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 »
I love learning stuff like science!!!!!!
I think acellus world is a wonderful idea, because you get to meet your learning community!
R51 R51 R51 R51 R51 R51 R51
I learn something new and interesting every time from Dr. Tobias.
This one was really interesting! The vacuum tube amplifier was really cool.
I love the science live videos!
I love learning about hydrogen cars!
I loved Dr. Billings explaining how his hydrogen car initially created more pollution than regular gasoline and how he honestly addressed the issue and eventually fixed it. It really showed the hard work behind making his vision a reality! It was also great seeing David and Caleb again. Their amplifier explanation and concert example were hilarious and engaging!
I absolutely loved this episode!
Thank u for this wonderful science live video this week!
This might be a silly question but, where is all the carbon for the “carbon nano tubes” coming from?
“Science live” definitely changes lives! I have learned so much throughout the years, and I have used the knowledge that I’ve gained, in my regular lifestyle. For example, I’ve made “floating cosplay wings” that attach with magnets, and I have also shared important conversations about black holes with some of my friends.
Therefore, I believe that these weekly lectures are great for expanding your knowledge, and igniting curiosity.
Carbon nanotubes sound very cool! Hard to imagine anything going as far as space.
I love the technology spotlight and the technology history it’s fun to hear and learn about.
I learn new things every week with this program keep up the good work!!
I love Acellus
lol I love you guys
Wow carbon nantubes sound super interesting
I also learn new stuff everytime, it’s super fun to watch science live!
I love Science Live!
The vacuum tube ampflier is so cool I enjoyed this one a lot!
another great science live :):)
thank you
I always learn something new watching Science Live!
I liked learning about flash drives.
So cool!
Wow!Amazing live !
I liked learning about USB’s and flash drives.
I love learning w acelus!
It’s cool that it can stop or accelerate the electron flow
The cup project looks cool. I want to make it.
That is so cool
Hi from Idaho
Love this video!!
The science fair sounds fun!
Dr. Billings already invented the hydrogen car and hydrogen house many years ago, right? Why aren’t we using this technology? We see the positives, so what are the negatives? The international science fair sounds amazing. Will it be filmed so that we can watch?
Wow!
We enjoy these so much
Science is something that we study yet know very little about despite the decades that we have been studying it. I like that they break it down in ways that i can understand easily and follow without much confusion.
I think the science fair sounds really fun. I hope I can come one year!
thank yall r51 is so funny
always look forwards to these science live videos!
I learn something new everyday its so suprising!
carbon nano-tubes are super neat and it was cool learning about their structure.
Always a fun time watching science live!
I think it’s so cool that you invented the hydrogen car when you were so young!
science live is so fun to watch. *winkwink*
The science fair looks so fun where is it located?
I love Science LIVE!
I loved this episode! thank you!
thats so cool that such a small thing can be so strong! thanks for this science live
This was cool
How many carbon bonds does it take to build a mile long tube?
Wow! Another great episode.
❤️❤️❤️
I’m excited to see everyone’s projects for the science fair
It was cool hearing from the graduates.
Great episode!
loved this episode!!
iT is so cool how a amplifier was made!!!
I want to ride in a hydrogen car. They seem cool.
I love science lives!
I really liked this episode. It was really cool.
Ooo, the science fair sounds so fun!
I look forward to watching science live every week!
Its so amazing how much i learn from just one video!
Hydrogen cars are so cool!
Thank you so much for another Science Live!
R51’s vaccum tube invention was cool! but where did he get so much cardboard cut outs of the social emotional teacher?
And the sherlock holmes joke was funny! i also love the special effects, KEEP ADVANCING!
This is the best.
It was interesting to learn about vacuum tube amplifiers.
I learned about a vauum tube amplifier
I love learning new things watching Science Live!!!
It’s crazy how much carbon nano tubes can be used for!
When was the first USB drive utilized
Science live is so cool! I wish i could go in a hydrogen car! Thank you for helping me learn
Does the physical design of the vacuum tube amplifier affect its performance?
Carbonnanotubes will help us save energy in the future
The lesson was very informative. I appreciate all of these wonderful topics that Science Live give us every Wednesday. Keep up the excellent work.
I love the way they put everything together!!
Love watching and learning new things.
I love since live I wish I can ride in a hydrogen car!!!!🚗
Hydrogen cars are so fascinating!
I love science Live it is so cool to see Caleb and David working together:-D
I loved this!!
this was great!
Would love to travel and watch one of these lives in action!
could you use nano tubes to build bridges and sky scarpers that are more durable
The science fair sounds so exciting.
The fact that the student could do her competitions in olympic weightlifting due to the program is super awesome!
every time I watch I learn some really cool things
Thank you for this week’s Science L!VE.
I learned that when an amplifier is used it will make the thing sound louder in a crowd. For instance when you plug in a guitar and play it the sound will be loud enough to hear it in a concert setting.
I love how science live always goes into such good detail with easy explanations! You rock!
The carbon nanotube looks really cool
I really like reading about mysteries and I hope to invent something in the future.
Its cool seeing a carbon nanotube under a microscopes.
Why does ice float on water instead of sinking like most other things?
So awesome!!
Super cool. Thanks for the video. have an amazing day.💚😁
This episode was so fun! I love science live!!
Thank you So much dr. Billings I love hearing about Science. 🔬🦠🔍🔭📡
Can you use carbon nanotubes to build stronger cars and can you bend it?
I enjoy watching science live every week!
I love R-51’s cup phones! Another great Science Live!
Its insane that you can stop or accelerate electron flow!
I learn something new everytime!!
The carbon nanotubes were interesting.
its insane to me how far we’ve gone with LEDs and computers. I learn something new everyday!
Great session this week!!
I like that the gold store is growing
Tobias’ tie was really cool looking 🙂 I always look forward to seeing what tie he picks. loved hearing about how amplifiers work! very neat.
The cup phones was cool and thank you for the Acellus Gold Store to use our coins with.
I’ve always wanted to go to a science fair!
Wow! I love learning from ScienceLive! I too love mysteries!
I didn’t know that there was carbon tubes in the batteries of my phone!
I have never even heard of a ” Vacuum Tube Amplifier” thats cool!!
I wish I could go to one! I looking forward to watching a new one on Wednesday!
r51 always makes me laugh
i actually love watching this, so entertaining.
There’s always something I find interesting.
Its interesting to think that almost everything we use today started off as a thought inside of someone else’s head. It makes you think that maybe one day other people will use something that you created daily.
Wow this was really cool🔥
I love learning new stuff
I love the Hydrogen cars!!!!!!
Perfectly done, great episode
I liked hearing about the Nano Tubes and how there is a possibility to make a elevator to space.
This is my favorite part of school!!
GREAT PROGRAM LOVE THIS.
I really enjoy the gold store and hope you can keep up with it!
😁❤️❤️
I enjoyed the spotlight on the Lujan family! I love how flexible Acellus makes schooling so that students can more conveniently pursue their other interests.
I liked hearing about the Luon family and how Acellus was a huge factor in them being able to succeed at weightlifting.
A hydrogen car sounds so cool!
The part about r51 was so funny.
I really enjoyed today’s episode and can’t wait until the next one.
R-51 was super hilarious, and the cups with the strings remind me of an episode of Super Mario World, being Party Line. (Also I am writing this comment from New Hampshire because my grandmother as passed away.) 😥
That was super cool 😎
I love learning!
This was a pretty cool episode of Science Live.
I liked the part about how they were able to make the first USB drive.
Man you really do learn something new everyday!
Always great scientific info!
YAY SCIENCE LIVE( ◠‿◠ )
I hope that everyone who participates in the science fair has a great time!
Also the proportions of those nanotubes are crazy!
I got back from my drama club and i was greeted with science live!
Love this show so interesting, and fun !!!
The vacuum tube Amplifier is so cool!
Science live is awesome.
Can you just go to the science fair to see the projects?
I love Break-through Moments In Science. Its so cool to learn about the advancements that have led up to the current day.
Caleb is literally my new favorite person 🥹
Question: Can I use my guitar for a science project?
I like r 51.
SPACE ELEVATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR
I always love Science Live!!!
I enjoy Roger Billings story’s of him inventing the hydrogen car.
in the area 51. It was funny how he was telling us that we could use the cup with the string and the other cup
The information about amplifiers was cool!
This video was great loved the hydrogen car
R-51 called the most innovative thing to technology the vacuum tube diode “No good.”!?
The cup phones work! I have made them before!
The carbon tubes was cool
This is so cool!
You can build off of others inventions to make them better and your own.
I liked the video! I would love to be part of a science fair someday.
I loved this episode, every time I watch these episodes I always learn something new!
Keep r51 he is the funniest guy on Earth man I hope he stays there for it ever and can you make his own class so he can do everything I love her man keep r51 science live is the best of all too with all r51 it would have been a crash.
Great episode!
The hydrogen engine/car once its mas produced would boost so much environmental changes
I love seeing the different graduates from Acellus! It shows how amazing this school really is and the opportunities you can receive from all their programs.
Hello, i’m watching from Florida. I learn so much from these lessons!
I hope I can afford a hydrogen car one day.
The hydrogen car seems so cool!
Amplifiers are very cool to learn about!
My mom said you are having a conference in kansas city. i wanna go!!!