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 »
Hi Mr Billings, my favorit book is Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I want to have a chocolate factory when I grow up. That is why I like seeing sciencelive, it is very interesting. Thank you! I vote for both.
david for the win
Happy New Year! I love Science Live videos. I never knew plants utilized water differently.
I vote for Caleb,very interesting video.
How long did it take Mr. Morse to design the Morse code?
I would vote for both David and Caleb!
I loved learning about the Edison Effect. I vote for both.
i vote for david
i vote for Caleb
i like acellus
I’m gonna have to vote for Caleb, I like the way he added humor to his video clip and as a 16 year old I still like to joke around. I also especially liked the way that he wants to turn his way from being a filmer to actually being on the other side of the camera and acting. Caleb is Amazing!
Im voting for david
David’s posture and facial expressions shows a lot more professionalism including the way he expresses his opinions and what he wants to say is very serious feeling while still being gentle and polite. He feels firm and confident with what he does. David is the best choice for my vote.
I vote for David, excellent information
I cant believe that we can make things so small!
I vote for David
I vote for both.
I vote for Caleb hands down
I’m voting for David. I missed science live!
I vote for caleb
I thought that the part where Tobias was talking about morris code was really interesting.
I vote for David.
I vote for David
I voted for both of them because I am sure they’re both doing something very good for the Acellus Academy!
I voted for both!
i vote for david. this episode was really good thank you!
i vote for David
I’m voting for Caleb, but both are awesome!
I vote for both
I vote both David & Caleb
David yes and Caleb yes👍
thanks for another great week of education, Doc!
I vote for david hes the best
R51 oh yeah
I liked this episode, and I vote David.
I vote that David and Caleb both do it. I like what they invented something to watch plants breathe. And I love Anastasia’s story! And I’m excited for AP English literature. I love the little robots!
always 100/100!
I enjoyed this episode. I vote for David.
I vote both
BOTH 👍🫶
I love the tiny robot!
LOVED this lesson!
I really admire doctor Billings
I vote for David and Caleb I like the thing they did
Caleb and David
I vote for both David and Caleb! You are all doing a stellar job!
I think both David and Caleb did a great job, but if I had to choose one I would vote for David.
I think Calab is a yes and David is a may be.
I vote for David! He is so smart and serious.
Anastasia’s invention was very impressive!
The lesson would be so much better if they both were in!
Happy New Year! I vote for both Caleb and David!
I really hope that we get to see more of David and Caleb. I really enjoy a good 30 second build montage!
This episode is amazing. They are both great but I voted for David 😂
nice to meet David and Caleb
i vote for Caleb!
I vote David. Science live is the best.
this is the best part of my week!
I vote for David.
I vote for both David and Caleb, I just can’t decide between them.
I love ACELLUS
I love area 51
I vote for David. That’s my dad’s name!
Watching from Ohio happy new year!
I love Science Live
Loved this science live.. I have to vote for Caleb. I would like to do what Caleb does when I grow up.
They talk about the world’s smallest robot
BOTH
In an earlier video, Dr. John mentioned storing data in DNA. Could you use this to store more data in the tiny robots?
Hello from northern NYS. I vote for David.
Thank you for Acellus
I vote for both!!! Loved the episode.
caleb even though david was pretty good
Voted for both!!!
I liked learning about morse code. i vote David.
I vote for both!!!!!!!!!!!!
I vote for both.
I voted for both to be honest!
I loved Anastasia’s story that’s so amazing
I vote for David he was my favorite
Watched and voted for David
i vote for david and caleb
That’s a sunflower🌻 not a sun☀️ r51.
(Used emojis in case r51 didn’t understand)
Thanks for the Science Live.
BOTH!! I vote both! Thank you!
i vote for both Caleb and David
i was soo impressed about the science
I vote David! He’s obviously the goat
How much energy does it take to light a light bulb
i vote for caleb
Hi from West Virginia. I vote David and appreciate Science Live.
Great livestream! I want to vote for both 😆🤍
Loved this video, by far one of my favorites but i have to go with david. he is the goat but i love both!!!
I really loved this episode of science live. And I vote for both of them!!!!!!🤑🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦😄😏
Happy New Year, new guys. Love you all, David and Caleb.
I got so inspired I am going to start growing sunflowers! Truly inspirational.
I vote for both
I gotta go with david, hes cool. this science live was amazing
voting for both!!
I love Science Live!! Although both of them were great, I vote for Caleb.
I vote for David he’s chill
We love Acellus.
Loved seeing the clip with the compound bow! That’s right up my alley!!
That is so amazing and I vote for both.
From Toronto: Happy New Year to all students and to the outstanding Acellus team!
I like both very much
I vote for David! This episode was so fun, I love interacting in the comments!
Honestly, I would vote for both. They are both cool.
i would like to vote for both David and caleb
Those tiny robots remind me of the movie Big Hero 6.
I vote for David. I love talking about robotics and I think R51 is funny.
To be honest, I’m leaning more towards voting for David. Really good episode.
David is the best. this was so cool.
I VOTE BOTH!
I vote for both David and Caleb
Dr. Billings, I like the video that David and Caleb made together.
Dr. Billings, Caleb is my favorite, because his hair looks so handsome.
Dr. Billings, Caleb is my favorite.
I vote for both David and Caleb, they explain things so nicely!
I’m voting for both
Silly r-51!
I vote for both!
THIS IS SO GOOD
I LOVE r-51
I vote for David.
Caleb is definitely the favorite!
Love science live and all the eps love you and pajet and most important love yourself
I CANT BELIEVE HOW SMALL THE ROBOT WAS IT WAS REALLY COOL
It is absolutely fascinating hearing about Morse’s story, and yet, very tragic how his wife died. However, it led him to discover one of the greatest inventions that has impacted this inspiring world.
i vote David and Caleb!
Happy new year! I vote for both!!
I’m glad you offer honors and AP classes at the high school.
The micro scale robot able to take in info and move; while being smaller than a grain of sand. it was very interesting to hear about.
I gotta go for David
Both are (and look) amazing and are very smart, butttttt I think i’m team Caleb! (This is my favorite episode)
This Science Live was epic!
I vote for both!
I vote for both David and Caleb!
love the coffee break
I liked them both!
I like both David and Caleb. They both were so cool! but david’s the GOAT
hi from vn
i vote for David!
I honestly vote for both David and Caleb
Went with Caleb!!!
is it possible for a hydrogen drone to actually detect tornadoes
I will vote for David. Thank you. Happy New Year everyone.
they both did a great job on the presentation.
I vote for caleb!! This was a fun video to watch!
I vote for both! I love science live
I vote for both David and Caleb
I really like Caleb’s personality *
To be honest I vote for both.
I vote for Caleb!
I voted for both David & for Caleb. I think that they were great. This episode was great. I was wondering how would I know if & when I should take either regular courses, Honors courses or AP courses? Thank you.
SCIENCE LIVE IS GREAT!
I think Caleb and David will make a very strong combination working together to benefit acellus.
I vote for both!!! I can’t wait for the new English class!
I vote for both✨✨✨
Honestly I can’t choose. I choose both!
I vote both, but can’t go wrong with David
I’m gonna vote David he’s the wisest lol.
I have always thought that plants giving us oxygen and us giving them carbon dioxide is such a beautiful picture of life.
I have to vote for both!
I vote caleb ALSO happy late new year!!! I really enjoyed this Science LIVE.
I voted for David
I vote for both, David and Caleb
i love science live and im 100% voting for david!
I vote for Caleb. This episode was amazing.
I like David and Calub, they are both brilliant in their own way. David is very smart, and Calub is very funny.
Haha this episode was funny. Caleb is so funny and positive.
I love how humor runs in the Billing’s family. Does that mean Caleb and David are related to R-51?
i vote david he’s goated
I got to vote for Caleb, He seems like an awesome guy.
I vote for both David and Caleb because I can’t decide between either of them
Learning about the tiny robots and how Morris code was invented was very interesting. I really liked David and Caleb and how they made learning fun.
I vote for David, i really like this episode.