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 »



This was a very cool episode of Science live. Both Caleb and David were both fun and funny to listen to.
I liked them both.
r 51😂
This is only my second Science Live video, as I have just enrolled at Acellus. I love the opening jokes so much! It was very intriguing to learn about the origins of the Morse code system, and it was even more interesting to learn that Samuel Morse was a painter.
Caleb was funny
Hire both of them
Thumbs up david and caleb both!
Both
David and Caleb yes. (:
I can’t pick their both great Caleb and David and they also explain the subject so well and yes a new reading class would be great for some people who can’t pick a book that they are interested in.
I would like to hear about about the light bulb. That was really interesting. On the vote, I like both guys.
Hire both men please thank you. It was great.
Hello from tennessee
Both
David and Caleb will be great assets to Acellus! Keep both!!
I voted for R-51.
Just want to say that Accellus is such a blessing to my whole family all thanks to you Dr. Billings.
Hello Science Live! Today I learned so many new things; I never knew robots could be made that tiny, be able to swim, and only cost 1 cent! The invention of Morse code, and how the language was made to be efficient is very intelligent. Finally, I think both David and Caleb did a great job and were both very funny too! (Honestly I think Caleb’s kinda cute :3 ) Thank you Acellus for another week of Science Live and have a wonderful day!
both of them!
BOTH
This was a great science live!
Bring them both on. Enjoyed Science Live!
So good to meet David and Caleb. Great information about the telegraph.
I loved this Science Live, even the Caleb and David part!
this is a fun science live you all do a great job !
Both!!
Both are amazing!
and also I vote caleb
Thank you for another wonderful Science Live. I learn something new every time!
Happy New Year 2026!
It feels good to be back watching Science Live again!
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026
Episode 292
Caleb and David were both fun!
Scientifically speaking, i would have to say David, but everything needs a little humor. So i vote both.
Both!!!!
Happy New Year!
Two thumbs up!
I vote for both!!
Happy new years! What do you think will be the worlds next huge invention?
I vote both of them because they are both awesome 👏 😎. See ya’ll next week after I finish 7th grade.
It would appear such talent seems to run in the family, I wish the rest of this world carried such excellence the way you do, that being said what inspired some of your other passions like sports and music?
I learned that a painter invented Morse code in the 1800’s
I vote David and Caleb the should teach together !!!😀
I vote David I like the segments he does in the lives.
Glad to be back into the swing of things with Science Live!
david
Hire both!!
I like them both! They make science fun and easy to understand.
hire both, if possible. Who is r-51 behind the screens………i think its DR.B!!
Both are good, it was interesting. Thanks Acellus teachers.
I vote both!
Hello from North Carolina! I vote both
Caleeeeeeb!!!!
Both are perfect 👍👍🤜🤛🧡🩵
I vote for David.
both
Hire both!!! So happy for this year!!!
I vote David
i love this, this is so awesome from california
I vote David.
Congrats to David and Caleb. It’s so cool that scientists have created a chip that small technology is just getting better and better; I also cannot wait for the conspiracies in history to come out!
I vote both
I vote david!
I choose Caleb
Hope you had a good New Years.
cant wait for next week!
Happy New Years!
Definitely hire both 🙂
I pick David because he is tough and smart
i like Caleb and David
Both!!!
Both!!
I like both
I voted David
When is the conspiracy class coming out?
This is a hard decision but I think I’m gonna chooooose…both.
Both
When will the conspiracy history class start? It sounds fun.
I vote for david
Loved the episode as always, R-51 always seems to make me laugh, and based off my opinion id hire both. See ya next week! Love science live.
Neither one of them could have done it without the other, so I pick both.
Great episode I vote david
Team Caleb!
They should hire both!
i liked both of them.
Both! There’s never too many handsome gentlemen!
Caleb
I vote both! I can’t believe how a light bulb works, its so complicated and amazing at the same time.
R 51 is awesome and just a little bit to funny!😄
Caleb and David, yes
I loved this video can’t wait to see you guys again soon love you guys byyyyyyy❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
i vote david
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