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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6,176 Comments

  1. Nicholas

    Hi Nicholas from Hollywood, Florida!

    Reply
  2. Lillietta

    Hi from Missouri! Have a bit of a connection issue on my laptop! Hope still goes as well as normal!

    Reply
  3. Madelin

    Body armor lighter would be so much better and make for better movement

    Reply
  4. Jennifer

    It’s crazy how long Carbon nanotubes are!

    Reply
  5. Pierce

    hi from Costa Rica

    Reply
  6. Mkaleb

    Happy Wednesday from Louisiana.

    Reply
  7. Mavis

    The carbon nanotube reminds me of Big Hero 6.

    Reply
  8. Nora

    Hello from Mississippi

    Reply
  9. Tristen

    I love learning!

    Reply
  10. De`jonn

    Hello from Georgia

    Reply
  11. Camryn

    That is so cool! I didn’t know that carbon tubes were stronger than steel! How is that possible?

    Reply
  12. Miles

    Hello from New York!!!!

    Reply
  13. Khadija

    Hello from Chicago, Illinois

    Reply
  14. Zaryana

    Can we have a episode about black hole ,please?

    Reply
  15. Scarlett

    hello from iowa!

    Reply
  16. Zen

    Wow that’s interesting carbon nanotubes are 100 times stronger than iron

    Reply
  17. Hudsen

    Hi from Kentucky

    Reply
  18. Julianna

    Hi from Texas!!

    Reply
  19. Kayli

    I always look forward to tuning in every week

    Reply
  20. Mia

    hi from pa!:)

    Reply
  21. Blake

    That’s cool!

    Reply
  22. Ophira

    SCIENCE LIVE

    Reply
  23. Samantha

    Hello from New York!!!!

    Reply
  24. Briley

    It’s crazy how science works!

    Reply
  25. David

    Hello from Illinois

    Reply
  26. Essence

    hi from texas

    Reply
  27. Ayvriella

    I’m so excited for today’s live!

    Reply
  28. Landyn

    its very interesting how carbon tubes are made!

    Reply
  29. Isabella

    Hiiiii from Michigan

    Reply
  30. George

    Greetings from Japan.

    Reply
  31. Emma

    Greatings from KS-I would say hello is ASL but IDK how to do that in the comment box. LOL

    Reply
  32. Kelson

    Hi from MN !!

    Reply
  33. Harper

    Hello from Costa Rica

    Reply
  34. Delilah

    wow this is so cool.

    Reply
  35. Dezia

    Hey from New Mexico

    Reply
  36. Paul

    What is a nano meter?

    Reply
  37. Addison

    Hi from Mississippi

    Reply
  38. Charlotte

    so so so so so so so so Cool

    Reply
  39. Hannah

    Hello, from Texas!

    Reply
  40. Willow

    Really looking forward to this year!

    Reply
  41. Levi

    greetings from Nebraska USA and i’m glad to hear that from the grads

    Reply
  42. William

    Hi from Tennessee

    Reply
  43. Piper

    How many carbon atoms in that size would it take to go from America to England?

    Reply
  44. Kayla

    Hi from Tennessee!

    Reply
  45. Talia

    Love SL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  46. Baylee

    Hey from Illinois

    Reply
  47. Dynia

    Hello from Illinois, the video is going very good and interesting.

    Reply
  48. Nicolas

    thats cool

    Reply
    • Briar

      Hello! I love watching this!

      Reply
    • Guillermo

      that is cool I love to learn new things and that is so cool

      Reply
  49. Alexander

    its crazy how perfect the environment has to be to make it.

    Reply
  50. Colt

    How similar are carbon nanotubes to carbon fiber?

    Reply
    • Olivia

      I can’t wait 🤩

      Reply
  51. Maddix

    Hi from Illinois!

    Reply
    • Serenity

      Hi from Mississippi!

      Reply
  52. Gina

    hello

    Reply
  53. Kinzlee

    Hi from NE

    Reply
  54. Kadin

    happy wednesday

    Reply
  55. Victor

    Hello from Florida, USA! So cool!

    Reply
    • Lincoln

      I’m from Florida too

      Reply
  56. Thomas

    thats very cool

    Reply
    • Acelynn

      I love science. So cool.

      Reply
  57. Katherine

    The applications for the carbon nanotube are very interesting. as strong as the compound is I imagine there must be hundreds of applications this compound could be used for.

    Reply
  58. Leticia

    Is it dangerous.

    Reply
  59. Holland

    Hi from Nashville and Happy New Years everyone:-)

    Reply
  60. Miles

    Hello from Maryland!

    Reply
  61. Hudson

    how is carbon still used today?

    Reply
  62. Kevin

    What would be their best use case if they ever managed to become viable?

    Reply
  63. Milan

    Hello from DE!

    Reply
  64. Clark

    Even though carbon is the building block of life, it amazes me how many things use them.

    Reply
  65. Levi

    hello

    Reply
  66. Jaeden

    hi from Florida!

    Reply
  67. Alawa

    this is awesome I learned so much

    Reply
  68. Tatiyana

    😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

    Reply
  69. Bailie

    hi from florida

    Reply
  70. Keeli

    Love science live

    Reply
  71. Landen

    Hello from Illinois!!

    Reply
  72. Joel

    Hi from Illinois.

    Reply
  73. Devin

    What kind of structures can the atoms make is there a limit?

    Reply
  74. Raymond

    learning about the carbon atoms is interesting

    Reply
  75. Madelyn

    What are some of the uses for carbon nanotubes?

    Reply
  76. Logan

    Hello from nc

    Reply
  77. Mihaela

    Hello from Buford, Ga.

    Reply
  78. Lilith

    hi

    Reply
  79. Braelyn

    Here from mississippi

    Reply
  80. Hank

    hello, from Vermont

    Reply
  81. Coner

    how in the world would we even see those if their diameter is a millionth of a millimeter?

    Reply
  82. Rylie

    hello from El Paso Texas!! :}

    Reply
  83. Ismail

    Good evening all.

    Reply
  84. Jayden

    Hi from Nevada!

    Reply
  85. Lacey

    incredibly interesting. Tx

    Reply
  86. Sawyer

    fun

    Reply
  87. Ryan

    Can they make the make the nanotube small and tight to make a sheet?

    Reply
  88. Sybrina

    Hi

    Reply
  89. Krystofer

    Hello from NC

    Reply
  90. Jacalin

    Hi from MD.

    Reply
  91. Georgiana

    Hello from Texas! I’m always excited for Wednesdays!

    Reply
  92. Connor

    Greetings from California.

    Reply
  93. Abigail

    What tool did Japan use to study bacteria?

    Reply
  94. Emily

    Heyyy from Mexico

    Reply
  95. Abigail

    hi from Mississippi

    Reply
  96. Woodrow

    I love science

    Reply
  97. Kaylee

    Wow this is so interesting

    Reply
  98. Dolores

    Wsp from TX

    Reply
  99. Andres

    That’s a cool carbon design

    Reply
  100. Amaziah

    Hello Everyone

    Reply
  101. Mason

    Hi from al

    Reply
  102. Alexia

    I’m not late! Thank goodness!

    Reply
  103. Deams

    Hi from North Carolina!

    Reply
  104. Morgan

    carbon nano tubes are pretty cool

    Reply
  105. Kien

    My favorite teacher is Dr. Jonh

    Reply
    • Roel

      Mine is Todd Edmond

      Reply
  106. Jadiel

    This could be the new strongest metal in the world! Cool!

    Reply
  107. Alanna

    Science is so cool

    Reply
  108. Aaron

    Do you guys always record your science lives at your hq?

    Reply
  109. Logan

    Hi

    Reply
  110. Karolina

    Hello! From Illinois. That’s incredible! What is it used for in the world?

    Reply
  111. Khemiga

    hi from Thailand’s

    Reply
  112. Madison

    Can’t wait for this video!

    Reply
  113. Anna

    Carbon is such a strong element!

    Reply
  114. Shania

    Hii I’m so excited for this science live!

    Reply
  115. William

    ello from Alabama

    Reply
  116. Jacob

    Hello from NC!

    Reply
  117. Ethan

    carbon fiber has always been a cool material to me

    Reply
  118. Tatiyana

    That’s cooooool

    Reply
  119. Luke

    Hey from Georgia

    Reply
  120. Keith

    Are carbon nanotubes widely available or not quite yet?

    Reply
  121. Giada

    hello

    Reply
  122. Diana

    Hi from Mississippi

    Reply
  123. Faith

    hi from texas

    Reply
  124. Elijah

    Sup Dr John!

    Reply
  125. Jace

    midland Texas here

    Reply
  126. Stephen

    Wow that is really interesting on the applications possible for carbon nanotubing. The organic bonds linking the atoms make for very interesting possibilities.

    Reply
  127. M

    🙂 Hello So Happy To Be Here Today 🙂

    Wonder What We Will Learn Today 😮 🙂

    Reply
  128. Cole

    Here from Maryland- This is Cole. I loved hearing about the two students who are graduates from Acellus. It was cool to hear how they are able to get all of their school work done but are also able to keep up with their strength lifting without worrying about getting behind on their school work. Great point! Enjoyed learning about them!

    Reply
  129. Khloe

    Hello from Texas!!!!!❤️

    Reply
  130. Elijah

    Can’t wait for Dr.B!

    Reply
  131. Juliana

    It’s really nice and cool how there’s so many acellus students and graduates from all over the world! This live is great.

    Reply
  132. Caleb

    How could bacteria help with sunscreen .

    Reply
  133. John

    hi from arizona

    Reply
  134. Donovan

    hello from CA and this is so cool to learn about

    Reply
  135. Tarie

    Wow!

    Reply
  136. Weston

    Bacteria are really cool organisms! I never knew they lived in hot springs! Science live is cool!

    Reply
  137. David

    We love science live!!!

    Reply
  138. Lily

    Is paijet monet related to claude monet?

    Reply
  139. Braeden

    Hello from TN!

    Reply
  140. Hudson

    Hi from Mississippi

    Reply
  141. Ava

    Thank you

    Reply
  142. Lorelei

    Hello from IL

    Reply
  143. Jonathan

    Greetings from Trinidad!

    Reply
  144. Kai

    Hi from CO

    Reply
  145. Morgan

    Hello from GA

    Reply
  146. Isaac

    this live is amazing

    Reply
  147. Shelby

    Hi, from WA.

    Reply
  148. Claire

    Claire here from Mississippi

    Reply
  149. Arla

    So interesting! Thank you.

    Reply
  150. Mary

    Hi from New Jersey

    Reply
  151. Hailey

    Hello from Mississippi!

    Reply
  152. Samantha

    hello from Hawaii

    Reply
  153. Karlie

    Hi from VA

    Reply
  154. Makayla

    hi from Tennessee

    Reply
  155. Talia

    Hello Dr John! Watching from CT!

    Reply
  156. Isaac

    Hi from NC, Ready to learn with Science Live!

    Reply
  157. Aaliyah

    hi! from nc!

    Reply
  158. Ethan

    Hello from IL

    Reply
  159. Shae

    Hello from the USA!

    Reply
  160. Avi

    Wow! what a insparational story! I agree about how greatful i am to have accelus be so felxible.

    Reply
  161. Ian

    how strong would a sword be made out of that

    Reply
  162. Owen

    Hello from tx

    Reply
  163. Sawyer

    I loved this so much

    Reply
  164. Braylen

    Hello. We are here for Science Live!

    Reply
  165. Jaelyn

    Hi Everyone. Hope everyone enjoys Science Live tonight. I know I will.

    Reply
  166. Erin

    hi from mississippi!!!!

    Reply
  167. Vanessa

    hi from nc

    Reply
  168. Murphy

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  169. Danny

    i hope yall have a nice day or night and thank you for the live video

    Reply
  170. Jayden

    Hi from Kentucky!

    Reply
  171. Avyanna

    All of this is really cool

    Reply
  172. William

    Bacteria is like mold in some ways.

    Reply
  173. Ryan

    What else can we get from harnessing the powers of special bacteria?

    Reply
  174. Cheyenne

    Hello from west Virginia!!! ❤️

    Reply
  175. Ahmed

    Hello from NC

    Reply

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