesting. Thank you!
Good night everyone, and see you next Wednesday.
David yes
Both of them ! Happy new year!
I think both.
Both David and Caleb were amazing!
My Vote is 100% on David!
both! def thumbs up for both
Thank you for a great science live! I think the new english class is very cool. Caleb and david seem very smart and funny
I vote both of them!
Caleb- yes David -yes
Both!
Both!!!
Yes to Caleb and David!
1000% Caleb
Caleb and David
BOTH
I’m really glad both Caleb and David get to stay, they were really fun to watch.
I love David and Caleb’s Video!
hi R-51
Happy New Year!
yall, i demand an entire episode of R-51
david!
Very intriguing live! Cant wait to see what Caleb and David add to the science lives.
I can’t just pick one I like them both
i really love watching these science lives!
I can’t wait to see what Caleb and David have in store for next week!
Hire David for sure
Hire both of them
Both
Happy New Year!
David! I really like these videos
Caleb – Yes
David – Yes
BOTH
Both! They were funny working togeather and explained things well!
I 100000% vote david
David and Caleb yes i like there sense of humor.
Hire both!
Love todays live!
both caleb and david sound like the live would be so much fun!
david is the best.
It must be cool to live in the ancient days.
David is awesome! I really like basketball, football, and baseball too!
both
Both. This was awesome!
Now Caleb and David need their own R-51 versions! lo. Loved the episode and missed seeing yall each week. Heres to a happy new year! <3
Both!
I definitely vote for both
I enjoyed both of the proteges.
Those two are amazing!!! Thank you so much for teaching us all that
Caleb- yes David- yes
Caleb and David both did really good
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!