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 »
Hello from TX
Heyyyyy
Love these lives!
We love Science live!
how does the robot move
That’s so cool
hi from california
How do people make robots so small and how can they still work?
How is your day going
hello from Texas
Woah that little robot is really cool
You know that could be used for spy tools, like if they put microphone and a camera, boom! There’s your spy Tool.
Although there could be a chance that people could step on it because of how slow and that small, but still.
About how many robots have ever been made in the world?
Robotics is so cool
Why are robots getting smaller?
How can a robot be that tiny!
hello from Nebraska
I love science lives
Hi from Montana! Hope everyone had a good Christmas and new year!
Hello from Missouri!
hello from MO!!
Hello from arkansas
Little bot doin’ big things!
hello from. Mississppi it was hot enough to swim today
Hello from Texas
that is so cool!
how does the micro robot move ?????????????????
hello from IDAHO i love science live and i love pajets contagesly happy energy keep it up
Hello from Wake Forest, NC! Robots are definitely part of our future!
how does something that small even be programed?
I saw the story about the microchip on the Montana News!
It probably took them a long time to figure out how to make stuff that can tell you about when the tornadoes will hit
Happy New Year!!
Hi!
hello from Marlin
wow i didnt even know computer chips could be that small! science live is so cool
I love these science lives
Hi from TX
Hope everyone had a great New Year
Good evening from Virginia!
When was this tiny robot first made?
Similar as to computers and phones shrinking, robots are following in succession.
Hi from Massachusetts
smaller than a grain of salt??? Thats amazing
I love science live!!
Wow
How long does it take them to make the world‘s smallest robot?
The small robot reminds me of the magic school bus books.
Books also can give us insight on our writing.
hello from Illionis how did they make it that small?
Hello, from Nebraska!! ~\(≧▽≦)/~
Hello from MD
Hello from Delaware.
That is so amazing! How do they work on something so small. What type of things doe it do? What is it used for?
thats a small robot, were getting closer to metal gear rising every day
Hello from Denver, North Carolina!!
Hello from Massachusetts!That tiny robot is insane! How advanced will robots like that become?
Okay, that is genuinely insane that the robot looks that small, it might accidentally get crushed because of that size. Still impressive though!
I rushed to watch it and I was SOOOOO happy to see its still going on:) 😉
oh wow thats such a small robot! crazy how much power it has.
wow that is a small robot
That robot reminds me of the movie Spy Kids
so they made a fully fucnctional microbot?
Hello from wv
Hello from Montana!
Hey! From Arkansas!
Hi from Illinois
Wow! That’s incredibly small! What could it be used for?
HELLO from Tennesee!
Happy new year!!
Hi Isabella HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! That robot is really tiny!
Happy New Year! I hope you had amazing holidays!
Ayo! From Idaho!
how do they make robots so small and make them smarter at the same time
Good evening and happy new year from Mississippi!!
How would you measure the small robot?
hi from ky
That hydrogen powered drone sounds like an amazing idea for tornados!!
here from Alabama school is cool
HELLOO happy new yearsss!!
Hello from Nevada
I am building a robot too.
Helloooo from ncccc !!! I love science !!!
What happens if you breathe in a tiny robot?
How amazing that a robot is so small and can swim!
hello from saudi
How did they make the robot so small
With a robot that small, how do they not loose it
I love science
That’s insane! So cute
Thats so cool
how brittle are the components considering how small the robot is?
This was my first time joining I just enrolled and I really liked it
Hello from Augusta GA
Hello, love the science lives.
That is so cool! it can swim!? That is amazing. I love science!
that is a small robot.
Hi All, I am so ready for a new year of Science Live!
Happy new year, first episode of 2026.
I love science Live. I’m from Memphis Tennessee. I’m Elena
We’re going to have Tony Stark nanotech before GTA 6!
i really want to take both AP and Honors when I get into High school.
i love science!!
That tornado thing is cool,I wonder how that works? I wonder how they made that robot?
Hello everyone!
wow this helped so much
Happy New Years! Watching from South Dakota.
happy new year!
Im so excited for the live today!
I love science
Hi, from Ct
Hello everyone happy new years !
Hi from Florida, I think it would be cool to study hurricanes.
Hello!! from Texas
Hi from VA!! Loving the first Science Live of the New Year 🙂 !!
wow
Why do flowers breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen?
Good evening,
Jermaine from Georgia checking in!
Wow that is So small!!
Wow that is really small.
Happy New Year!
That is so small , how do you pick it up and handle it without messing it up?
First Science Live this year!
Ready for Science Live
Hello, from Al!!
hello from ai
I wish I could post pictures in the comments 😭😭 my dog is watching this one with me and its SOOOOO cute
Hello love it.
Very interesting how the tiny robot can swim!
Wow now how cool is that it’s soo cool
Happy New Year to everyone!
hi from kentucky
Happy new year! First Sience Live on 2026t
hi from GJ
How many classes do you have on Acellus?
hi from mo
this is what i always like
Hello from Indiana.
Hi guys
Hi from Kentucky
Happy new year everyone and congratulations Anastasia!!
Hello Everyone!
I can’t wait for what this year of Science Live holds!
Hi from New York City yay
Hi from Colorado
Hello from Nevada
Hey guys! Happy science live is back!
Hello from Texas hope everyone’s new year was good
hello everyone
I wish I could attend Science Live in person.
With the development of those drones, will storm chasers possibly have an easier time gathering data? Seems like a really cool opportunity for them.
Hello from Indianapolis
Hiii happy to be here from TN!
hello everyone
Hi from texas
Hello from washington
This is absolutely amazing
What was the biggest tornado ever?
hello from nj
that AP reading class is very interesting, i may end up doing the class
Hello from Virginia.
Thank you for sharing the AP classes information.
Hello from tx
Hi from Florida happy new years
hello from ga
Good live
Happ New Year! hope everyone enjoyed their vacation
hi from Texas
Hello from Rhode Island!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Love it
Hello from California
Hi from TX. Happy New Years!
hi from va
Sign in from Alabama
Hi from Texas
Hi from Tennessee! I’m so exicted for this sience live (:
Hello from Nebraska! Can’t wait to see what we learn about today!
such an awesome podcast