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 »
How do they construct the tiny robot flys, their so intricate I imagine it must be extremely difficult if they do it by hand.
This was soo cool!!
Love it !
Very interesting!
Amazing!!!
I love the robot bugs!!
I loved this episode! My favorite part was the Technology Spotlight by Dr. John about mini robots that can fly as fast as a bumblebee for about 100 seconds. I wonder how this can be used to help people. I can’t wait for the next update!
i love learning about Henry Ford its very inpresive to see how he build all of these cool things!!
This was great!
I think it’s amazing that scientists at James Cook University found that epaulette sharks can lay eggs without using more energy.
Thank you for the lesson! I always enjoy being updated with new information weekly!
The transistors were so cool to learn about! I thought the video with The Protégés was really funny and informative!
The fly robot was also amazing. I find it amazing how small they can make a robot and how well it still works.
Thank you Dr. Billings for Science Live.
Hi! So excited for tonight! Hope Ya’ll are staying warm after this snow storm too!
I always look forward to the science lives!
My family is going to Acellus world for my older brothers graduation
I love the robot class
The ampla fire sounds cool.
I love robots.
I wonder what a swarm of the small robot insects would look like when it is complete.
this was awesome!
Henry Ford disassembled a pocket watch to find out how it functioned.
Using that same approach I simplify math formulas to better comprehend them.
I enjoyed learning about the shark that can walk. Was also interesting to learn about the first cars.
Could Tobias teach us about how F1 cars were invented?
I love seeing r51 appear on Science Live! Loved this episode!
The robot was pretty cool. Love this
I didn’t know Epellette sharks could produce eggs without producing too much energy
The robot bugs are incredible!
Super interesting to me, this is great.
science is great
Those bug robots are awesome!!!
Awesome!
Love this episode
Learning about Henry Ford was super interesting!! Great episode
I am afraid of sharks. What do you do if you can’t swim fast enough to get away?
I loved learning about transistors and elctricity!
This episode was so funny and interesting
I really enjoyed Dr. John’s talk about tiny flying robots. It’s so crazy that they can program them to move as fast as insects!
Learning more about Henry Ford was very interesting!
great video – love the fact about the shark so interesting!
I like the fact that cars were called horseless carrages
The story about Henry Ford was cool.
My favorite live so far!!!!
Loved this so much. I always find Tobias’s section super interesting.
happy Wednesday
I love those little bugs
Loved it!
AMmazing!!
I have always thought Henry Ford and his work was very impressive. He had a huge impact on our everyday life, with cars.
I have heard of a transistor radio, but I didn’t realize that transistors did all that.
I got a bad feeling about the traffic cones…
I really liked this episode.
wow this was such a cool live!
loving this!!!
I love science live!!!!!!
Robots are so cool
so good!
these videos are the highlight of my week
It’s cool to see that the little robot bugs could move that fast!
I really enjoyed learning about the Model T
robot. Bugs are so cool
It is really interesting about sharks how they save there energy! I wonder if humans could do that to!? Thank for this episode it was great!
Science is awesome!
I love learning
This episode is awesome!
Amazing!!!
i always like science live and all the fun facts
cool!!
The Technology Spotlight this week was amazing. That little fly robot MIT made was so cool. I enjoyed getting to watch the video of the robot insect flying, it moved incredibly fast. It was also neat to see it in slow motion too. Thanks for another amazing Science Live!
the car part was so interesting
MIT tiny insect rubul can move as fast as a bumble bee
Science live was great
the radio show was so funny
cool stuff
$850 for one of the first Model T cars. Not a bad deal. Don’t forget to SAVE THE KITTY CATS!
those little tiny fly robots look almost like miniature drones.
imagine if cars were still that cheap!
What will happen if a frog ate the robot or other bugs attacked it? Maybe try adding a laser beam or arms that hold something.
love science live!
A horseless carriage is hilarious! I loved the video this week.
This episode is so good!
Wow! The connection between Henry Ford and Roger Billings is amazing!
Love the model T!
such a good episode can’t wait for the next.
See you next week!!!
This was an interesting episode.
I loved learning about the first Model T and all of the things Henry Ford did in his life!
Model T was interesting to learn about
Super interesting!!
I loved the story about Henry Ford and Edison. Tobias always has great stories!
I enjoyed this science live.
Those drones were so cool!
Today I have a headache so no comments
itt is cool how a vacuum can amplafie signals
Would love to see Lady Pajet do another Social Emotional course!
Who first came up with the idea of cars
Wow!! This is awesome!
This week was so interesting!
Loved the fun fact about how the model T was named. 20th letter of alphabet!
It’s so cool how a transistor works.
love love love!!!
The radio show was my favorite part.
I’m from Michigan so I enjoyed learning a bit about Henry Ford and how he came about inventing the car.
That’s interesting how the model t was named.
Where do you get your ideas for Roger Billings?
loved the video TYSM god bless everyone
Amazing video today 🙌
Thank you! I like the Area 51 portion the best.
I love Roger Billings
I loved the robots so cute!!!!!
the first car was so cool and nice
That cars fact was amazing! I laughed for 5 minutes afterwords!
I love science live!
Thanks Acellus team! Science live completes the home school experience!
The video is spectacular! I learned a lot
Science is awsome.
I love Acellus, and I really liked this episode!
LOVED THIS EPISODE!!!!
I love listening to the radio
Sharks are one of my favorite kinds of animals!
I will be looking up the sharks for sure
I think it’s so interesting how Henry Ford pursued his inventions full time after one compliment from his role model.
Learning on Science Live is awesome!
I really admire Henry Ford for his inventions!
i enjoyed the show
what did Henry Ford do when he was little?
*its interesting to see something so small power radios and computers. Also, do polar bears really have black skin???
Great video! I really liked the part where Caleb and David talked about transistors and vacuum tubes. And R51 was funny as always!
Transistors are so cool! It is amazing how with enough of these a computer can be made.
I enjoyed the Henry Ford story. I didn’t know he started out working for Edison.
Watched with brother Cyrus. Thank you!
i love learning science!
I enjoy learning about Henry Ford!
Thank You for the Science Live. Would love another Paget course about social emotional or emotional intelligence.
what was used to make those tiny bug robots
I really like Acellus!
can’t wait for tonight, from Texas.
This radio show was so funny!
This was a great episodes about the robot
Excuse me, I have a Cellus BOT, but when I tried to use it, it didn’t work. Do you know of a possible solution, because I believe I did the setup correctly.
this video was so much fun watching!
Comment I can’t wait till i grow up so i can invent something of my own.
Can you add a Korean language class.
The part were the shark was soooo cool!
I loved learning about the model T and Henry ford.
Thanks for this weeks science live.
The protégé’s are super funny!! Really enjoyed this episode!
I get so excited to watch each episode!!
how much was the model T
and why are they not made anymore
it was so cool learning about henry ford!
These experiments are interesting
I never knew that not everyone had a computer.
super cool learning about Thomas Edison, cant wait for next weeks episode!
I like this show
i really liked the radio show, it was entertaining!
i think its cool to see how the roles have switched with the horse and car!
I like the twin sisters
Robots are amazing !
so cool thank you for teaching
Hello from FL!
best science live ever
this was a very cool video. funny and interesting
wow this video was really cool the end was funny the fly robo thingy was really cool and the invention of henry ford so this video was the most coolest
hi one of my favorite animals are sharks and I’m so happy you talked about them my personal favorite shark fact is that bull sharks do most of the attacking that great whites get blamed for.
the radio show was very funny man.
how do you make a transistor?
I LOVEEEEEEEEE SCIENCE
when’s the next science fair?
I like learning how technology works and the science behind it all
I enjoyed the little robot bugs.
Transistors are cool! I cannot wait for next time!
Hello from Ohio.
Woaw amazing science live!
I love the you ask we know it show with David and Caleb.
Transistors are cool! I can’t wait for next time!
Loved this video!