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 »
curious how many computers Mr.Billings made and sold in total !!
Hello from Cairo, Egypt!
That robot is so cool!
Very interesting as always 🙂
I like the part where you talked about inspiring people to be curious and creative!
Never knew a robot could be that small. Cool to learn that Henry Ford was into more than just vehicles.
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE PLEASECAN WE GET MORE OF R-51 PLEASSEEEEE🔥🦅
I love r51
R51 is hilarious!!🤣
The tiny robot was so cool. I enjoyed watching it.
Loved it.
I love these science videos and the tiny robot is so cute
I love science live and Henry Ford since he created Ford and I like Ford
Very interesting to learn about the science experiment to possibly detect retinoblastoma. My Nana passed away due to cancer.
What are the bots created by the MIT researchers called? And when was the first prototype for these little bots created?
I found it kind of cool that Thomas Edison was one of The inspirations for Henry Ford. And that import mad/repaired pocket watches as well. How cool
What is the most important invention to this day?
R51 is pretty cool! Love from NC!
This was really entertaining i love learning about things from the past .
I love Acellus so much! I cannot put it into words how grateful I am for this program. It’s helped me so much for the past year
The science fair this spring sounds fun!
Comment this episode was awesome!keep it up:)
so fun!
that’s cool I hope they make human sized ones some day.
i love the tiny bots !! 🙂
I hope to learn about Henry Ford more, so interesting.
What amazing discoveries come from MIT. I had no idea that robots were being used to save people!
Very cool to know that she is now a highly esteemed doctor and was a student at the same school we all go to.
The flying robot insect is my favorite.
I love science. The robots are cool.
Wow this is so cool!
Interesting fact on the shark! Hello from MN where its -9!
The tiny robot was so cute i wonder if thats the smallest they can make them?
Watching this with my three cats <333
The sharks are cool
It was interesting hearing how he expanded his business.
It is so cool that sharks can walk!
Where did they find the bacteria that they studied for the sunscreen.
We love this program!
R51 rocks!
It’s so cool to hear how Dr. Billings has connections with Thomas Edison in some way. It was also neat learning about Henry Ford. My grandpa worked at the Ford plant here in California in the late 50’s. I also love seeing the new guys each week! They make the topics so interesting!
I loved this episode. I cant wait for next week!
I like the robots MIT is working on, I can see a lot of potential progression in technology with them.
Thank you Acellus for the cool videos, and also for letting advanced students work ahead at their own pace rather than limit them. Grateful for this school!
R51 is the greatest AI I have ever laid eyes on
Also Very cool episode!
Im really enjoying these lives lol i love the robot
With the trajectory of these mini MIT robots, could they eventually be tweaked and developed to assist in medical operations, specifically surgeries, where precision is extremely vital?
I liked the part about Henry Ford.
Another great science video!!
That robot is super cool and I really love Acellus so much!
I love these science lives, I also enjoying showing them to my niece and nephew its really fun to watch together.
I love R51!
I look forward to these every Wednesday!!
I love these science lives, and I love being able to watch them with my niece and nephew they enjoy the videos just as much as I do.
cool video!
Loved the live!
Looking forward to the new history classes I have seen online
hey everybody from TN!
How do you make robot parts that small? The fact they actually function is so cool.
I’m super excited about the science fair this year and can’t wait to see all the cool projects!
HI I am in Virginia. My dad is an electrician. He knows a lot electric currents and how they work.
How come the sharks mentioned have evolved to be so different from other sharks? What’s different about their needs and environment from most sharks?
My dads a electrical engineer
How much power does the vacuum tube need
Hi from Virginia
yay i loved this
Look forward to this every week
I enjoyed learning about transistors since I want to be an electrician when I grow up. I’m going to take the electrical classes offered by Acellus next year.
Acellus helped me learn so much. This program is superb!
i love science live
The robots are so cool!
I love this video keep up the good work guys
Thank you it so interesting to learn about those little ‘insect’ robots that are learning from nature! And the first affordable car, that is so interesting how Ford kept taking things out to make it more affordable. Thanks again!~~
I love the tiny robot that MIT is working on. I didn’t know you could make a robot that small.
Hey from Texas
Wow nice live! From texas
yeah its cool
This episode is so interesting.
Me too!
Love watching science live!
I love Acellus. I do Acellus with my dad and my mom .
I wish horses weren’t so exspenisive. on a better note though, thank you for everything I really enjoyed this video not to mention Acellus has been helping me a lot. thank you!
89898
I cant wait to see what they do with this awesome invention!
That robot mit is making is cool and could be helpful in jobs that people or bigger drones could get in.
Wow!
I love how you talk about robots i used to have a kit that let you make a tiny robot with a little solar power thing on top of it and I made it with my dad and we both made the robot cute!
Hello from Florida!!
I really enjoyed this video about Transistors. I didn’t know a transistor existed in a vacuum it’s very cool how they lead up to modern technology nowadays. thank you for this important information and keep making this kind of content.
wooww i love it, my favorite video
Very helpful
So cool to learn that about Henry ford. I knew he made cars. But did not know all that about him.
I love Acellus so much! I cannot put it into words how grateful I am for this program. It’s helped me so much for the past year or two.
So cool, I liked learning about transistors.
I didn’t know there were yearly science fairs….I know the ideas will be awesome!
Nice video
This was so entertaining! I loved learning about the transistors and Henry Ford. Can’t wait for next week!
cool!!!
Would love to come to science live in person some day! Loved this one!
I loved learning about the transistor. Another great video!!!!
Liked learning more about Henry Ford and transistors . Science live is so full of information.
i like your name 😀
r51 is so chaotic
I like this
Yeah it’s so funny!
THESE LIVES ARE AMAZING! They only keep getting better
r51 is all over the place🤣
I love science lives
Hello from North Carolina. I knew a lot about Henry Ford before this video, but I never knew that he started making pocket watches before turning his attention to cars. How cool!
Science Live is awesome 👌
Hi from Texas
The mini-drones are so cool!
Twin Sisters was funny
Acellus is such a good program!
This video was one of my favorite yet!!! They just keep getting better!!!
I loved the tech time this week!
Awsome robotics
I really like the “You Ask, We Know it” show. It was pretty funny.
I can’t wait for the science fair this spring it sounds really exciting.
I think if a tiny robot was used for search and rescues that would be great. If we used them in a dangerous situation to assist law enforcement then maybe some situations could have better outcones.
Hi Landen, I’m from Mississippi too! Love R51 he’s great! :):):)
I love R51!
I love R 51
Very fun episode! I hope we see David and Caleb again!
I love David, Caleb, and R51 they are so funny!
Me and my dad watch and we love it this is amazing
I have family in Kansas City so maybe I can come to the Science Live!
The talk show with Caleb and David is super entertaining!!
I really like the new Protiges segment with Caleb and David.
I like how Dr. John was talking about how scientist made a little tiny robot. Dr. John had also said that the scientist are thinking of using this robot to search and save people.
R51 😂
I love acellus this is so funny!
Hello from Puerto Rico
Hello, what an interesting Science live, I love sharks and I am always eager to learn more,
I got a r51 ristband plus r51 is the best!
r51 with his twin sisters is so funny
The robot is so cool!
Hello Dr Billings.
I liked the Transistors video on how it works. Very cool. The episode of( You ask it we know it ) is awesome. Area 51 -Twin sisters on the news was fun to watch. Thanks.
This was another interesting and fun live to watch! I can’t wait for next week’s!
I loved this science life! It was very fun learning about Transistors. I hope the next live is just as fun!
Hello from Indiana I didn’t know that about sharks.
R51 made it on the news. 😉
Going to do research into those sharks. Sharks are so c cool. My favorite is the whale sheen, but that may change🤔
Mine is the lemon shark!
Can’t wait till the course on conspiracy theories is released!!!!
David and Caleb are hilarious! I loved the part about Henry Ford
I love science live ❤️!!
The biodegraded joke….I’m dying it was actually funny!
I like how transistors work.
hello from Mississippi!
I like to see what R51 comes up with each week!
I’m imressed with whoever comes up with the little shows R51 does 🙂
me too!
I think transistors are cool
My dad used to use radios all the time!!
Keep on trying
What is the wing made of?
That bee bot was awesome.
It is amazing how every episode there is always something new. 🔭🔬🦠🧫🧪🧬⚗️👩🔬🧑🔬👨🔬🥼
cant wait for all the snow to come in!
Excited to learn more today!
It is interesting how the transistor works.
I love science live and find it really fascinating what I can learn from it each time I watch!
I love watching the lives .
I love what Tobas talked about today.
My favorite part was when he was listening to the radio then it shut off on him.
happy thursday! love science live video today
radios are cool!!
Does it cost to participate in Acellus World? If so, how much does it cost?
Love the show!
i love these videos
Caleb and David are so funny! Thanks for making my Thursday so awesome!
Happy thursday guys!!!
I love cats how about you?
The bug robots were so cool!
The flying robot was so cool when it was doing the flips!
That’s so cool. He got to work at the company
So good I love this 😁
Hi from Idaho, boise. How old are you Dr.B
Super cool video!
Amazing video!
fun stuff
wow!
Watching from FL still from a trip another amazing video
I liked the polar bear part.
awesome live!
Radios are very awesome sauce heh It’s pretty cool how radios became real
People could put a camera on the little flying robot and use them for animal documentaries
The Protégés are my new favorite!
I think it’s super fascinating that epaulette sharks, produce eggs without the increase of energy. I also thought the tiny robot was cool, and pretty fast. Henry seemed really smart, i didn’t really know he made the first carriage without a horse AND spending nine years to make a car? i have no words.
hello from the midwest
thats a pretty small drone
Love the video.
cool!
and it was cool how Henry ford never met Edison but worked for him and how when he finally met him Edison gave him enough recognition to fully commit to his design
Love It!
I love cats too
I love science live:)
Alex here from Arkansas, can’t wait to watch the episode!
It is pretty cool how Henry Ford was able to take something, that cost an arm and a leg, and make it affordable for nearly everyone.
Hi Dr. B,
Where do you find the information about the science fair? I really want to go.
I didn’t know that the MODEL T took 20 tries to make, but now I know.
Does transistor work with traffic light?
Hi im from alabama happy thursday
I love science live they’re interesting to watch
Science Live always teaches me something interesting!
The cars were very interesting when they first made them.
I love this video 🙂 🙂
Twin sisters, too funny!
I love cats too!
What materials are transistors made out of??
Wow I wonder what it was like to watch a show on the radio back then??
Hello from kentucky 😀
hi from Montana!
Love science live!!
I enjoyed learning about Henry Ford and how he made an affordable car for people.
thanks for the science live
Scince live is my favorte part of the week.
My Dad is a Ford fanatic so learning more about Henry Ford was interesting.
What a cool story about Edison and Ford.
I loved this video
Who is Henry ford?
I really enjoyed this science live!