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 »
That is the smallest robot I’ve ever seen! So cool!
thank you science live
I love the you ask it we know it show.
I love science live!
horseless carrages is an interesting term. i like the model T.
I liked learning about model T and the robot.
hello from Alex in nj. love the videos keep them comming
I really liked the save the kittens bit it was so funny!!!! aswell as the talk about ai
Henry Ford is awesome
What is the smallest age to run a large computer circuit?
I am really glad we have exam recovery as I’m learning.
Imagine if there’s a power source that would allow that drone true motion feedom
Cars have come far and how they are made.
The wings on the little robot is so neat, so precise
the robot was so cool to learn about!
I love Science Live!
if T stands for 20 because it’s the 20th letter in the alphabet then why did Henry just call it the 20th model
interesting! Loved the bit with David and Caleb
I’ve never heard of those sharks before, I want to research more now!
The “I” in the robot “MIT” logo kind of looked like a person
Also I know it is silly, but I just realized “car” is a shortening of “carriage”
What made them come up with transistor? It’s so cool
I didn’t know that there was a connection between migraines and an unbalanced circadian rhythm!
I have an old transitor radio from my great grandpa. I love watching these videos and love the humor in them. I would like to learn more on the Henry Ford part.
I truly love the physics behind transistors!
this was a fun episode
Loved watching and learning about sience!
The radio show is the funniest!!!
I love watching the these videos!
So much information in this episode! My Mom suffers from migraines and she does have a lot of sleep issues. Her neurologist believes that her sleep issues are making her migraines worse.
We have three Ford vehicles in our household and just from owning Ford Vehicles, I knew a good about about the history of Ford vehicles. Most Ford dealerships have plaques/pictures around the showrooms that illustrate the history of some of the Ford models. I think it’s great that Ford cars are still considered affordable the way Henry Ford intended.
It’s is so cool how Dr. Roger Billing built a hydrogen car.
How did Henry Ford think of a car design and did he make it by himself?
Science live is my favorite show! It is always funny and interisting!
The robot was so fun to learn about!
The robot is so cool!
how do sharks breathe?
Cool shark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Horseless carriages is a pretty funny name. I like these live videos because I learn so much!
We’re gonna go from horseless carriages to wheel-less vehicles.
I love this one The T model is the best
Wow, 9 years and 20 models to get the Model T right, that’s crazy!
Modern radio is pretty impressive.
Are transistors required for all electricity?
The part about Henry Ford was so interesting! Hopefully we learn more about him soon!!! Thank you 😀
What would we do without transistors?
I didn’t know transistors were so common.
This was a great live.
Awesome lesson thank you
That radio show was so funny lol.
Sharks are awesome.
Interesting as always, thank you.
I wonder how much weight the wings would be able to take on before they break?
My mom has really bad migraines.
How many people did it take to make modal t
the car is probably the most important invention
I love science live
Happy New Years Acellus!
Electronics is so cool!
This was sooo interesting the little bugs weee so cute
It was wonderful to learn about transistors and how they work in radios!
Thought I’d rewatch this again I find this very interesting.
This was really interesting! Thank you!
That was an interesting fact about the epaulette shark!
I love love these shows!
wow great video I really liked the part about epaulette sharks and learned something new.
this was a great episode cant wait for the next
These always make my day! Can’t wait for the next!
Is a transistor like an on-and-off switch?
Great episode! Will we be able to learn more about sharks in the future?
This is amazing work!!
Ngl if I was excitedly rambling about my work to a famous guy and all the sudden he slammed the desk and said it was amazing I would still be terrified.
I love Acellus!!!
thanks for the video this week
Great episode! Love Science Live!
Every day I’m so grateful that I’m homeschooled!!
that was great. i laughed a lot
great science live like always i learned alot more than before this time thanks.
Henry Ford worked for Edison and had the idea of working on a horseless carriage while he was off on call.
The small MIT robot was impressive. I wonder if the wing technology will be used in bigger applications.
I like science live
Learning about Henry Ford was extremely interesting! And the radio show was so funny! Thank you Science Live!
I really liked how you explained transistors in a simple way. It helped me understand how something so small can make such a big difference in electronics we use every day. The robot bug and the story about Henry Ford made the episode even more interesting. Great Science Live!
i love learning about different type of sharks .
Those little robot bugs are so fast! And the sharks staying in the shallow parts kind of scares me a little bit lol.
Burrrrr Winter Blast. How’s your weather
I love science live!!
Great video can’t wait for next weeks.
I love watching these videos.
The sharing of first Ford car is very interesting! Thank you so much !
ciao from New Hampshire!
Loved all the discoveries that were covered!
I really found the transistor and the robot interesting i am really looking forward to the next episode.
Great episode. We loved the jokes.
This was such a fun watch!
The science fair was so cool last year can’t wait to say the winners for this year.
Their seems to be something new and exciting to learn about every week on Science Live!!
I enjoy the scienced lives
The robot bugs can move really fast.
Love to learn about the evolution of cars and about Henry Ford’s history.
That *was neat about the sharks.
Absolutely loved this episode!
the radio show is both funny and educational
The radio show was so funny.
I love how humans needs have evolved
This episode was by far my favorite
This was awesome! One of my fav episodes so far!
I really enjoyed this video!!
I thought the radio show was hilarious. Thank you for making science so interesting.
I have not seen a drone with wings before.
I always learn so much from science live
I love learning more about electronics!
Where do I find the information for the Science Fair and how and when to submit?
John showed an image that displays a robot control diagram, illustrating the concepts of desired and actual trajectory. Tobias talked about Henry Ford, founder of ford motor company. Roger Billings and Pajet talked about transistors that function as switches or current amplifiers in electronic circuits
Nice episode, it was nice learning about resistors. The mini robots were pretty cool too.
This was really funny you should talk more about it.
How long have sharks existed?
That was great thank you
i love this program. Hi from Vietnam
I have always really liked studying sharks so I enjoyed the segment that highlighted the Epaulette shark.
I find it really cool that a drone that tiny can have uses for things as important as search and rescue!
Science never fails to amaze me!
I loved it so much that I am watching it on repeat!
Gotta say I’m excited to watch this!!!!!
Thomas Edison encouraged Henry ford to continue working on the first electric car
i really liked the history of the model T car
The radio show was so funny!
Thanks for the Live Mr. Billings!
Science live is so cool!!
how did you make the wings on it fly.
i agree i love the video i love learning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I learned a lot.
The “bug” drone would be great in search and rescue. It was very interesting to learn that the “T” in Model T was because Henry Ford made 20 previous models.
Interesting science live learned a lot !!
The inventions of Henry Ford were awesome and very interesting.
Loved learning about the robot and model T
This science live was great!
i now understand
The Radio show was good
The Henry Ford thing was pretty cool, can you talk a little more about his invention next time too?
The little robot is amazing!
This one was so gooddd!
so good
So good!!
Science love is the best
I love the you ask it we know it show.
Those little robot bugs are so cute! It is amazing how fast they can move.
Great episode
I find it funny that cars used to be called horseless carrages
Great episode! Can’t wait for another
Science is so cool.
This was great! I loved the part about the cars! Great video once again. Thank you Dr. Roger Billings.
Wow! This is so interesting!
LOVE THIS ONE!!!!
yesss!!! this one was my favorite!
I love Acellus 🙂
same!
that’s awesome!
Amazing episode!
I did not know that transistors could be so interesting
WOW! This is such a great video, I love what you are doing, God bless you!!!
this was truly just amazing
i love sharks!!
That is so interesting about the epaulette sharks! I am terrifies of sharks though so hearing that they sometimes stay in the shallow end, it’s kind of scary.
Very interesting to me.
Science Lives are always so humorous!!
Can’t wait for next Science Live!
I bought my Acellus World and graduation tickets back in September. How do I sign up to see science live and the Todd Edmonds launch of his new class? When I bought my tickets, there wasn’t a link to register for the science live or the Todd Edmonds launch.
Love the model T history.
i think you can sign up for science live through the actual Acellus app
I enjoyed learning more about Henry Ford, I found it very interesting!
The little tiny robot bee thingy what are the wings made out of to bend but never break?
I love Lady Pajet Monet because she is my cheacher in my class. I love science live, it’s the best!!!!
I like science live.
I did not know where Henry got that idea from but I know he used it. Also I like the way you guys taught about transistors near the end of the video.
I had no idea that Henery Ford spent 9 years and had 20 models to get to the car. It is also crazy that they got it under 90 minutes to produce each car!
Robots are cool
how do transistors affect us as people today?
Transistors are cool.
Amazing!!!!!!!
I love acellus!!! the radio show was so funny!
Science live is so much fun.
Loved this video!!!<3
I really enjoyed learning about transistors!
always amazed at these!
this video was amazing
Wish cars still cost $850 today!
this was a good science live
I loved this lesson
This looks very interesting.
henry ford was an amazing inventor
I learned that transistors help make electronic work
This was so cool! Can you do a video about gravity?
Science live is so fun.
Transistors are so cool!!!
This is a great Science Live!!! Loved this episode!!
I think transistors are so cool!
that was a great live keep it up
thank you
great video to watch
This was a great episode!