Transistors
January 21, 2026 • EPISODE 294
What is a transistor and why is it important? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings explores how transistors control electric current, replaced bulky vacuum tubes, and made modern electronics possible—from radios to computers and smartphones. The episode also features a tiny bug-like robot developed by MIT and the fascinating story of Henry Ford and how Thomas Edison influenced the development of the automobile.
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 »
That’s interesting; who would have thought they could make a small robot fly at the speed of a bee for nearly 17 minutes?
flying robots are a really cool idea and I’d like to see how they can help people.
If you have an idea for a creation but don’t know where to start, how would you face this situation?
i love science live.
Those robots are cool. I wonder how they made the technology that small. That string is wires? How can they make them that thin?
i love science live
Hi from Dallas!
Hey! its Science Live day!
Hey from Texas and me
Thats interesting.
I like this idea of using these sources for pollination or search and rescue. I enjoy hearing technology being used for good.
Nano and smaller bots are good ideas for science projects
Those inventions were so cool!
Hello from Texas!
Would the tiny robot drone completely take over as the regular drones?
That’s so cool!
my favorite part about this live is the flying robot i just think its so cool
Its funny that the bug gets tangled in the wire!
Do you think that the wing technology on the small robots could be used in larger aircraft, maybe as a replacement to helicopters?
excited for this weeks live!!
What grades can partake in the science fair?
So cool!
I didn’t know they’d make a robot that could fly and move around like an insect I like it.
Thank you for making another video!!! Highlight of my week 🙂
Hi from Colorado
Hey yall! So excited for tonight’s live.
Hi from Iowa every Wednesday I can’t wait for science live
I learned so much from this!
Hello from MS!!
Interesting info, thanks!
It is impressing how little things are able to go farther than things twice their size or even so much bigger
this is my fav part
How do they make things like that?
I like the little robots!
that super cool
Why did they make robot the speed it is, why not slower or faster?
That’s such a great idea that the robot could be used to help for investigation and pollinating! Robots are really getting so advanced.
Hi from michigan
that is a great way to help with the massive decrease in pollinators
happy to be here!
so excited for science live today
How long is the battery span on the robotic insect?
Hello from Tennessee!!
its so crazy how far technology has come.
Hello from Maryland
If the proper sensory equipment is equipped on the insect-sized drones, could they be used to detect toxic gas clouds?
that was a cool robot
this is so cool
Hi from WV! Will robots ever become so advanced they can actually do jobs that humans do?
I thought it was funny when the man used the 2 red plastic cups connected by string as a way to communicate. I tried that when I was younger and it actually does work. Simple but cool invention!
That robot bug thing is cool.
So many applications for such small robots are so important
Danggggg those sharks are cool! hello from SC
that drone fly is cool
is the Ai program able to actively correct and adapt to the conditions around it such as wind?
Hello science live! That tiny drone is impressive!
Maybe we could use the micro drones to fight mosquitoes lol.
Checking in this week from Marysville kansas. Im excited for acellus this week!
wow this is interesting!!!! 🙂
Hi from Indiana!
Excited about today!
hi from kingsport
What would these little drones be used for like drone shows?
Can’t wait for this week’s science live
Comment hi from tx!!!!! Favorite time of the week
How do they make things like that?
Oh my god that’s so cool. How do you do that?
Hii, from North Carolina!
science is life
Hello from Goldsboro NC
Using this for search and rescue is a really smart idea!
hi from nc
I always knew robotic science would create the Robo Bee thank you Dr Jhon so amazing i will be waiting to see these in there final stage of production . SO COOL !!!!!
Love learning about the future of technology!
There are so many cool ways that they could use this robot.
love Acellus!
THATS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!
“That is neat that the robot did 10 flips!”
It looks like a robotic fly 🪰 It’s cool how well it can control itself. I wonder if that wire that it’s holding onto is something that contributes to it controlling itself that well? 🧐
Hello! From Florida!
here from illinois
Watching from Maryland!
hi from florida
Wow! That robot insect is super cool! I can’t believe it. I want to know how to do that.
Hello from North Carolina!! Do you think that they will actually make robot insects? Also a question about insects, when it’s cold where do flys go? If they all die then how do they come back so fast when it’s the slightest bit of warmth?
It’s interesting that even with the tangles, the robot was about to keep moving so fast.
How do they make things like that?
I love learning about different things in science.
hi
THESE LIVES ARE VERY EDUCATIONAL😄
KINDA BRAIN RACKING THOUGH 🫨🧠
That robot is so cute
How long did it take to build the robot?
the small things inventors make bold. i loved the flying robot. so many doors are open to inventions using similar strategies
They are so creative
So true 👏
I love science.
What is the purpose of these robots
How do they program it to do that
How long did it take them to build the robot?
I really want to build robots and animatronics!
Honestly, it’s kinda cute lol
How the engineers give the instructions to the robot?
Its all in coding its super fun you should try it out!!
is the small insect robot faster then a drone with propellers at the same size or is the insect robot with wings faster
This live was one of my favorites!!
could Robots do light shows?
Hi from New Mexico and When I saw the robot fly it look like a bee and I love learning technology with Dr. John because of the robots.☺️🤖
from New Mexico also and I agree with you
Its amazing that they were able to make the drone flip so fast!
Watching from Virginia !
Whats it like in Virginia??
Hi from TX
i love sience liveeeee
Hello!
I enjoyed this episode!
how did they build that mini drone
That is one tough robot.
Hello from Florida. That Robot is super cool!!
hello
How do they build drones like that?
I’ve never seen a little robot move that fast!
Oliver likes the robot bug
Excited for the live
From Texas! so excited
I’m excited for the new Conspiracy Theories class in social studies! When will it be available?
Hello from Illinois
Great video!
Hello from Kansas, do we know why the drone goes so fast and if we do then how are we measuring it?
that’s so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi
So it’s kind of like a Airplane/Helicopter/jet
hii
That’s really cool that they can make the robot so it has control! 🦾
Those little robot bug looks weak but it’s really strong specially the wings don’t judge by looks
Love from NC!!
I like to Lisson to dr john
It’s so cool that they can use science to make something that fast and move like that.
Science live never gets boring.
love this episode!!
Hello from Texas!
Can you enter art into the science fair?
Hey From Lousiana
Why are predictive models important in data analysis and decision-making?
Hello from Mexico mi so excited
Hello everyone is it a great day ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🤎🖤🩶🤍🩷♥️💯
Is it possible for any person to make a working robot or drone at home from scratch?
Hello! So excited to watch the live today!! 🙂
10 flips!!
Those drones are so cool! How long did it take to build them?
I really liked the tiny bit about the sharks as an ocean geek 🙂 Also HIII from stx
I love watching science live
Has anyone started their science fair project?
hi
hello!!
hello from tn
cool
hello everyone
Hi from tn
hello
Would the insect robot be able to carry any weight? From VA.
Im so excited!
Hello from Indiana!!
Hello from Mo!
wow those bug robots are so cool, its awesome that the people at MIT figured out hot to make the wings better.
Hello from Ohio!
Hello from Georgia!
This live science is good so far
That mini robot is awesome!
hello am so happy today
hi from tx
Hello from illinios
Hello from Minnesota!!
Those micro-bots are so cool!
Love this!
Hello from Nevada!
Hi from NC
A.I is being used in so many different ways!
thats cool the robots
HI science live
Awesome !
hi from tennessee
hello from tennessee
Hi everyone!
Very cool robot!
For this drone, how durable is it? It looks like it was prepared in advanced for many of these circumstances. Also, it looks like the robot is faster than the software it is run on, so there is some speed lost, and by improving it, how much better could it be?
this is so intresting
How much do carbon nanotubes cost?
what are some more practical uses these could potentially serve?