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 »
I really enjoyed the part about germanium and electricity.
hi
Dr Billings is really funny and I think he has strong genes.
thank you proteges!
Happy Wednesday from the hockey rink in SLC Utah!!
Cool
I enjoyed the discusion
Hello again, and thank you for another great science live! -ARIA
I never knew how many people Edison inspired!
Thank goodness for the transistor.
Hey from Tennessee.
Hi from OH!
How exactly does electricity make semi-conductors work?
Hi from New York
Amazing!
wow this is so cool!!!
North Carolina here!!
Wow i do love doing this!
Hey from Maryland
i love science live so much and i love learning science
So cool!! I love science live
Hi From Cali
Hi from Texas too!
I LOVE the protégée’s!!!!!
Science is great!!
love this
hello from va
This David and Caleb segment is my favorite part!
I am so happy you invented the first prototype for computers! Computers expanded technology so that we can have the ability to do so much more on our day to day lives.
so cool.
interesting!
Cool lesson!
I never knew anything about Henry Ford until now thank you for teaching me about him.
wow so smart
I never knew about vacuum tubes and that every 50 miles they need to be amplified, so cool!
here!
I Love how these lives are always educational.
I’m happy to learn!
When did Henry Ford invent the Model T car?
Hiii 😀
So funny!
im learning so much from this
I like learning more about electricity!!
Hello from GA!
Never heard of germainium! Interesting.
happy late birthday Roger billings!
Coolllll
I thought fly was funny! From Idaho
I did not know that Bill Lyers invented the radio! I use a radio to put me and my brother to sleep at night.
wow thats really cool
Polar bears are so cute
Hello from PA!
Hello from Connecticut =D
How smart
David and Caleb is my favorite part of Science Live!
Loved it! Fascinating!
Wow! I love learning about Transmitters. You guys make it look so fun!
I learned about this in coding
Hi from Arizona!
Transistors are so cool to learn about.
Hello from wv!
Hiii
Hey from Tennessee.
Hello!
here from Illinois
I would like to learn more about the process of the building tiny RC drones or helicopters.
So cool
where do you get germanium
This is cool!
Hi!
Hello from CA !✌️
Hello from North Carolina!
Cool!
saying good evening from Oregon
hi
Great live!
hi*
Hi from Honduras
HI love learning different things from the live and discovering the radio
Thank you!
Hello everyone!
Hello from Maine!!!
I like magic tricks
wow
CommenIt * I love watching David and Caleb
I enjoy the look of old cars. I hope they didn’t get rusted in the rain. New cars are the best and it’s fun to think that in the future the cars that we have today will be considered old or vintage cars.
hi
HI
Hi from Florida!
i really like this segment of science live
Hi from Brasil!!!
Hi from Georgia.
Super funny!
Transistors are so cool!!!
What is the material of a vacuum tube?
Hello from Texas
I love David and Caleb
want is a transister
hey great vid
This is interesting! Learning something new!
I’m Hereeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
When did transistors start being used? Was it soon after they were invented?
Been waiting all week!!
Thank you for this video it actually teaches me new stuff every time i watch this.
I love watching this every week
Hi david and caleb. from TN. you guys are the best 🙂
Hii from texas!!
Hello from Butte MT
hi from nebraska
HERE!!!
Hi from Arizona!
Hello from Alaska!
Hi from fl
Hello from NY!
This is very interesting and I learned a lot from this video.
good work
Hello from Michigan.
I’m so glad we added a new segment to science live it’s even more entertaining than before!
That’s so awesome!!! My brother just asked that question!!!!
Helloo
Hello, from Villa Rica, Georgia!
David was having lecture flash backs… T+T
🤖🤍Hi from NC!
I like these science lives.
These guys are a great addition to the Science Live program!
Did you use one of Ford’s assembly lines to build more than 20 of your invention a month?
Helloooo! how are you guys?
Hi from IL
i like it
Hi🐕🦺🖐️ watching from 🇱🇷. it’s cold on the mountains🥶
Awesome!!
nice
I didn’t know a polar bears skin is black!
yayy i love them
Henery ford is so cool
hi from tx
Hi from Viet Nam, I love science live
Hi from Cebu, Philippines!~ <3
Hello from Illinois
I love this! SO AMAZING!
LOL THATS FUNNY
Very cool! Cant wait to learn more!
Hello from Ohio
Hi from Kentucky, I’m excited to learn!
Hi everyone! Stay warm!,
Thank you for having me
hi from Texas
Hello from Virginia! I hope everyone is staying warm.
I’m hereee
hi from georgia
how did they make vacuum tube diodes so long ago?
loving science live today!
Hi from GA
Wow! This weeks live is awesome!
How much was a transistor radio when it first came out?
Awesome!
hiiii from tennesee
hi
excited to learn some cool things!
this is really interesting
i love this
From Texas I’m hereeee
Here from arkansas
How many prototypes did you make before you released the hydrogen car?
The model T is so cool.
How does the micro chip activate or turn on?
Hi!
im here too
hello from Wisconsin
How much spins can the drone do in 15 seconds .?
Radio waves are Cool. Seth
All this is so interesting
hi
this video is so cool I like all the cool stuff.
hii im here!
hi from texas hope everyone has a good week