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 »
Great science live! Always learning new things!
Happy Tuesday and this is great!
I really like the addition of Caleb and David to Science Live.
Transistors are so neat!
Very interesting things about Henry Ford story.
David and Caleb are super fanny.
Fun video today!
i thote the vacume tube was pretty cool
😉
Comment Learning so much luv science I luv science a lot!
We got a big winter storm coming this weekend anyone in the path of of it stay safe..
The little robot bugs were cool.
Its pretty amazing how transistors work
The new model A is very amazing!🤩
Wow! Man do I love science and the flying robots, and transistors make it better. from SC
These lives are so interesting!
Learning about transistors was very interesting!
I loved continuing to learn about radios!
I love these lives!
love science live day
*I loved this video it’s the best one yet
I love science live!
I love science live its the best
Thank you for doing this every week!!
Loved learning about this!!
I learned a lot from this live.
I thought the tiny drones were really cool
No way we’re getting Science live on TV!! That’s great!!
Loved the video!
How can you make flying things faster?
I love “Area 51” and “You ask it we know it”
I liked this video a lot
hi. i love the radios
transistor radios are cool.
I learn so much every time I watch these
hi science live is the best
It’s so amazing how technology is advancing with Nature’s help.
Loved the science video today!
Love listening to Tobias because he is funny.Thank you acellus!
Happy science day
I wounder how trainsistors work
The drones are really cool 😎
Comment I love school!
Hello from Texas!
Amazing episode can’t wait for next week!
Science live is so cool I cant wait for next week.
good job, can’t wait for next week
Approximately how long does it take to design a satellite and launch it into space?
i cant wait for Acellus World.
Thanks for the video
hi you guys are the best
radios are awesome!
I loved this video!!!
Happy Thursday
I love science live!!!
How many types of sharks are currently in the ocean?
this was so cool thank you DR.B.
He put twin sisters instead of Transistor.
Comment Happy thursday this was so much fun to watch
Thanks for the video
The tiny robots are very cool and I find them interesting.
i like how transistors is like a radio
Thanks for the video!
Thank you
happy Thursday
This was really creative and interesting.
I love science live and R.51
Wireless radios are so cool!
this is amazing!
Gosh I love science lives!
Is the science fair on optional project?
Another great video!
I am always looking forward to Science Live.
Science Live is a highlight of my week! 🙂
Thanks for the video
That’s so cool about the shark and the eggs. I would love to learn more about that.
Thank you for providing these science lives for us. I enjoy learning new things!
I love these videos keep it up guys
I love Adam and Caleb’s new part👍
Cool radio
The drone technology is very interesting. I would like that robot that flips. I learned so much thank you!
I need to look into joining the science fair. This is so cool.
I Loved the part with henry ford
Thanks for all the amazing science episodes, I really enjoy them.
You should make another social emotional course. Anyways, cool science live!
how can you make a fly be a robot and go really really fast.
I love the funny jokes
The Science Live before the big winter storm!
Everyone enjoy Science Live and stay Safe!
Love looking forward to these every week!
Amazing week! I find the transmitter radios very interesting.
I’m always excited to watch the science live
Thank you Dr. B!
That flying robot is so cool!
Amazing*
technology is really cool
Yes, I feel like she should make another video.
I love science live and transistors!
love the video and like how you told the story of Henry Ford and area 51 love the twin sisters
thats really cool
That little robot is so cool!
this was so cool to learn!!
I’ve always wondered why bugs like to “tease” us, I know why mosquitoes do, but even Bees do, The Cicada killers love to chase and swarm but never sting or bite
I found it amazing how much computers were when you started selling them. It was also interesting how you compared when computers came out to AI.
I found it interesting how Henry ford actually git his inspiration for car from a watch
This was such a great show, I can’t wait for next week!
Cool video!
These videos are so entertaining and funny!!
I really enjoyed todays Science Live! I cant wait for the next one!
There is more to the radios then I had originally thought.
Good morning every one!
What was the inspiration for the four winged drone?
Cool I really wanna go to the science fail since I just started this year
I like the part about the car.
Loved it so far
I love this live
Science Live is very helpful.
Loved that video.I love listening to Tobias because he is funny. Thank you acellus!
Awesome science live!
thank you for this!
These videos are fun to watch:)
I love the mini flying robots!
I love watching science lives !!!
Hey from Tennessee!
Hello from Kentucky
It is neat seeing how much cars have changed!
Henry Ford was an amazing man. My dad has a Ford truck.
My favorite part was for sure the robots its so cool.
Love these science lives!
Transistors are pretty cool
Enjoyed this video and the information
Happy Thursday, love this weeks video!
I loved the stable joke that was fun.
I love science live! I’m still excited for that Morse code class :p 😚😛
The history of the model t car is very cool
I love the Lives its so fun to learn something new every week!
I love learning from these lives!
Great video this time!
I really like David and Caleb, they always make me laugh!
I love this live
It was really cool to see the flying robot and how fast it could go.
loved this weeks video, can’t wait for next week
This was a good live
Love this episode
happy Thursday. It’s bryndal from Colorado.
Love this!!
good live to day it was cool
Dropping in from Kentucky! I love science live, I learn so much! I hope everyone is staying safe with the snow storm coming this weekend. Here in Kentucky, we are supposed to get over six inches!
These lives are very good
The program that diagnoses eye cancer is so cool.
I really like the protégés part
happy thursday everyone
Love this science live!
I hate Fords. Its a family tradition.
i loveeeeeeeeee cats
Hello, I can’t wait to learn something new.
that was interesting!!
Hello I can’t wait to learn something new.
These videos are so entertaining!
How does a transistor act like a switch if it doesn’t have moving parts?
Hi Acellus!
Awesome video! 🔥
love watching science live! im so thankful for this program!
i love science live!
how did they figure out that germanium was the best conductor of electricity in transisters
Transistor radios are so interesting.
I love cats
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was an amazing live happy Thursday everyone !
*I love watching science live!!
Transistors are so cool
love this episode, so interesting!
An assembly line is definitely working smarter not harder.
This is very interesting, thank you for the information.
Congratulations to Ritcha! I love to hear the success stories about the people that went to Acellus! I just want to say, I love how Acellus allows us to retest to get a better grade. I was never allowed to do that in public schools, just another reason to love virtual learning from Acellus!
I think the small robot is really cool! it cool that it flys even though its so small i wonder what a lot a once would look like.
do another one Pajet Monet please please please pretty please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello, I can’t wait to learn!
what a great presentation. I loved learning about transistors. Never thought about them much at all before today.