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 »
Technology has come such a long way.
I agree that she should do more courses
Transistors are very cool!
I enjoyed learning about how the factory process was made and how it was first made to more efficiently create cars
The Twin sisters Transistor was cool, great science live!
Hello Acellus family 🙂 I am watching from Italy it was really fun learning about Transistors today thank you 🙂
Those sharks sound really cool.
This sounds like it can save peoples lives! Tiny search and rescue robots cooooooool!!!!!I want to be a firefighter!
Hi Acellus family i’m watching from Italy! Is R51 going t be there at the Acellus world? 🙂
Thank you
snowing this weekend!
How long can the sharks stay out of water?
I love learning about how radios are made.
Can’t wait for next week!
I liked R51 today
a social emotional learning course would be awsome!
Great video!
thank you for today’s lesson and thank you for the slap on the table!
Very cool how Thomas Edison inspired Henry Ford to keep going.
The radio part was cool. He made such a significant discovery.
Hello from Texas! I love Science Live!,
Loved the radio talk show! Those two are hilarious.
I loved learning about how Henry Ford took apart pocket watches and I 100% think that there should be another SEL class with Pajet Monet.
I love science live.
what a cool episode
I LOVE THIS LIVE
Amazing video!!!
I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn more in Acellus and for all of your hard work and dedication to our learning journey
Greetings from new york
Hello Tajha from MD here
I had no idea a pocket watch lead to the invention of the model A.
Thanks for this video and can’t wait for the conspiracy theory course 😀
haha that was definately a dad joke in the beginning, having to catch up due to workouts during the same time (EST) with LIVE. Stay safe and warm
Hydrogen cars need to be mandatory.
I ABSOLUTETLY LOVED THE ” BREAKING NEWS” LIKE NEWS ON REAL TV! SO COOL!
transistors are pretty cool! love science live!!
Dr John killing it as usual.
The Acellus world sounds really exiting I am curious on what’s going to happen there, keep up the work Dr.B
Enjoyed the science live today, the information was super interesting and informative. Is there any update on the politics and government course?
I like David and Caleb
Thank you for the video. I enjoyed learning about transistors.
So cool to me how Thomas Edison supported and inspired Henry Ford to go on and made a technology that completely changed the world. It’s crazy how the support of one person can mean the world to someone and then go on and actually change the world! Also I loved the protégés’s segment as
always 🙂
I learned so much from this video very cool!
I love science live!
Wish we could make a project for the science fair at home for those who can not go physically.
Amazing information!
the info about Henry Ford and how he invented the cars really caught my eye and the way that his car worked so well is mind blowing because he made it in the very early days
Thank you for Science Live. Always very interesting topics.
Those cars were so COOOL!!!
Hi from South Africa
I really enjoyed this week’s video and R51 was really funny thank you so much for this week’s video.
That tiny drone is really cool! And the sharks.
In my opinion, I think the new Model-A design in 1927 is nice.
I like the idea of the production line.
Awesome live stream! Thank you.
Acellus is amazing! I really like learning about new things everyday
Dear Dr Billings. I enjoyed this week’s Science Live. It was fascinating to learn about how they made cars and how you started your first business making computers. R51 was very funny.
Amazing video!!!!
Really fun live, I always enjoy these!
Always so fun and interesting to watch! Thanks for the new knowledge.
This is so cool! Maybe they could make Emotional Intelligence 1 & 2 courses that don’t add up to the maximum that you can take in high school (like Social Emotional Health and Robotics Dance Programming)?
10 flips in 11 seconds is insanely impressive!
Its fascinating to see such a small circuit create so much electricity
I love Science live!
Amazing live! Cool stuff tonight.
Interesting live, I can’t wait for the next one.
Great stuff today !
Love it <3
That’s so cool how they make R-51 who voices him.
I loved the live! I always learn something new everytime I watch these
I loved this science live!
I loved the “biodegraded” joke. And that MIT fly is really cool!
Texas here!!
i never knew transistors were so important
I really loved today’s video and WE, yes WE all love the 2nd or even 3rd chance to retake the tests
I’m all for a social emotional learning 2!
I love old cars! Cool how cheap he was able to make them!
I think R51 deserves his own spotlight like a series or something, kids would love that!
AREA 51 is the best
Enjoyed learning about transistors!
I love to learn, can’t wait for each weeks episodes
Its truly interesting to know that Henry Ford kept diligently working towards his goal of making an inexpensive car. He didn’t give up until he finally achieved it and was even able to start the assembly line because of it! Amazing!
the twin sisters😂😂😂amazing and fun video
I really loved THIS episode!
The story of the Model T is so fascinating!
Stay safe in the cold weather!
Loved this live!!
Thank you for the Science Live.
I think the small robots is cool.
Interesting as usual. Loved learning more about Henry Ford.
Hi! From turkey.
Watching from ZA
I want PJ Monáe to do another film
Really enjoyed this science live. Sending a hello from a freezing Chicago!!
Tonight was very insightful and interesting!
I think what MIT has done with those tiny drones might be very groundbreaking for the medical field.
I really liked this live!
Make another one pajet
Hello from Viet Nam. Thanks for Sience Live.
Loved this one, Dr. B!
I hope they can keep on upgrading the tiny flying robots. learning about cars is always fascinating! Transisters are awesome I never really thought about what they can do for the things they used back then!!! I cant wait for the new course. I say yes to another course, I sounds interesting!!!! GREAT VIDEO
Thank you! Cool video
Hello, from Kansas. Amazing info.
The Henry Ford story was so inspiring, I need to work hard to invent something like he did, and the proteges are so entertaining I love them. Excited for next wednesday!
If all goes well this will be my last comment on Science Live before I graduate. So I wanted to thank everyone at Acellus Academy for helping me learn and grow as a student and as a person. Thank you all. Truly.
I didnt know that Edison had a hearing issue!
Thank you, I really enjoyed this class. The proteges are great and make the videos funny and more enjoyable.
Its crazy how pocket watches eventually led to the creation of cars!
Loved this!!!
I really enjoyed this episode
Everyone Stay safe!!! Snow is coming!!
I love science live! It’s so insightful!
Thank you!
I enjoyed watching this and learning new things like how radios are made!
I enjoyed learning about the connections between Ford’s Model A and Dr. Billing’s first hydrogen car.
Such a cool science live this week
I really didn’t know all that stuff went into making a radio
I’m so happy that Science Live is back and running after the new year! I can’t wait to learn more about our world and the innovations that make it a more accessible and better place.
What will they use the bug robots for?
the little tiny robot was very cool. I also think she should make more videos.
Second time watching science live. Enjoy it from South Africa. Thank you 🙂
Sharks that can get to the water when on the sand without help. That is awesome!
This science live was really fun!
i like how they made those cars
I love science live!!
Hello Acellus! I hope everyone stays safe this wintry weekend.
Great video, I was laughing through a lot of it, there were some funny parts.
Fun live! Stay safe in the snow storms this weekend .
i loved the r-51 bit this week
I learn to never gave up and keep on going to complete my goals.
it is the best activity in acellus
Thank you so much for this brilliant information god bless all of you
Heyyy coming from Iowa!! Science live is literally what I look forward to every week!!
R51 should have his own show on Saturdays
Amazing video!!!
Thank you!
So incredible and cool!!
Make another one pajet
Thanks for all the cool stuff tonight
Thanks – such cool stuff tonight! 🙂
It’s the inventioneers, yay! yay! yay!
I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn more in Acellus and for all of your hard work and dedication to our learning journey
I’m thankful that I get to do this for school!!! So fun.
The twin sisters transistor must be very useful!!
This live was so amazing I learned so much
– Goodbye
Twin sisters 😂😂 it’s transistors r51 TRANSISTORS 🫥
loved today’s video! It was so cool learning about how radios were made
Today was so interesting keep it up! Have a good rest of your week.
I really liked learning about transistors since it was interesting and helped me learn something new.
Very cool! Hello from California!
hi from tennessee!
hi from florida !
Love r51
I am watching this
this was an amazing vid !!!
It’s my first year of home school and I love it so much.
This is so fun
Tonight was very interesting.
r51 is back
Hi!
I feel like you should you are so good you really do it but if you don’t want to you don’t have to.
Can’t wait for may 23 try to be there in person
I loved the live stream. I loved the part with the radio
so cool
hi
Go for it Dr.Monet.
Comment : I think that Pajet Monet should film a Social Intelligence 2 course!
LET’S GET A NEW EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CLASS PLEASE!
I’M SO EXCITED!
Hello / best part of my day!
Hi, watching from Ohio!
I love this video!!! 🤣🤣
I love it
I would like another Social course.
so, cool
I would love another social Emotional Learning course. I learn so much from her.
I would love if Pajet did another social emotional course! Can’t wait!
Hi from Tennessee!
Hi
Love the lesson it’s great.
Hi I really would like that for her class and really love her classes.
hello from Texas!
R-51 Is so funny 😆 🤣
Loved it so much definitely my favorite part of my week
I vote for emotional intelligence 2.
YESSSSS, ANOTHER EMOTINAL COURSEEEEEE