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 learned a lot through this video.
I loved watching this live
Its cool to see how stuff works.
This was so interesting! Can’t wait to learn more next week!
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos! I emjoy learning something new every week.
it was so funny to watch r51 do his stuff
just got done re watching this its so interesting
thank you for these videos! I love watching them!
crazy how many things you can pick up from these
Vacuum tubes are such a cool invention!
Crazy how many interesting facts that you can learn from science live!!!
hi from NH
I liked r51
R5 10 sooo funny lolllllllllllllllllllllllll
This was such a great episode! tuff
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I love science
I enjoyed watching this weeks episode! It was truly interesting. Sorry I am a bit late. But, nevertheless I truly learned a lot this episode!
If I were to do the science fair I would make an ant farm and track what they do everyday.
I liked your story. Sometimes my projects don’t work like I want them to too.
This episode was really cool, and I liked learning how vacuum tube amplifiers make sound louder. The part about the carbon nanotubes and the space elevators was neat too.
It’s always better to tell the truth.
I used to make telephones like that all the time, loved this one!
this was a pretty cool episode
I love how science works
Carbon nanotubes are important because they are very light weight but very powerful. But also when you talked about hooking them up to lines and having a motor to pull it up to space how would you build a line that connects from earth to space.
wow this one is so intriguing.
I never knew about carbon nanotubes.
Building stereo systems is my hobby. Would love to have a tube amplifier one day.
can we get more stuff maybe on aviation
science live brightens up my week
Science live is so fun to watch!
Great video learned so much about carbon nanotubes and science fair sounds exciting
Thank you all so much for doing this!!! I love learning about these kinds of things.
R51 better not win 😆
I liked the proteges teaching about amps
This was a very interesting episode. I appreciate you taking the time to teach us this information.
It really is crazy how some stuff works
This gives me hope i can be great!
Do I have those in the amp for my electric guitar?
I’m learning so much with these videos
Hello from Mississippi!Love tunning in each week
This episode was really good
Thank you for giving us this
Science lives are the best
A space elevator would be awesome
Thank you for the video and interesting learning how vacuum tubes can amplify sound.
The carbon atoms remind me of the robots in the movie Big Hero 6.
This was amazing! Incredible to learn how it all works
The few times I am rooting for bacteria.
Very good video and lots of good information. It’s great to know what a vacuum tube amplifier is and what it does. It’s also great to know how it can impact someone’s life or help in the future overall, really good video. I’m very interesting facts.
I love science, the idea of it is amazing.
So interesting to see how they shaped early electronics!
This was a fun episode about how electricity works and how it can perform in different situations, I love batteries and how much power they can attain and put out no matter how small, or big!
I didn’t know how much noise could be magnified with a vacuum amplifier!
What else can we use carbon tubes to make?
Lady Pajet should do area 51 videos with r51!
Figuring out how to create a clean energy source is incredible, all because of honesty and smarts.
Such neat info…loved hearing about the battery life since it’s so relatable to life!
The best live from my computer I would watch it a 10 times nonstop
What is the loudest vacuum amplifier in the world?
I learn something new every video.
I love science live so much
these are so cool! the japan thing is so interesting!
I love Science Live!
It is amazing how more and more continue to be discovered and developed in the field of science!
I actually learned a little Morse code.
I learned a lot from this one.
I love learning about Scieence!
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This episode was very interesting
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the only science i like is dr. stone
learning never gets old I love these videos
never seen anything like live science. I love it!!!
I never knew what a vacuum tube amplifier was but they are cool
So basically electric guitars are mute on their own
I think this is my favorite episode so far!!!
I think the vacuum tube amplifier is super cool I’m excited to learn more!
It is cool how we are going to be able to make batteries last longer.
Very Interesting stuff about carbon nanotubes
It’s so amazing and crazy how this works
I love R- 51 think that he is funny, and I love science live.
science live is so helpful
That experiment was pretty cool ! Maybe I’ll check out the science fair
Science live helps you learn and I like to learn.
Lux here from Tennessee
My mom made the cup phone for me when I was little!
Didn’t know about this before learning new things everyday!!!!
Really crazy how to work everything in this video.
crazy how this works
This was a very interesting episode to watch!!
I watched vacuum tube amplifier.
I loved learning about how Ford got started! It was so interesting!
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I think i will do something for the science fair.
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I like watching Science Live. It inspires me and it makes me think that I want to be like them one day.
I learned alot from this episode
what computer was dov Moran using in 1998 for his presentation
Who invented the amplifiers?
Carbon nano tubes are so efficient. I am interested in this, and how it works. Thank you for introducing me to this subject!
i never knew this!!! awesome 🙂
Very Interesting video, I love it!!
I love science live !
My mom used the floppy disk and CDs
I learned a lot about vacuum amplifiers and how it makes sound louder!
Love learning new things!!
science live is so fun!!
Hello from Alabama
Science live is so cool and fun to watch!!!!
It’s cool to know how the flash drive was evolved. Thanks for teaching. Nice video.
Always learning something new in these podcasts!
Technology was my favorite subject in this video.
Its crazy how much it amplifies the sound.
Thank you for the video Leighon from Wyoming
Wow! That is strong! How many nanotubes would it take to make something like a vest?
Great video very informative and love the whole vaccun amplifier idea..
I like how impacful the science far can be.
So when my vacuum, goes super loud, sounds like it will erupt on me, is that just my amplifier doing its job? I have always wondered why they are so loud, could a silent vacuum be made next, so my mom doesn’t wake me up at 7 am with the sound of ours??
This episode is amazing! I learned a lot about Carbon nano tubes and lithium batteries that makes the battery last longer. My mom use USB flash memory to save her files and photos. Pretty cool.
I like amplifier because to makes the music sounds louder and cool. I like this video. I want one of this USB flash drive to save my pictures.
Cool part about the carbon nano tubes
I had never heard of Carbon Nano Tubes before this – there are SO many things we just don’t know, but programs like yours Dr. Billings help us see the light! lol. Seriously cool. Thx 🙂 Grace Stoin from Texas
Science Live rocks!
Thanks for teaching us about the Vacuum Tube Amplifier.
Carbon nanotubes are very cool… I wonder if we could find a way to use them to build even taller buildings and skyscrapers.
love learning how things work. we always use the cup/string cups all the time at my house.
I always learn so much with Science Live. its very interesting.
Hi I am from NC
I’m from Ga and I love hearing about all this great information!
Loved learning about vacuum amplifiers and how they work!
So interesting! Hello from Ohio
Loved learning about flash memory!!!
That is cool how they made the sound louder.
This video was one of my favorite yet!!! They just keep getting better!!!
very interesting information about vacuum amplifiers
Thank you Science Live and Acellus Team for making all this possible!
so is it true with science the world is beter
I have learned that if you’re not honest with people then they can’t trust you. Love science live!
It was very interesting learning about carbon nano tubes.
Interesting information on vacuum cubes and how they help us with technology today.
Vacuum amplifiers are so interesting!
I enjoyed the story about the hydrogen car and honesty.
I really enjoyed your story about honesty!
This episode is very cool!
This episode is very interesting!
Very cool! I love science live.
How did billings make his engine.
Where did they find the tube.
Amazing topic! Can’t wait for the next one!
Science is absolutely amazing! I love watching these displays of how beautiful it can be
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Drb what made you want to become a teacher? and i love this live!
I’m so behind, I didn’t realize the videos started so soon after New Year’s.
Science is so interesting!!!
that was funny!
Carbon Nanotubes are so cool.
Science is so interesting!
I love the works and explain of a Vacuum Tube Amplifier*
Crazy how stuff works great video!!
I really enjoyed this lesson I got to learn more about vacuum tubes and how they control electron flow, which plays a significant role in modern electronics.
Right! It is very interesting how science works.
I’m really liking the new Protégé section of these videos.
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Hello, I’m from mesa, az and I learned a lot about vacuum amplifiers and how it makes sound louder!
Great episode! Thank you for sharing!
we love science live!
Loved this video! Can’t wait till next week!
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Science is my favorite now!
i loved this one
Science is my favorite subject
I enjoyed watching this weeks episode! Sorry I was late to the party.. I have been sick for the past 2 weeks.
I’m glad you’re feeling better!
Never knew this!! Amazing!
Carbon Nanotubes are so cool, using them to make smaller, more compact computers, better body armor, and longer lasting batteries, very awesome.
these episodes never fail to amaze me!
Very interesting! Loved this episode!