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 »

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5,019 Comments

  1. Lileean

    Crazy how stuff works great video!!

    Reply
  2. Ann

    I love science live!!!!!

    Reply
  3. Keelyn

    Hello, I’m from mesa, az and I learned a lot about vacuum amplifiers and how it makes sound louder!

    Reply
  4. Jayla

    Great episode! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  5. Abbie

    Loved this video! Can’t wait till next week!

    Reply
  6. Khloe

    i loved this one

    Reply
  7. John

    Science is my favorite subject

    Reply
  8. Crimson

    I enjoyed watching this weeks episode! Sorry I was late to the party.. I have been sick for the past 2 weeks.

    Reply
  9. Olivia

    Never knew this!! Amazing!

    Reply
  10. Clayton

    Carbon Nanotubes are so cool, using them to make smaller, more compact computers, better body armor, and longer lasting batteries, very awesome.

    Reply
  11. Cynthia

    these episodes never fail to amaze me!

    Reply
  12. Lily

    Very interesting! Loved this episode!

    Reply
  13. Levi

    Very cool!

    Reply
  14. Kylie

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  15. Stran

    I like how they broke it all down

    Reply
  16. Sydnee

    It is good to know that science is the search for truth. I have never thought of it that way.

    Reply
  17. Kenna

    I love this!

    Reply
  18. Paityn

    I 🩷 Science!

    Reply
  19. Raiden

    It’s interesting how impactful the science fair can be.

    Reply
  20. Anker

    Wow that was really interesting, it helped me so m much, thanks for the information!

    Reply
  21. Cadence

    Honesty is always the best policy.

    Reply
  22. Kaiden

    Hello from ND

    Reply
  23. Adele

    loved this Ep!

    Reply
  24. Tatum

    Always so interesting every episode

    Reply
  25. Logan

    Honesty is important

    Reply
  26. Adriana

    Thank you

    Reply
  27. Harpyr

    Love this episode!

    Reply
  28. Caleb

    Science Live is really interesting

    Reply
  29. Bennett

    Very cool she is a weightlifter!

    Reply
  30. Emry

    So cool! being honest is so important.

    Reply
  31. Michael

    I watched with my sister

    Reply
  32. Giselle

    Space Elevator? Low-key Crazy!!!!

    Reply
  33. Clara

    That was interesting about the carbon nano tubes. I never heard of them before

    Reply
  34. Ayesha

    THIS WAS FUN

    Reply
  35. Audrey

    I like Morse code!

    Reply
  36. Eli

    Very cool

    Reply
  37. Jovan

    carbon nano tubs are so cool.

    Reply
  38. Brinley

    What are the primary functions of the cathode, anode, and grid in a vacuum tube amplifier circuit??

    Reply
  39. Myka

    Does fish breeding count as science?

    Reply
  40. Bridger

    Awesome Live

    Reply
  41. Luis

    hi i am new and i love it

    Reply
  42. Vasudev

    This is a great episode!

    Reply
  43. Jeremiah

    carbon nano tubes are exciting tech.

    Reply
  44. Samantha

    Acellus is the best learning curriculum fr

    Reply
  45. Miya

    My dad was in the army, the carbon nanotubes would have made his armor a lot lighter. There will be many uses for these tubes in the future.

    Reply
  46. Zander

    Honesty is big in our house!

    Reply
  47. Yamilet

    My mommy teaches me to be honest

    Reply
  48. Isabella

    I LOVE SCIENCE LIVEEE!!!!!!

    Reply
  49. Aliyah

    I didn’t know carbon nanotubes are that strong.

    Reply
  50. Emma

    It’s so interesting to see something take advantage of in daily life be such an incredible new invention.

    Reply
  51. Cheyenne

    my mom always taught me being honest gets you into less trouble than lying

    Reply
  52. Sawyer

    Love learning more new things!

    Reply
  53. Ann

    I love science live

    Reply
  54. Haley

    I learn new things every week, like how a Amplifer tube works!

    Reply
  55. Jax

    Carbon nano tubes are so cool!!

    Reply
  56. Blaze

    This was very unique.

    Reply
  57. Abidi

    i like how this science works

    Reply
  58. Luke

    This episode was very cool

    Reply
  59. Benjmin

    If the Armor is lighter hopefully it will still be strong

    Reply
  60. Liv

    This science live was pretty interesting!

    Reply
  61. Diego

    Nano tubes are really interesting, they are really tiny, but they can be very useful

    Reply
  62. Leila

    This was so interesting!

    Reply
  63. Catherine

    So cool!!

    Reply
  64. Nelly

    It’s hard to hold up many lies. There expensive and wastefull. U_U

    Reply
  65. Brayden

    Very fun episode to watch!

    Reply
  66. Gracie

    this episode was cool

    Reply
  67. Brianna

    honesty is the best policy! thank you so much for this live.

    Reply
  68. Brianna

    hello from Texas! this is so cool aswell.

    Reply
  69. Zoe

    this was a good episode, thank u

    Reply
  70. Hayden

    i loved this weeks lesson

    Reply
  71. Marty

    Honesty is always the best policy. Great episode

    Reply
    • Baylee

      This episode was amazing!

      Reply
  72. Samuel

    Crazy how this stuff works, thanks Dr. Billing.

    Reply
  73. Raaed

    This episode was very cool

    Reply
    • Avanah

      Thanks Dr. Billings! This was a great episode.

      Reply
  74. Luca

    Great Live!!!

    Reply
  75. Zane

    How did they make the vacuum machine so small?

    Reply
  76. Sophia

    Honesty is so important!

    Reply
    • Sutton

      This might be my favorite episode . (Also rewatching)

      Reply
  77. Zachery

    How the Usb Flash Drive was created is so interesting!

    Reply
  78. Kensleigh

    We love r. 51 he is so funny !

    Reply
  79. Lawrence

    Thank you Dr. Billings. I feel defeated at times with some of my work. Thank you for sharing for us to keep going.

    Reply
    • Giovanni

      very informative

      Reply
  80. Zaidee

    Hello from Minnesota

    Reply
  81. Alexandre

    Does any one still use usb in 2026?

    Reply
  82. Cadin

    I love this, keep going!

    Reply
  83. Taishi

    I find it fascinating about how carbon nano tubes can be used as a substitution for silicon in semi-conductors.

    Reply
  84. Ingrid

    How many Strands do you need to send them up to space?

    Reply
  85. Benjamin

    Science live is the best love what y’all do

    Reply
  86. Seraphina

    Great stuff!

    Reply
  87. Matt

    I love science live

    Reply
  88. Calliope

    This is so cool! Never knew how tube amps worked!

    Reply
  89. Lisa

    I love watching you guys

    Reply
  90. Rosalie

    What would the world look like now if AI never existed?

    Reply
  91. Alexis

    wow what a episode

    Reply
  92. Caleb

    That was a good video, and I’m glad that David and Caleb were both kept as proteges.

    Reply
  93. Lily

    I agree with honesty. It reminds me of the saying, “Honesty is the best policy”.

    Reply
  94. Rhys

    i think science live is the best

    Reply
  95. Christopher

    Honesty is the best policy

    Reply
  96. Jayden

    Science Live!!!

    Reply
  97. Aeriana

    This is amazing

    Reply
  98. Caroline

    What day is the science fair going to be on?

    Reply
  99. Zarek

    Vacuum tubes make sounds louder and help radios work!

    Reply
  100. Rylee

    i feel like being honest is a reay good thing to be a good individual, it helps creates bonds and relationships.

    Reply
  101. Rylee

    Honesty is key

    Reply
  102. Jackson

    R51 is very funny!!!

    Reply
  103. Christian

    I love science live

    Reply
  104. Hosea

    I love science live its so exciting .I can’t wait for the science fair.

    Reply
  105. Lillian

    R51 is hilarious

    Reply
  106. Levi

    Honesty is most definitely the best 😊

    Reply
  107. Harley

    Honesty is super important!

    Reply
  108. Gracelyn

    This is awesome!!

    Reply
  109. Cambria

    love r 51

    Reply
  110. Emma

    Science live was so cool ❤️‍🔥 today

    Reply

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