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 »
Loved this episode. Thank you Dr. Billings!
I love computers so much! Science Live sparked my intrest!
So cool to see how the Vacuum Tube Diode and the Edison Effect work together.
I had never heard of this before! I’m always learning new things
wish we could hear more about Morse Code
i wish to see science live in person
All the information was very interesting!
Is there something that I can do?
Science live is awesome!
I never got a full breakdown of computers like that
science live is so amazing!!
Great video can’t wait for the next science live video.
Science live is so awesome
I love science live so much thank you Dr. Roger billings
Great Science Live to start the year!
Morse Code is very cool to learn about. Thank you!
i love learning about this
Explained in such an understandable manner. We love Science Live!
If plants breathe carbon dioxide and we have fewer plants and trees than we did 100 years ago are we in danger of having too much carbon dioxide in the air?
Science live rocks
Hello From CO. Crazy cool and interesting!
Science Live is so entertaining
Wow who would’ve thought, this is great
yes both of them
I really enjoyed this video and can’t wait for the next one!
Who invented the micro chip?
Joshua: How Anastasia worked hard to join the Design Team
Dr. John: How to test new robots (like new swimming robots)
Tobias: How people invented new ways for Morse code
Roger & Pajet: Learning about The Vacuum Tube Diode
can’t wait for this new year and new year of more videos
i love science live it is so fun to watch💖💖💖
I love deer hunting!!!!!
First Science Live of 2026 was truly amazing! Thank you!!! 😀
I find plants to be very interesting!
I love science lives, they are the best!!!
I always love the part with Dr. Tobias, he’s my favorite!
love this the start of 2026 this one is the best.
I always thought diodes were cool.
Computers are so much cooler then I then i thought.
my mom has an antique radio from the 30’s and has vaccum tubes that are huge
Wow I did not know a vacuum tube diode was one of the earliest electronic inventions
You could have the the teenee tiny robots take pictures of the inside of the body for medical procedures also thank you for this video
that’s so cool I didn’t know that vaccume tube diodes existed and that they converted the (AC) into a (DC) by making electrons flow in only one direction
what was the hardest science experiment you have done ???
I did not know plants could breathe or that they’ve came up with more study about that! That is so cool!
Never heard of a vacuum diode before it seems cool
Happy New Year! Can’t wait for more Science live!
I learned a lot on how the vacuum tube diode started!
i enjoyed the video and it was fun to watch
R51 is very funny.🤣😂😆
I wonder if the guy never discovered the electric magnet, if we’d still have the tech we have today.
You explain stuff amazing.
I’d like to know what else the nanobot can do.
What other diodes are out there?
This was an amazing episode!
love the drones!
COOL TECH
The tech is so cool and it looks good
I love learning new things
It’s so cool that the robot can swim!
This one is my favorite!!!
I love science live
It’s so amazing seeing how much more advance computers have gotten over the years and how great technology is now
Loved the first science live of 2026!
I like that we are talking about applying it to real life.
My family is having an awesome year so far as well. We are a little late watching this year’s episode, but we are excited to be watching Science Live again!
I watched the vacuum tube diode.
I enjoyed learning about the History of computers and technology.
I love morse code!
electronics are so underestimated
I watched The Vacuum Tube Diode.
Awesome episode
i love Dr Tobias he always has good jokes
We known the vacuum tube diode how to work and why it was so important in early radios.
i love this its so cool
2026 Science Live!!
well done Anastasia!!
This technology is truly impressive, particularly the capability to observe phenomena at such a microscopic level. The ability to monitor small breathing patterns is a remarkable advancement in scientific observation.
Wish I was able to join live, itd be cool to chat about all the questions I have. I think the vacuum unit is neat, and we should do a series!! Maybe for a science fair??
New science fun for a new year
Wow! This is so interesting!
Great episode to start off the New Year!
Thank you for teaching us about the Vacuum Tube Diode.
2026 let’s go!
Technology is so interesting! Great new episode of 2026!
Wow this episode was awesome!
This video was one of my favorite yet!!! They just keep getting better!!!
I loved this video really interesting and it was amazing
very interesting episode this week!
Drones are too cool.
This was so cool
First episode of 2026 !
I LOVE R-51
I like science live. amazing!!!!!
Love science live
2026 You Guys! Let’s go Science Live!
I think that both Caleb and David are going to be amazing on the show!
Tornados are crazy so scary 😨
Beautiful start to the year with this episode
Computers are always so interesting.
Science Live is so interesting
Dr.Billings is so amzing!!
This was a good video. Science Live is very interesting.
A vacuum tube diode is an early electronic device that allows electric current to flow in only one direction. It works based on thermionic emission in a vacuum environment and was widely used for rectification in early radio and electronic circuits before semiconductor diodes became common.
Tech is awesome
The drones were the coolest thing of this episode !
My vote is for both. Thank you!
3 Fun Facts:
1.If you have a goal/dream chase it till you succeed it.
2.Before Samuel Morse made morse code he was a artist.
3.It took days for Morse to get the news that his wife was sick and died because the message to so long to get to him.
BONUS:Dr.R made the first hydrogen car when he was just in high school
Those are the 3 fun facts I learned from the first 2026 science live!
Happy New Year!
What is vacuum tubes like to use it
i get why computers are so expensive
I never really understood how AC and DC worked before until they explained it.
A vacuum tube diode is like a one-way door for tiny particles called electrons. It lets electricity go in only one direction, which helped early radios play sound clearly and allowed the first computers to work. This simple invention showed people how to control electricity and thats how modern electronics got their start!
I definitely learned something new.
how electricity works is very interesting
First Science Live I love it!!!!
This was interisting. I love how it breaks it down for understanding! I would of never of knew this!
Acellus rocks, I love the live Science
very interesting crazy how things work!
Hi from Virginia.
I like this type of science!
First science live of 2026
I love Science Live!
Tech is so awesome!!
WOW!!! This is very interesting
Super helpful, Thank you Dr. billings
loved the first episode of the year, what aa great way to start!
Morse should be taught more in every school. In my personal opinion. Its interesting.
Rewatching because science live is the best!!!
I pick both but we need female protégé’s too
Science Live Teaches me somethingnnew EVERY Wednesday! 🩷
It’s cool that plants can breathe.
This video is amazing, thank you for the effort put into it.
so much info in one video.
So cool that plants breathe
The fact that humans could solely communicate with morse code is so interesting.
my favorite subject is E.L.A
Wow now there is three generations of billings on science live
Awesome 1st Live of the year!
Science live is so cool.
Really loved this episode! Team Caleb!!
wow only a penny to make those small robots
Science live get better every week!
so cool to see how electronic communication started
i love all things tech!
Wow….so tiny…s cool. The things we can do with robots even so tiny!
I never knew a vacuum could work this way!
hello from north texas !
This is so cool! I love computers and learning about them.
First Science Live of 2026 did not disapoint
This is such a good breakdown! so interesting!
Tech is so cool
I really liked the drones this episode.
Wow! This is so interesting!
Hi from Kansas
computers are interesting
excellent science live!!!
Science Live is so amazing!
Science Live is 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!
From Oklahoma
Good job Anastasia!Thank you acellus!
Hi from Illinois
All these little parts that do big things!
The prodige’s explaination was very clear
very interesting! happy new year!
It was so interesting learning about how the vacuum tube diode works !!
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