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 »
Where do they get the material to make the nano tubes?
Can you put games on that drive?
learn something everyday
This was a really cool episode!
Great episode this week! Learning more about carbon was awesome!
Radio waves are so cool!
The episode was exciting like always.
Hello from New Orleans.
love this episode!
I loved learning about the hydrogen cars!! Science lives are my favorite
science live is so interesting. Lots of things to learn from it. I learned a lot of new things from this video.
Science live is so interesting to start my day with!
R51 is funny!
The tubes is rlly cool this is my favorite episode
I made some research about the vacuum tube amplifier, so I would like to know: How do vacuum tube amplifiers differ from solid-state amplifiers in sound quality?
The vacuum tube amplifier is so cool!
I like how I can always learn something new from these episodes. Didn’t know what a vacuum tube amplifier was, now I do!
It is so cool how carbon nanotubes can be that small but still be as strong as steel. So that makes me wonder, could you make a tiny bridge for ants with them?
carbon tubes are really cool!
This episode was very funny and fun.
Whoa so cool! Love science live
Why do batteries stop working?
What year was floppy drives created?
Loved the carbon Tubes. Very cool!
The battery thing is really cool and I will look for it the next time I buy a phone
Science Fairs are cool.
I like how carbon tubes can amplify and change sound for a more warming sound
The vacuum tube amplifier is so amazing
I find it’s cool that the carbon atoms can be so small!
loved this!
I love Science Live.
Same.
It’s pretty cool how something as small as carbon nano tubes could be so durable that they can lift heavy weights into space!
Thanks for another interesting science live✨
this episode was so cool!😍🐼🥒
Science live is more interesting than I thought it would be.
I loved it!!!!!!!
In what year did Dr. Roger Billings invent his computer?
Which do you think is more reliable, a steam engine automobile or the internal combustion engine?
I love learning new things from science live!
Amazing video today 🙌
I like how you still remember your friend’s babushka, now I’ll remember too.
David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
todays live was great! I love when Dr. Billings shares some of his wisdom with everyone always very special.
Learning about carbon was fascinating! These videos always brighten up my day.
Science live is amazing. There isn’t a time I don’t learn something new watching this.
I LOVEEEEEEE these lives. They are the highlight to my school weeks.
I love the jokes at the begining! lol
I’m absolutely LOVING The Protégés segment! They always explain things so beautifully!
Also R51 is so funny. 🤣🤣🤣
Hydrogen cars sound so cool and futuristic! I hope more people look towards the future of hydrogen cars.
Tobias is awesome.
That sounds fun! I would love to visit the head quarters!
Great Episode, Roger Billings, I love Acellus!
this is one of my favorite episodes yet!
The lesson today was phenomenal, I just had a question for Mr. Billings. What motivated you to get into the field of science and do such great things?
when is the science fair
Famous Words”I’ve been in love with science since the 3rd grade” He is truely a genius.
R51 is the best. He makes it fun.
what is the most powerful vacuum tube amplifer
r-51 i love your radio 😀
r 51 I like your invention.
I want to make R-51’s radio at home and try it out for myself!
I love science live because I learn something new every Wednesday!!! : )
I love how Science Live always has something interesting to learn.
I liked the story of your science fair.
R51 is very smart.
I thought it was cool and fun that multiple Lady Pajets can listen to R-51 with his radio!
This episode was peak!
Thank you!
Great Science Live! Love to hear about the stories of Acellus graduates!
So cool that bacteria was studied to make the technology of sunscreen better. I really hope to come to Acellus World someday. I like these science live videos. Thank you.
I wish I could drive in a hydrogen car.
Thank you for this episode of Science Live!!! I really liked watching it!
R-51 is hilarious
Loved the silly stuff at the end!!!!
Thank you for this episode. It feels so strange to me that the episode that is coming out tonight will be the last one that I watch sine I will be graduating soon. Science Live has been a constant in my life for so long so it is bittersweet to know that there is only one episode left for me.
This was really interesting
R51 is soo funny!
id love to try the cup and strings experiment
Absolutely a fan of this, can’t wait to learn more!
Hello from NY! Love the new live!
R51 always funny
more new knowledge each week thank you
The video was inspiring
Thanks for another great episode! 🙂
that was soooooo amazing
So glad to be back from winter break! Hope everyone had an amazing holiday!
I really like the technology discovery section. I always learn something new!
I look forward to finishing my high school years at Acellus.
I love watching these.
I did not know that Roger billings went to a science convention when he was young.
Acellus is amazing!!
R51 is literally the funniest little guy ever!!
This episode was awesome! The hydrogen car is so cool and I hope i get to see it happen for real one day.
I love that Acellus is doing a science fair, it’s so cool!
Science live always gets me in the mood to learn more.
I agree with Dr Billings, It is very important to be honest. Great advice!
Thank you. Dr Billings
Lithium batteries are able to use carbon nanaotube to increase the battery life and they can also be used in electric vehicles.
Carbon tubes are very interesting.
To day in science live I learned that Samuel Morse was a painter and but one day. His wife died but he also got a invited to Washington DC but he. Had to go to Europe nut instead of going to Washington he went to Europe
I am watching with my Mom.
This was a great episode! Can you do one on gravity?
loved the episode cant wait for the next!!
Always learning from science live!
Super fun episode! Those carbon tubes are really cool!
Pollution free hydrogen cars are great!
Is carbon a form of a diamond?
Comment add a magic course it would be tricky.
The R-51 bits are my favourite haha!
I like this episode
Tn
Science live is amazing
My favorite part was when Dr. John talked about the nano tubes
Carbon nano tubes seem amazing
Is the science fair onlie or in preson
loved the cup phone trick
thank you so much for this week’s video I am so sorry but I well not being entering into science fair this year, but I really liked this week’s video thank you again.
learned something about amplifiers today.
Why isn’t there a 2 in binary for maybe?
science live is always cool!!
I am watching this with my dogs!🐶🐶 Science Live is so cool!!!⚛⚛⚛
Really interesting stuff in this episode!
Thank you so much for this lesson i learned so many new things! I liked learning about the carbon tubes!
I was interested in the part about Lee de Forest. Why is the current delayed when the spoons touch each other?
I really enjoyed this episode and I can not wait to start on my science fair project.
This was such an interesting episode!! I can’t wait for the next one!!! 🙂
I have anxiety and the emotional learning program helps me so much. I start my day in that class before doing anything else so I can make sure i am in a happy mindset.
This was soo good!
I loved learning about the hydrogen cars
My mom always says honesty is the best policy too. It sounds like it was true for you!
I like how there is a science fair coming and the two way radio.
How is a carbananna cube (800• degrees?)
Thank you for this fun and educational video!
hi from Texas
I didn’t even know carbon tubes were a thing, thats interesting.
Science live is the highlight of my week!
This episode was very interesting
OMG that was so so so so so so so so so so so so AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!🤩✌🏼❤️
I am in Texas! It is the best. Hope you enjoyed your time here.
Learning about carbon nano tubes was really cool, and R51 is super funny😂.
Thank you for teaching me something new about amplifiers!
I love doing science live.
I love R-51!
This episode was awesome!
Interesting fact about how lightening affects mother nature.
Science live is so interesting
Loved learning about hydrogen cars!
For those who dont know: Graphene is a carbon non-metal (but behaves as one) that is incredibly strong, light, and conductive; it has a hexagonal arrangement. Also lovely Beatles Tribute… And was that master of puppets you tried to play? I saw the E chord and the walk down, so I was just curious.
I loved this episode, it was so interesting.
Hello from Minnesota, this episode was really interesting!
They should get a more catchy name. Carbon nano tubes will get old fast
I would love to be a scientist when I grow up.
I always learn so much watching science live!
It would be really cool to have a space elevator to pull us to space.
I think the technoligy spotlight was cool on science live
Thank you acellus!
This subject was really interesting, waters power is amazing. I would be interested in how it was discovered.
I didnt know you can talk through cups like that
How does a vacuum tube amplify?
Carbon is actually so fascinating
I’m so glad Acellus is prepareing us with real world skills!!
The nana tube and flash drive was so interesting!
Learning about the carbon tubes was very interesting! I enjoyed this episode a bunch!
I love science
I loved learning about carbon tubes!
what kind of bacteria did they use to make the new sunscreen
This was an awesome episode!
I love learning about vacuum tube amplifiers!
isnt carbon required for any type of life?
i love learning from these videos
I liked hearing the story of the Acellus academy graduates from Guam. I am a gymnast and Acellus gives me flexibility to work around practices and competitions.
I learned so much thank you Dr B.
how can bacteria have a uv protectant
Can I watch the Acellus Science Fair live?
I learn something new every video!
So if hydrogen cars were made commercial, then it would still pollute the atmosphere? Wouldn’t solar powered cars be a better invention? You already have electric cars, you would just have to convert solar power to electricity to make the car run, but have it work as an electric car, in the way of just have it charging when it’s in the sun, but it switches to electric if you were in a tunnel. The only reason no one has even tried to do this is just industrial greed of making money off gas.