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 »
First Science Live of 2026 did not disapoint
Tech is so cool
Wow! This is so interesting!
computers are interesting
Science Live is so amazing!
This is such a good breakdown! so interesting!
I am team Caleb. This was a good episode!
I love science live
I look forward to science live every week!
Awesome live!
love the drones!! 🙂
This is so interesting!
Good job Anastasia!Thank you acellus!
Hi from Illinois
All these little parts that do big things!
The prodige’s explaination was very clear
This was an amazing lesson, how the vacuum tube diode works and its uses was explained beautifully.
I love Acellus❤️
So cool!
R 51 always cracks me up and the experiments are very cool
Love this lesson
Cool!
Tornados are so scary. Good idea to use radar drone.
So cool!
Thanks for making this video
I wish to join live
Nice video! Morse code is interesting!
Hi from Montana
morse code should be taught in school more
Great episode
Love this!
Very cool!!
computers are always so interesting
Hello from NC!
I found the first part about plants to be extremely interesting!
I loved this science live!
I loved the part at the end
Can the world’s smallest robot be tracked in case it goes missing since it’s so small? Dr. John said each robot has their own id number so many they could use that to track it?
This live was super cool! It’s really interesting how so many parts can fit inside a tiny robot.
I love how much computers have advanced over the years.
I feel like drones are very interesting creations.
We do school on computers which is awesome! 😀
I love science live.
Science live! Let’s go !
This is so interesting. I am happy science live is back.
I loved this video I gain some info on the vacuum tube diode.
I love Area 51 it is so funny
Loved it
This was so interesting!
loved this
I love this
still love tuning into these science lives!! 🙂
David and Caleb were awesome.
Wow!
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Science live was a good one.
Both were amazing !
I love this episode it was so AWESOME!!!
love this video
Another intriguing segment!
It is really cool that they made a robot so small like a crumb.
I love this video
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Very interesting
Good information
Computers can be so fascinating!
My mom loves AM radio. She watched this video with me!
The beginning was inspiring
Who invented the vacuum tube? And why did they call it the vacuum tube?
I can’t b that diamonds and carbon nano are in the same family
I can’t b that diamonds and carbon nano are similar.
If a vacuum tube diode only lets current flow one way, how did early radios use it to turn radio waves into sound?
science live is amazing!
Extremely interesting to watch, loved every minute.
It’s hard to chose between David and Caleb’s explainations.
love the science live
David and Caleb are the best!!!
comment* I didn’t know that plants breathed carbon dioxcide, I thought that they breathed oxigen like us that is so cool!
Let’s Go!!! First Science Live of the Year!!! 🥳🥳🥳
That’s amazing. I’m excited to continue research on the vacuum tube diode.
I like the way they broke it down at the end.
I really liked science live.
The vacuum tube is cool.
I wonder other human like attributes plants have?
How do they make technology so small I feel like all the needed stuff would not fit into something so small.
can’t wait for the next episode!
This episode was amazing!
i love learning new facts!
This is so cool
I would pick both David and Caleb because both of them made it easier to understand AC and DC waves and what the Edison effect is.
I am excited about this video!
I really loved learning more about the electronic inventions
Another great episode.
I really enjoyed the morse code segment, thank you for another great episode!
Enjoyed the live this week!
Hello from Colorado!
Wow amazing
Loved learning about all the electronic inventions.