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 »
Hello from South Carolina!
Hi from Indiana
Hi from NC!
Very good
I love my bicycle!
COOOOL!!!!!
Awesome
henery ford was smart man .wow I’m blown away how Mr billings and henery ford created these ideas
How long did it take Henry Ford to build the first Ford?
wow that a interesting facts
I didn’t know that the “T” in Model T meant 20!!!
Hello from Indiana
hey from nc
wowww very interesting!!
hello from tennessee
The assembly line sounds fun.
This looks so cool!
Its incredible how quickly humans alone can build something as complex as car so quickly.
Cool Henry Ford worked for 9 years on a car
wow. that is cool that they could do that
Always love learning new things
Hi From SC
Did they sell all the cars?
Hi from Montana!
Checking in from WI!
hi from tennessee
Hello everyone… Ollie from Houston
This is interesting! Learning something new!
Cars and converbelts!
So interesting!
hey
An entire car in 90 minutes must have been very impressive!
sadee u here!! how cool is that!
How my did they make?
hi
Hello from North Carolina!
We all need encouragement to keep us going.
Hi from Tennessee
Wow!
The way robots get more and more advanced is amazing.
Hello from Arizona! Ford was an inventioneer.
Hello from Tennessee
Hello from Missouri! So glad to be here tonight!!
Hello from Texas!
Hi from ny!
I’m here
this is so cool!
I did not know that about cars.
Hi from Tennessee
If Thomas Edison hadn’t heard about Henry Ford’s model of the horseless carriage and went through with his electric horseless carriage idea instead would the costs of electric vehicles be cheaper today?
Wow
Wow, this is super cool!
i love it all
Did not know the fact about why it was called the Model T. Very interesting!
I love science live! It’s so entertaining!
Why is it called a car?
How much does the Ford Model T weigh?
My grandmother worked on the assembly line for Volvo when she was younger!
I loved the robots I used to even watch movies of them also like the flying one.
Hiiiiii 😀
The assembly line is so fascinating
Hi from Oklahoma
Amazing!
good afternoon
Didn’t they start using conveyor belts?
live
I love these videos
Hello from Katy Texas!
Hi I’m from Louisiana
I like this car, I want the car for me .
Agostino
Hello!
Hello! Is Acellus going to add Anatomy any time soon?
It’s crazy to imagine a car being built in 90 minutes
Hello From NYT. those old automobiles are really cool.
How did the invention of a car domino effect other inventions?
Science Live is awesome
how fast did it go?
hi from Georgia!
It would be cool to see the process of the model T being built.
i love learning about science.
Henry’s determination to keep trying is inspiring.
watchinng from wi!! loveee acellus
I loved the flying robot u guys are really good
cars are so intricate
How did he have the financials for the project if he quit his job?
hello from Texas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi!
Seeing things other people have invented is so inspiring and I would love to do something like that one day. ❤️
How did they make the first tire?
It’s cool to hear about how things that we deal with daily began and how it progressed from where it began to what it is now.
Wow! I love how i learn a little bit more when i watch your lives.
I love science lives!
Comment* Hii from New Mexico 😋
i love this live so much
That’s real neat
I love science!
Henry Ford made the assembly line.
How many original fords were made?
hi, im so excited for tonights science live!
Why do you think it’s getting so cold in Vermont when it hasn’t before?
cool
Is sure do love cars
how was the horseless carriage invented? what was the idea?
I didn’t realize that it was possible to make a fly. I wonder what the code inside military drones looks like.
Hi
Was the model T the best car of that time?
from Ohio loving this science live
How many science legends did Mr. Billings meet? (not including himself LOL)
I think it was very risky that henry ford quit his job to design cars but it all payed off in the end .
Good evening everyone!
I love these science lives I look forward to them
It’s really neat that Thomas Edison told Henry Ford to not give up!
How was fuel made in the 20’s
We love Science live!
That is crazy to be able to build a model A in 12 hours!!!
Henry Ford – My dad loves fords
Comment Hi it’s Madalyn from Arkansas. I love science.
That’s crazy how Cadillac was made by a disagreement by Ford and Cadillac when they were first getting invented
Comment My Grandpa and grandma had a model T car. It was really cool. I saw pictures of it.
afFORDable
Henry Ford II perfected the assembly line in model T in the one and only color: black.
I love science lives
Hi from South Carolina! I think Model T’s are so cool.
When making cars how did they figure out that the car needed all its parts and gas?
Remarkable! Amazing live today.
Hi from Austin Tx!!!!!!
so cool.
science live is great
I love science it’s so cool
Hello from Texas
Older cars tend to look pretty cool
That’s crazy, it went from a side project to an amazing invention
its cool how small they can make robots.
True T is a great number.
Hey Model T is named just like WD40
These be amazing lives man thank you all.
The mini robot was very interesting. And enjoying learning about the cars he made.
This is so cool, can’t wait getting flying robots in real life and building my own company about it!!
Why was Ford successful, his company makes cars that are still sold today, while his competitors failed?
who knew people could make flying robots?that’s so cool!!!!
what was the first ever name of the horseless carriage
I like science Live
oh my goodness that robotic insect is so interesting to be so beneficial when observing from patterns and it’s so interesting because it can hopefully it has in enough power to be disguised and can travel with our group and hopefully do the when it sees that aren’t getting pollinated just so interesting. I love it.!!!
Wow this is interesting!
Amazing!!
watching from texas
cant wait to learn!
Hello from Kentucky.
I’d like to ask whether or not it’s possible to submit any sort of programming/coding project for the Acellus Science Fair?
Hello from kentucky! Excited to be here!
I love all things robots
how was the robot flying
Hello everyone. If you live in the East Area of USA, be safe with the Snow Storm this weekend. 😉🙂
Love watching these lives!
Hello from Florida!!
Henry Ford – I love Ford’s
Hello from Alabama
I want a flying robot now!!
how did he start selling the cars he made?
I’m so amazed on how people make robots, like it’s so interesting people who make robots are really smart. I bet it’s so fun.
hiiiii,my birthday is this weekend!!!!!
flying robots sound cool
Acellus is the best school. Thank you Acellus and Dr. Billings. This school helps students learn and it also has Science Live which is educational. I always look forward to Science Live.
hello from florida exited for the live
Hello from IN 🙂
Hi Love from Florida ❤️
The quadricycle was technically the first publicly known vehicle. there were ideas about it before it was built but it was released in the late 1890s. he built it in the 1880s but then he slowly did the work to it so it could work and just like everything, it took time.
This is so incredibly interesting, its a very informative story
Coming in from Sweet Home Alabama 😘
Hello from Michigan!
Wow! Amazing!
Hi from Alabama
Woooooow, this is so cool!!! i love it
Hi
hello from Texas!!!!
Can you guys do science experiments with Coca-Cola and Pepsi to see what they do to metals?
Roger Billing did the first hydrogen car!
What was the name of the first ever horseless carriage?