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 »
What was the little drone made out of?
Super cool video! Thanks
How long did it take for them to make a pocket radio?
Henry Ford’s museum is not far from us! I want to explore it soon.
Every week is such a good live! Thanks for having science live. I just finished one class so I’m glad I have this.
I love the most in Acellus is science live!
r51 is the best
I found it very interesting that Thomas Edison thought the Henry Ford’s idea was amazing.
I love learning on Acellus so much. I love the fact that it gives you help videos for all the problems, I also love Science Live. It teaches me new things and I am grateful for it.
I love the video of science live .
I didn’t know that kind of shark existed, so glad I learned something so cool.
Tiny flying robots super cool! I also liked the science fair project. I suffer from migraines.
Good video
this is so cool
robot was awesome
awesome
I loved learning about Henry ford ,I’m going to try to come up with a project for the science fair
so cool I love science it is so magical
I love science and you’re lessons
The small robot was something new, very interesting!
I like Dr. B’s new suit!
Love the show!
r51 is so cool!
the tiny robots are my favorite.
Hello from Spain
Hi trying to stay warm in illinois
Watching this makes me really like science.
I would love to try that robot fly.
The tiny robot is so cute!
This was interesting!
Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!
R51 is super funny
Hi from Connecticut. That biodegraded joke was funny.
I want to make one
I wish I could go to the fair!
I’d love to come and watch live!
The tiny robot from MIT is so cute! Love it!
did not know that polar bears fur where white while skin is black
I enjoyed learning about transistors today. Thank you for the amazing episode!
It’s interesting learning more about how our devices work!
I loved this video. Thank you!
Henry Ford was famous because he made cars affordable. He made 20 models of cars, and it took him nine years to make the correct one.
The you ask it we know if was really funny
Transistors might look simple, but it actually makes up a lot of what our computers use today!
That science fair sounds like tons of fun!
I never knew Henry Ford made watches before cars, SO COOL!
R-51 has very funny and amusing ideas about what a transistor is.
I myself have an Idea to make a spider-robot that can connect to a computer and send it to DR. John.
this was great!
I love science!
Thanks for the video!
How can you even put a little robot like that together? Henry Ford was a really good person for trying to make things cheaper. It’s also amazing how other people can really inspire others like Thomas Edison helped Henry Ford.
I never knew you can make a robot that small.
I never knew about this bug like robot that MIT made. I am fascinated by robotics and technology. My dream college is MIT and this makes me want to go more. Thank you Accellus
The MIT robot is pretty cool, I’m wondering if they could be used to find people or animals after a natural disaster.
I love this episode, also I didn’t know you could make a robot that small!
It was very fun learning about transistors
Comment I love that tiny robot even though it have some undeveloped features
Hi from Germany!
I love R51 50!
awasome
Best thing ever I learnt so many new things
I love science and math
Can’t wait to see how advanced robots will be in 5-10 years if this is how they function already!!
hopefully DR.billings you will see this comment
Henry Ford is so interesting I didn’t know about him until now
I love R51!!
That’s a very small robot.
Robots are always my favorite!
Sharks are scary but they sound cool.
this video was so funny
r51 is so funny and chaotic
I love the robots that MIT is doing
I don’t like robots, especially tiny ones.
I love R51, it is so great. The whole live was amazing and entertaining , thank you so much.
I get excited to watch these with my dad!
I enjoyed learning about the first affordable automobile; it is amazing to see how much cars have evolved from that point until now.
I love the tiny robot.
Wow this video in general is instresting but especialy the robot
Because of transistors, phones and computers can work.
I didn’t even know what a transistor was before today! I am already doing more research online. Thank you so much.
I love what Tobias talked about today. 👍
I loved this weeks episode it was so fun and interesting!
How do sharks improve the ecological envirioment
how do carbon nanotubes improve it
? How much faster and how long did the AI train from their program
? How many transistors are produced in a year, and how many are in a adverage computer
? How much did the assembly line improve his effecency of their car and the price?
How well and what type of computer did Roger Billings sell?
What are the ways that AI will change the world?
How expensive is germanium, and is it still used today?
How much was the point-contact transistor used after its creation?
I had no idea how important transistors were. They are little minature electronic amplifiers! fascinating.
wow so amazing how they cut down time for creating the cars
Hello, the tiny robot is so cool if it can really be used for searches in natural disasters.
It amazes me how one small idea can lead to another that can completely change your life for the better.
A lot of interesting stuff this week! Sharks, robots, cars were all cool to learn about
i like R51. it was funny
Crazy how cars were supposed to be cheap.. you cant say that now. But money was different back then. I wonder if in the future, the economy will fit the lifestyle of gen z and gen alpha..
I love the science live videos.
Really entertaining and amazing live today!!
How to amplify the signal?
This was so interesting!!!
The video was amazing
CALEB AND DAVIDDD
That was fun
Thank you for this science live, So interesting.
I like r51 and I love you guys
Awesome!
wonderful video
Learned a lot like always.
I can’t believe that there’s robot flies now
I’m excited to hear more about the new courses mentioned.
R51 is so chaotic it reminds me of myself
I love David and Caleb they are so funny!
I had no idea that Ford worked on pocket watches before cars, super interesting!
I absolutely love pocket watches! Henry Ford sure does have good taste.
Waitching from Illinois
What is a transistor?
Giving the protoges a part in the show was a good idea
A transistor is a very small but smart electronic part.
It helps turn electricity on and off and makes signals stronger.
Robots are epic, Acellus is peak!
“The lesson was very enjoyable, and I’m really looking forward to next week.”
I love the robot MIT is making rn!
The proteges are the best!!!
I love how this lecture emphasized Henry Ford’s integrative thinking of pocket watches within automobiles to create more effective ways of accessibility for the greater good of the general population. Not knowing Henry Ford’s background with Thomas Edison, listening to this lecture was so interesting, would love more lectures such as these with a mix of history to make it even more intriguing. Always enjoy Tobias’ hilarious jokes!
Never knew a robot can be THAT small.
This was so interesting!!
Thank you for your information about transistors!
The small robot is cool.
I love R51!
I love the jokes science live sneaks in it makes me laugh and smile, and it makes my day .
Transistors are probably found in every device and everywhere, right?
The little robot is so cute!
So cool to learn that about Henry ford. I knew he made cars. But did not know all that about him.
I thought it was super cool how the invention of the assembly line created by Henry Ford took 90 minutes to make a car. This shows have efficient the assembly line really was.
Thank you for this awesome Live!
This was very interesting to listen to.
Thank you so much for this wonderful program!
Love the show
I love Science Live!!!!
This was a great topic. Loved learning about Henry Ford.
Such an amazing episode!
How does electricityflow in the world around us now?
Hello from California
Hello from Texas!!
I liked the part about Henry Ford!
Transistors are so cool!
It’s interesting to see how cars have changed over the years since Henry Ford’s time.
I’m so grateful to be apart of this team!
this lecture was great!
COOL!
Ford has a very interesting history
I love watching the latest on technology, the tiny robots are so cool, having extra pollinators is a great idea, I live in San Diego and we see a lot of dead bees on the ground, its very sad. I also really enjoyed learning about Henry Ford
I really enjoyed when Dr. John went over a tiny robot that can fly for 17 minutes! And it can go as fast as a bee! How cool.
I would hate to be listening to my favorite music and my radio shuts off, I’m glad it has come a long way!
I love how the tiny robot can help in search and rescue.
Neat as always
60 companies making cars at the same time is crazy
There is so much interesting information in Science Live. I really enjoyed the tiny “bug” that MIT is creating. And learning about Henry Ford.
Love this week! The tiny robot is super cool.
R51 the goat
I love Acellus so much.
I think the tiny robots in the beginning are pretty interesting! Hopefully in the future they can be used for small tasks, or even bigger ones if they do end up making them larger.
R51 is funny.
Science Live rocks! This was a great show.
intresting live!
Love watching the stream
That robot looks so tiny
Loved this one.
That’s so cool
Lol this always makes my day!
Wow thanks for the weekly videos they teach me so much!
Loved how things were explained in this episode. Thank you Acellus!
This is so cool.
loved this episode.
Yay science live! im excited for the science fair
This one was really fun
My family and i love watching science live!! it keeps getting better and better!
R51 is the best!
Thanks for the interesting facts.
I loved seeing how transistors relate to last weeks video on vacuum tube amplifiers!
Hi from Texas!