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 lived this live I hope for more like this one
Thank you for making theses videos, always learning something new.
Great Videos!
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I loved learning about honesty!
My grandson loves science live learning new things
This was a great science live, loved the dedication in his projects.
it is cool
In this episode, I learned that, theoretically, carbon nano tubes could be used to create a “space elevator”, a cable that could carry enormous weights up into space. 🌌
The carbon tubes are super interesting! And once again the space elevator is mind-blowing. I wonder if it could really exist someday!
Comment I love learning about science! *
I have used a string and cup for fun before.
It was cool to learn about flash drives! I wonder how the original flash drive differs from flash drive today and how much storage can be held in ones today?
It’s always good to be honest.
This is the second time i’ve watched science live! it’s so interesting! i’ve never been to a science fair before, it would be nice to go to one myself!
Thank you
Extraordinary episode Dr. Billings!
I loved this episode!
honesty this science live is amazing
R51 is so funny
Why are carbon nanotubes considered very strong?
pretty interesting video
its so cool how a vacuum tube amplifier works.
Honesty is always the best way!
It is important to be honest and will help you reach your goals.
I LOVE steam engines.
I am so excited for Acellus World!
Thank you for being honest
Honesty has always been most important to me.
So fascinating!
It’s so incredible to know the story of the USB drive! cause it’s something i use so often and that’s so useful to me.
Honesty is the best policy.
Honesty is probably one of the most important things. Great live.
Its really mind blowing to even think that there could actually be a space elevator!!!
Honesty is precious to man, It is one if the best traits!
This episode helped me understand how vacuum tube amplifiers work by controlling the flow of electrons to make weak signals louder. It was cool learning how this technology was used back then and how it’s being used now.
cool video.
I’m emotional too sometimes.its ok to be emotional
I Love science live!!
Honesty should be within everyone!
I think everyone should have honesty. Awesome live!
I 100% agree
This was super interesting!!!
true
tuning in from GA!
It was interesting to learn about how USB flash storage came about.
For sure !!! keep going even when its hard !!! so true and so thankful for Acellus
Love you guys!
Good advice.
Same!
have a good day
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love the concept in the episode! These science lives are the highlights of my week!
This episode was amazing!
loved this episode of science live. very interesting
I thought it was interesting how strong carbon nano tubes really are.
I’ve been learning about the ideas of the hydrogen car and i jus think it’s so crazy how far technology has come to be able to push thousands of pounds off hydrogen, oxygen, and water. I remember a while ago Dr. Billings actually explained the process in a full detailed way as a Science Life, i wish i could find that video again sometime.
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This episode was really good!
My favorite episode yet!
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this was fireee!!!
I recently bought some tubes for an amplifier I own, cool to know more about the technology
I like the idea that science can be anything! I don’t know a lot about Science but it’s great when it can be anything! David and Caleb also got me hooked on science. They are doing great on telling the story behind science!
R51 is so funny. He is the best.
Wow this is amazing!
ready to watch!
this was wonderful
My favorite
part of the science live was R 51
I found it extremely interesting how small carbon tubes are, and how despite their tiny size, they are still stronger than steel. How extraordinarily fascinating it is to know this new information. I cannot wait for the next science live video!
That is so cool! Can’t wait for the next live!
Love learning about stuff like this
I loved learning about the radios!
Good science video
I love science live!!
I’m interested in learning more about carbon. I like this episode a lot!
I want to go on the nanotube space elevator!
How long is vacuum amplifier
I absolutely love my computer! Thankful for the technology that made it all possible 🙂
intresting live dr billings!!
I like hearing from the Acellus graduates!
This weeks Science live was really interesting! I especially enjoyed Dr. Johns talk about carbon nanotubes. It’s so crazy how strong they are!!
What curriculum did you use when you were in school?
I love science live so much!.
I love science and that was pretty cool
This video was so fun to watch and learn!
I love acellus!
This episode of science live was really good
This video was so fun!
Wow this was a interesting watch! Thank you for the science live 🙂
this is always so fun to watch
This episode was amazing!!
Great episode!
Learning about the Vacuum Tube was amazing!
Very interesting how they ‘grow’ carbon. Kind of scary too that something can grow to be so long. So they could also use it as fishing lines or electrical wires. Cool.
Could you use the new type of armor on tanks?
Sooo cool!!!
This is amazing
I enjoy Lady Paget as well, and find the conversations so interesting and funny!
It was cool to learn about the vacuum tube amplifier.
I wonder if there would be students demonstrating a cooking method as their science project at the science fair. Cooking is a science, too.
i want to learn more about metamorphosis
carbon is the future
And this was awesome
Thanks for this great live!
This video was interesting. Its pretty neat to learn on how little vacuum amplifier can operate.
amazing video
I love watching these each week
This science live was very intriguing.
I wonder if the new metal material shape will be used in planes because of it being so light and strong
What is the production cost of the new style of composite armor?
Wow carbon nano tubes are so interesting!!!
I love science live, can’t wait for next week
How long would it be until scientist make it so carbon tubes can be used in computers?
I loved the episode
This live was great, as always I really enjoyed the technology spotlight!
I searched up where the floppy disk was used in a computer. Technology has come a long way. Great episode!
This is so cool!
Always amazing stuff, keep it up!
This was a great video, and the carbon nano tubes are cool too!
What is the vacuum tube amplifier?
I play tennis and hearing that they have a carbon nanotube tennis racquet is so cool. Stronger and lighter is absolutely the best! Going to tell my dad now.
Great Science Live episode!
Glad I joined this program.
The cup phone was cool. The carbon tubes are interesting !
Thank you for this lecture It was amazing
This was super cool!!
Great information about electricity!*
I love science live!
SO COOL!!!!!
i love this episode!
COOL 😎
Any more ideas on what the carbon tubes could be used for?
the carbon nano tubes were intresting.
Amazing Episode!!!
My brother and I have made a cup phone before.
love ittt
I learned a lot from this episode!
What are some of the devices that use vacuum tubes today?
I loved leaning more about the carbons tubes and how they work!!
Wonderful Live!!
Wow I really need to do more research on carbon tubes, I can’t believe I haven’t heard of them before! 🥲
That is so amazingly cool!!!
very exciting thinking we will one day be able to travel back and forth to space in a elevator.
cool invention R51
This episode was awesome!!
I learn so much from the science live!
Wow! Carbon nanotubes are 100x stronger than steel and 1000x longer than their diameter. The strong carbon bond is amazing. Dr. John… that was interesting! There are so many fantastic uses.
I enjoyed learning about carbon nano tubes.
Hello from Texas
I’m here this was so good
Really cool 😎
This episode was great
Science live is so cool!!!
Thank you for being honest!
This episode was so cool!!
Happy new year everyone!
This episode was very interesting and very funny.
the story where Tobias talked abut the USB drive was fun
I love when you guys tell us how things work together.
I appreciate your guy’s hard work making science live possible!
such an awesome episode!
R51 is always so fun to watch!
Thank you for all the good lessons in science live! The carbon tubes are really interesting.
Thanks for another great live!
GREAT EPISODE!!!!
Thank You!
Science live is fire! I love watching it!
Really interesting
I would make a plant based sunscreen
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This was very interesting!
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE
hello from colorado
I would love to do more live’s like this, it’s so cool!!!
This episode was amazing! I can’t wait to learn more in the next episode!
I love these
Wow, it is amazing how Acellus is changing so many people’s lives, not just here in the U.S. but through out the world. I absolutely love my school! Thank you Dr. Billing! 🙂
R51 is funny.
Looking forward to the continuation of this topic!
this is soo fun!
Interesting episode.
I love how Science Live shows how different science concepts I’m learning connect and apply in real life!
This episode was very interesting. Always like to learn about energy efficient vehicles that are better for our environment.
Love the video
I never knew how Carbon Nano Tubes were made!