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 »
It was so cool to see the world’s tiniest robot in the world. Mores code was interesting to learn about. I vote for both Caleb and David.
Both
Both
In todays science live Dr.John talked about how robots move in water. Tobias talked about samual Morses he did self portraits , he painted a painting of a bunch of paintings he loved .
Happy new year everyone!
Both
i vote for david!
Awesome live to start off the new year! I would vote for David but, they both seemed great.
BOTH!
Hello! I like both
hire both of them
It was actually pretty cool to see how Morse code was invented 🙂
David and Caleb!!🫶🏻
I think they were both.
caleb was funny
David seemed interesting
I think you should hire both!
I vote for David!
I vote for both.
I like Caleb .
This live was so excited and I learned so much!!!
Yesss! Science Live is back!! Happy New Years everyone.
these science lives have helped me so much through out my homeschooling adventure i loved this!
david and caleb were pretty neat live i liked there video thanks goodnite
I vote Yes David and Kaleb.
I think both of them are equally great!
i think both!!
I like both.
both are really good at explaining the concepts and i enjoyed how they interacted together, so my vote is the both of them.
I say hire both!!
Hire both. I liked the electricity lesson. My dad has his electrician license.
Great science live lesson!
Hi from New York! wow, I didn’t know that’s how Morse code was invented!! A little bit sad but cool.
I meant to vote for both! They’re both awesome.
i love acellus live thank you for the opportunity for the roger billings schollarship
I’m glad to get to watch the lives.
Hello from North Carolina!!
I love R-51!
I think they both have a good way this telling people things.
First science live of the year can’t wait for more
Both are great.
Hi from Cape Cod! Caleb-yes David-yes. I thought todays lesson was very interesting.
I had learned about Tiny robots. Thomas Edison. Vacuum tube. Oscilloscope. I enjoyed it. Thanks!
Both are amazing.
I vote David
I really liked the science live tonight.
I vote for both!
I think Morse code is cool and that all Acellus students should learn it. And I vote both.
I vote David and I can’t wait for the conspiracy history class to start !!
I’m so excited for the new episode coming up next week!
Thank you for teaching me about the Edison Effect! Columbia SC
i LOVE science live!
Thank you for another interesting live!
They are both good! This Science Live was so cool!
I really enjoyed tonight’s episode! I am really exited to see what the conspiracy class has to offer if I am eligible for it.
Finished the video and I think both to be honest.
I’m so glad that science live is back! and I think you guys should hire them both.
Comment
I vote both. The light bulb effect was great.
I really can’t wait for the conspiracy history class to start!!!! I vote david!
Also, David and Caleb are my FAVORITE parts of science live.. LET THEM BOTH IN!
Both are good.
Did everyone have a fantastic day?
Hire both of them
I like how funny r51 is
Both!!
I liked David! The tiny robot was really fascinating!
I liked this lesson, I vote for both to carry on the legacy.
i love how they expland the diode and the edison effect and the ac and dc so both yes
Thank you Dr. Billings for this very cool and informational Science Live to kick the New Year off with a boom!!! Cameron really enjoy and had fun watching and learning from both Caleb and David!!! He can’t wait for next Wednesday video!
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍Definitely yes both of them!👍👍👍👍👍🤩🤩🤩🤩🥳🥳
David and Caleb were pretty neat for Science Live. I liked their segment about previous knowledge like the Edison effect.
I pick both your son and grandson.
David-Yes!😀 He does a lot of funny stuff! I mean, who puts fake grass on their back and hides, that is a good way to hunt for deer but that’s funny 😆.
Both are great, but I think David!
I liked them both! I enjoyed Caleb’s sense of humor and David seems like he would be a relatable person!
I vote David
DAVID
Both. No argue.
Both. Another inspiring live. I look forward to what is coming to Acellus!
Thanks for hosting science live! Love these.
I think both are great
Thank you for your time and effort you guys put into this every Wednesday appreciate it.
Morse code is cool!
Both of them!!!!!!
Both
I would vote for David.
Both are great! though I’m a little late here 😀
Thanks for the inspiration!
Both are great
I Vote Both!!
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