Vacuum Tube Amplifier
January 14, 2026 • EPISODE 293
📌 Science Fair Idea – R-51 Radio
What’s a vacuum tube amplifier? Come explore with Dr. Roger Billings on Science LIVE! Learn about the technology that made it possible to boost electrical signals and amplify sound. Discover how vacuum tubes control electron flow, why they powered early radios, audio systems, and computers, and how they shaped modern electronics. And get ready for something super exciting: carbon nanotubes – super-strong, lightweight materials that might one day help build a space elevator, opening new ways to reach space!
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 Alabama! 🙂
My dad uses an amplifier when he plays his guitar so it’s very interesting to see how the amplifier works.
Hello from South Dakota
Music is so good.
Good episode
Nice video!
When were amplifiers first “Successfully” used and put into place?
I really enjoy science live.thank you for your hard work
Hi from Florida
Hello from Mississippi
My great aunt won the WV state science fair years ago
Hi from Texas!
Hello
i love music so much so learning about the amplifiers was super cool!
I 💜 science live.
Hi
Are amplifier tubes still used
hello!
hi
I love how much information a gained from this!!
I will be looking out for her.
What are carbon nano tubes made out of and how long do they take to make?
hello from mass
science fairs are cool.
It is my birthday I am fourteen years old please have a shout out.
gOOD EVENING
so cool
Hi from Mississippi!
I’m very curious about these nano tubes, any further information on those?
how does the size of the amplifier change the effectiveness of the noise projection?
I’m here
Wow the science fairs have to be incredible!
Radios are amazing I dont know what I would do without a radio and music in cars.
Amplifiers are a great invention!
Amazing singing!
Have radios changed a lot within the years?
I love science live! and Hello Mr. Roger keep up the great science lives!!!!
Hello from Texas
I love Mr. Billing’s stories from when he was younger, he genuinely had such an eventful career.
Where is R51?
hey from Georgia
Working on a science project would be a lot of fun! I have a lot of ideas I’m already thinking of!
Hello everyone, hope everything is well
I like David
*
when is accelus world again
I love science live!!
Hello!
I love that i can always learn something new with science live!! 🙂
I might be intrested in the science fair!
Comment Honesty is one of the biggest virtues in my life! It is so important in school.
How long have they been making carbon nano tubes?
Hello from Maine
Guitar is awesome!
R51 is so funny 🤣
Hello from Texas
can’t believe your engine turned out that way
Did you win all the science fairs that you entered?
Hi from Montana.
Super cool!
Hello from Kentucky!
Hello Acellus
Great science live!!! I always learn so many interesting things!
I didn’t learn that yet.cool
Hello from TENNESSEE!
Hi from Nevada! Great Live!
my mom always tells me and my sister to tell the truth.
Hi from MI!
What are your predictions for when global pollution will start to get noticeably better?
I think thats cool
this is very interesting!
it is amazing 🤩👏
hello world
Hi I’m watching!!
Learning about the things I use to do my work on will surely improve my skills and productivity.
How USB is made is so amazing!!!*
Cool
What science fair?!!!!
Is David or Caleb going to make an appearance this live?
hi from texas
One thing I enjoyed learning about in science live is when Dr. Billings was talking about pollution and how he he made his inventions
WOW!!
Aww that is so cute.
So cool!
Love science fairs!
I like it
Awesome Live tonight. Love learning new stuff.
Hi I’m from Northdakota
I never knew about floppy disks before until now thank you for teaching me!
Hello from Ohio!
It’s amazing to hear all that information from you (I know so much knowledge now) 🙂
Hi science live is the best
Best part of my week is watching the lives and learning more!! Great live!
love science live!
hi I am ready
Hello from Oregon
This is my first week. Happy to be here.
What did she make and did she win??
hi
I really like how Dr. B said that honesty is the best way to reach your goal. I think honesty is very important.
hey, love these
hi from Michigan’
Very interesting live video today. Mr Roger has amazing stories to tell, Thank you :))
Hi from Texas hope everyone has a good rest of their week
so cool and interesting!
can’t wait for next weeks live!
Hi
This is cool.
this is so cool
Hi Liam from Austin texas
I cannot wait for next week’s live, and I am very excited for when conspiracy theories classes are able to be done. I love conspiracy theories.
Hi from SC!
Cool
Hello from Texas!
Hear me out, an Oxygen powered car.
All of this is so interesting!
Hello, from Wyoming!
very nice video peeps i loved all the jokes
i like how he mentions honesty is something many great scientist have.
so coolll
Hi im kirra from texas
I like the nano bot that Dr John was talking about!
*Excellent story!!
Honesty goes such a long way!
Something I learned from this video is that Dr.Roger Billings had made a hydrogen car that was supposed to be pollution free and got it fixed by fixing the Engine with a steam mechanism where he would ignite a flame against water to the right point just enough to push down the piston and remove any excess chemicals that are toxic.
I am so glad the science live is back on a weekly basis!!
I always enjoy hearing Mr rogers talk about his invention because it inspires me to put my best foot forward in everything i do.
i love science live
Hi!
I don’t think I can choose between Caleb and David. This was one of my favorite science lives.
Hello Everyone, Good Evening from the state of NY
Hello It’s Nebiyah from new jersey
this live is so fun
Couldn’t find a question to ask this time but I love this program, It’s so cool!
woah!!
Hello from New Jersey! Love science.
I can’t wait to see what innovations we see on science live in 2026
HI i am from Texas 😁
Being honest can get you a long way
Yep!
Honesty is the best!
My mom always tells me to be honest.
I agree that honesty is the best policy.
Was Mendeleev one of the scientists of the world who admitted to not knowing everything? Despite his genius invention of the modern periodic table, he admitted that there were likely still elements that we as a society had not yet discovered — is this aspect seen as part of his intelligence, being able to concede and admit his lack of knowledge and show honesty in certain aspects of chemistry?
This is cool.
I do not really have any questions for this right now but this is really interesting I am loving it
Being honest is best!! I’m really enjoying tonight’s live. I am learning alot of new things and I loved learning about the flash drives.
this is so cool
Wow!
hello
Hi Dr. Billings!
I am really excited for the invention fair! When will the invention fair page update for the 2026 season?
Hey from Richmond!!
Thank you for what you do!
Hi from Texas.
I love science live so much. It is so interesting.
Cool live!
How long have they been using the methed to make carbon nanotubes?
hi from il!
When you mix hydrogen and oxygen together, what happens does it explode or does it stay together or does it hydrogen?
I think the idea of a pollution free car is really interesting but nitrous oxide seems to be a large problem issue when it comes to heat and air.
Hello from Texas
What is your end goal?
It was interesting learning about nitric oxide, and Hi! from Chihuahua, Mexico.
This live was so interesting
cool
favorite part of my Wednesday
Sylas from Mississippi
Is it possible that we may see near pollution free cars in 50 years or so?
hi
This is a nice science live video 1
That’s so interesting!!
Thank you for this week’s science live cant wait for next week’s
Hi
When did you get the idea of hydrogen cars?
its cool watching these videos because I learn new thing every time and know fun facts
Hello from Las Vegas! This is so interesting a hydrogen car.
hi not sure my other comment went though but today is my birth day!
i love science
What does USB mean were did the name come from who named it?
honesty is the best policy
I had to deal with honesty today, thanks for sharing that. That really helped me.
I was going to ask if it was more or less pollution than a normal car.
But you said it’s more, wow!
I find USBs to be really important, lol. I use them a lot when reinstalling operating systems or testing out new linux distros! Theres a bunch of tools that can be loaded on them as well, such as ransomware decryptors.
Cooked air? Wow! I love Science.
has anyone made a pollution free plane?
I think it is cool
Hi from New Hampshire