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 »
when is the science fair
so cool! I like learning new things in science live each week!!
This weeks dicussion was very interesting.
This is a great video. I am learning a lot at this school
Her being emotional is so relatable lol!
can’t even imagine a work without usb drives
*is the law of Newton the most important thing in science??!!?
I love Science Live!
You’re right honesty is the most important thing .
Phoenix, Ak hi r-51
nano tubes are definitely next level
I never knew how these worked!
How do black holes form?
Watching from Georgia! #iloveacellusacademy
Science is my favorite.
Tobias always has the best stuff!
I think it’s cool they have found a material that can stretch to a mile long!
very inspiring and cool facts
I really enjoyed learning about the science fair.
I find it very interesting that people from around the world come to Acellus headquarters to graduate like normal teens.
My dad thinks carbon nanotubes could be used for airplane skins or frames. Is this true?
Wow! That is so awesome, thank you for the detailed video.
I liked learning about carbon nanotubes from Dr. John.
I always love science live episodes!!!
i loved learning about nano tubes and so many other things
I’m going to try that plastic cup telephone with fishing line.
How do you enter in the science fair?
The science fair sounds really cool!
Where do we get carbon from?
I love science livesssss!!!!!!
The vacuum tube is pretty cool!,
Wow, that is complicated, wish I was that good.
I’m excited to see the entries in the science fair
Carbon is cool!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVEE
when is the new conspiracy theory course coming out?
I loved who we got to see Mr Rogers son and grand-son again.Also I liked the r-51 “invention”.lastly I love how Mr Roger fixed hi invention.
I think that the vacuum tube was very neat.
Vacuum Tubes seem so cool!
the concept of hydrogen cars is so cool
Tobias always has the best segment. He goes so in depth about it and really teaches us everything we need to know. My favorite so far is learning about the iPhone but this flash drive one was also interesting!
The flash memory is cool!! Love the lives!
Stronger but lighter material would be great for police officers.
can you amplify a piano?
Would hydrogen cars be just as loud as gas cars?
The floppy drive was cool
This is so cool!
I wish i had a hydrogen car
Isn’t it insane how much carbon atoms can do?
It all sounds super duper cool!!
now l understand every part of the vacuume tube
I love science live
I love listening to all your stories, the science fair sounds really cool.
What is the differance between steam, condensation, and evaporation?
I can’t believe you started working on a hydrogen engine that young!!
Wow I really liked learning about the nano tubes
I learned a lot about nano tubes.
I liked the way they explained an amplifier. This science live was good!
I liked learning about how the carbon atoms grow into the carbon annotubes, that’s really cool!
watching these videos brighten up my day
If I wanted to attend science live in person do I have to pay?
We’re excited about the Science Fair
Do you think science fairs help move science forward mainly by stewarding kids fascination with science or more by making kids making ground breaking observations that adults haven’t thought of yet ?
cool on how the flash memory was made.
how strong can a vacuum get before it breaks
I’m commenting for my post due last Wednesday (Iwas too sick with the flu to get it done then). I think the Edison effect is interesting and it taught me that Thomas Edison was much more than just the light bulb. Thomas Edison discovered the basis of the electron tube.
I liked the story on flash memory
I live in Texas and I loved this live, it was really interesting.
I love sherlock holmes too! Great episode!
I cannot wait for these carbon nanotubes to help with electric cars of the future. My car gets under 300 miles on an 80% charge. This was very informational.
is the new natural sunscreen gonna prevent skin cancer and sun spots ?
I really enjoy watching science live
I think it’s amazing that scientists in Japan found a non toxic sunscreen in bacteria in the hot springs in Thailand.
is the new natural sunscreen gonna work better than the current type ?
I love this! It is amazing.
science live is so fun and enjoyable to learn about i love it
Live laugh love science live!
Keep the jokes coming!
Showing support from Texas
Carben nano tubes sound amazing
I like Science Live this is cool!
Vacuum Tube Amplifer are electronic devices that use thermionic valves to increase the amplitude of a weak signal like from musical instrument pickup or microphone to a level that can drive a speaker.
great lesson today, i hope the space elevator thing comes true
This is only my second video I’ve watched, but I love the area 51 part!
Are carbon nano tubes expensive?
How did they make the vacuum tube?
Who new diamonds were made out of carbon
Carbon nanotubes are crazy
Acellus is amazing!!!
Why did r51 use something already invented with a string and two cups
i wonder how the nano tubes will grow to effect different industries.
wish I could go to the fair! Sadly Im too far away and there’s complications that goes on top of that.
pretty cool learning about the vacuum tube
So excited to learn more about the science fair!
Hydrogen cars sounds really cool.
More of R-51! 😀
Do you ever think there will be a time when we no longer need Science, nor any need to study it anymore!?
How long did it take for the flash code to be invented?
Where do we learn how to apply the scientific method to our interests?
When did Roger Billings make a hydrogen car?
I loved this episode of science live !!
This weeks video was interesting!
Acellus rocks!
enjoyed learining about nano tubes and I have never been to a science fair before
R-51 is so silly! 🤪 That radio of his was so cute.
Hi from tn
I never knew that about the flash drive!
This episode of science live was amazing, it was interesting learning about vacuum tubes.
The carbon nano tubes were super cool
How do I know if have anything with a carbon tube in it .
Wow those new batteries sound really useful!
Hello Acellus!
I was really interested in this lesson specifically the part about flash memory..
Thank you for the lesson!
How do you figure out a good project for a scienc fair?
It’s cool that the save icon files looks are based on the real life electronic files looks.
Those carben nano tubes are amazing
the social and emotional health teacher is my favorite too
I enjoyed learning about the origins of the USB flash drive
Thank you for sharing about the flash drive. It would be awesome if big kids up to 8th grade can add stickers when goal is accomplished. Big kids like to add stickers too. Thanks!
hydrogen cars sound cool
I love learning with acellus!
I love these science videos they’re so interesting.
i love you dr rogergillings!
Carbon is a superhero.
I wonder as the years go on what we will use the carbon tubes for in everyday life?
The nano tubes were really cool to learn about.
I heard hydrogen water is really good for you to drink.
Love these videos there awesome!
I love science live and R-51!!
really cool Learning about carbon-nano tubes and how they are made
It’s nice to see David a Caleb again, I hope more people like them come on science live!
This was such an interesting episode!
This is the best science live yet!!
Flash memory is SO COOL!
Hi from S.C. R51 You literally ROCK😂Haha!!
Hydrogen cars sound like a great idea.
Nano tubes are a cool invention!
Thank you for this Science live 😁
I would love to go to the science fair!
I wanna learn more about vaccum tubes. I liked the R51 style of the radio
How much storage can a flashdrive hold?
Do you believe that people have been killed for trying to make money off of manufacturing hydrogen?
It was fun learning about nano tubes.
R51 was my favorite part of the live
I like how Acellus is so flexible and I can always catch up on my work.
Using the carbon nano tube material to make armor would be amazing! It’s lighter and stronger.
YAY! I love Science Live and enjoyed watching this! Hydrogen cars were very interesting to learn about! Thank you!
Dr. Billings, can you please bring your hydrogen powered car to the science fair for us to see in person?
I am learning so much because of Acellus!
I love watching science thank you guys
Loved this class this week for Science Live!!
This was a great video.
I like learning about science!
its cool learning about the carbon adoms tubes to use electricity.
The carbon nano tube is amazing! I would love to see it in person.
The Science Lives are always so interesting they never fail to amaze me!!!!
Intresting stuff to learn about. Super cool.
I love science live!!
how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood ? I’ve always been curious about that does anybody know the answer?
Hydrogen cars are such a cool idea.
I love science live and I like R-51!!!
I really liked how you stressed honesty is the best policy. Until I began the ninth grade I attended a Christian school and it was stressed to us daily. I think not being honest hurts you as much as it does those around you.
An elevator to space would be awesome! can’t wait for the next science live.
I want to know how hydrogen cars make the world better.
I love Acellus!! Science is so fun!
I wonder how long it’ll be before the new batteries are used in electric vehicles. Will they have as bad of an impact on the environment?
Let’s go R51. From Emerson.
hydrogen is cool
how did dov moran, come up with the blueprint for the flashdrive?
I love Acellus.
I remember making the plastic cup phones once, it actually worked!
What are other uses for the vacuum tube?
I love science so much more.
yea i like how the hydrogen cars are made
The ending with Dr.Billings are always funny!!!
Thank you guys for making another great science live episode.