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 »
Very Intriguing and cool
Loved this weeks science live!
Science live is the best!!
So cool!
Amazing work as always
This video is amazing!!
Watching from Charlotte
Love watching these
Really cool video this week!
Very cool video!
Awesome!
Such a cool live!!!!!!
This was very interesting. I learn something new every week.
I love learning about Henry Ford! So interesting!
I didn’t know radios can be that small!
Loved learning about how transistors work and the model T.
Henry ford is so cool
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE PROTEGES PART!!!!!
loved hearing about the old cars!
I enjoyed the Henry Ford story
Me and my sister really love the robots!! Love the video!
Loved learning about Henry Ford.
Me and my sister really loved the robots! Love our weekly video
I want to be a scientist. I like working on computers
Wow! that’s so cool how transistors work. Even though it’s little it does a big job!
Awesome!!
Awesome video!!
This was such a cool episode! I loved this!
The Model T history and Thomas Edison hitting the table for Henry Ford was very interesting.
I love science!! It’s all so interesting to watch.
I love learning about science!
Thanks for the video!
Model T is so interesting.
Love the video!
What an awesome week!
Loved this episode!
I really like science and I always get so happy to watch these.
I liked the Model T part.
See you next week!
This is very cool to see thing I normally would not see everyday. I love watching Science Live.
I enjoyed the short video that explained how a transistor works and how it’s made.
I loved the part where they talk about the inventions helps me learn than from a small idea it can turn into something big.
I enjoyed the proteges. All super cool
It was so interesting learning about Henry Ford!
Amazing video!!
I thought it was neat to see the robot move so quickly and do so well with controlling itself. the program to diagnose eye cancer was so impressive! So cool.
I love everything about this!!!
Very Interesting information on the model T!
I enjoyed the information on Ford. I was just researching him yesterday!
I love science live.
This was amazing!!
The amount of computers who communicate with each other all over the world is insane.
The robots were really cool to see, as well as inventions and model T.
I loved the segment on the Ford Model T, thank you for sharing
Science live is so interesting and cool!
Henry Ford’s story was really cool!
Very interesting video about transistors
So many interesting things!
I enjoyed the video it was interesting learning new things
Good episode! Those tiny drones are mind blowing!
Hello From North Carolina!!!
I didn’t know that electric cars were thought about that far back in history.
The assembly line was super cool.
This was so cool to learn about! Thank you!
So many interesting facts!
Robots are amazing! I found it interesting that robots could be used for search and rescues. I feel like that could help many people and also assist the rescue teams.
I love the science of transistors!
I like the part where the presenter was teaching us about Henry Ford. I thought it was interesting that he said years ago if you had a car you were rich and if you had a horse you were poor. Nowadays it’s the opposite. Interesting truth!
I LOVE the part about the cars!!
This is honestly super cool, I love everything about this video!!!
Transistors are so fascinating
That’s amazing! I love watching these videos!
Robots are the coolest!
I liked this episode!
Intersesting! I think it’s cool how they made all those cars.
I think another class with Pajet Monet would be Amazing!
I think it is inspiring how Edison slapped the table and told Henry Ford to keep at his ideas and work! I think it is cool how Ford continued to find ways to build cars faster with the assembly line. 🙂
This episode was amazing!
I always enjoy Science Live.
This lesson inspired me to look around the house for things to fix!
I loved this episode it was very interesting
We have come to far since 1940s radio, the advantages are endless! Thank you Science Live.
Learning about how the first cars were made was really interesting!
Very interesting! I like The Proteges part!
I found it interesting to learn about Henry Ford.
Yes I do truly love the exam recovery it’s helped me understand so much!
Loved this episode!! I didn’t realize Mr Billings had a computer corporation!!
Watching the live from Georgia!!
the robots were so cool to see
I really enjoyed this.
I want to do the science fair some day!
It was so interesting to learn of inventions and the model T!
this is the best!!!
So cool!
Very interesting video!
Would’ve loved to visit Acellus live and be there for Tod Edmond’s class.
I couldn’t believe that Henry Ford was inspired himself by Thomas Edison!
Can’t wait for the next live!
Amazing video!!
The Henry Ford explanation was super great.
I love exam recovery. It helps me learn.
I forgot some of those things about Henry Ford very interesting to hear again!
Could you imagine actually meeting Edison in real life?!
woah those robots are so cool!!
This episode was awesome!
I love it
The robot was so cool!
I love the science fair is coming up
Such a good show.
The robot bugs were so cool
My name is Kelani and this is my first Science Live
This was so much fun!!
I think the old time car was funny looking.
I replaced a transistor on a guitar pedal once, its cool to learn more about them
Cool!
Sharks are so cool!
What is the primary function of a transistor (switching vs application)?
Loved learning about the robot and model T.
What impressed me about Dr. John’s explanation of the carbon nanotube drone is how machinery keeps becoming more efficient while also becoming less expensive.
Henry Fords story is cool.
I love science live, its the best
Interesting show!
I actually didn’t expect the robot insects to move so fast
I liked learning about Henry Ford.
It’s videos and things like this that make me want to be an electrician someday.
This was so cool to learn about! Thank you!
If cars were called horseless carriages, I wonder what we will call driverless cars in the future. The protégés did great!
That episode was really good
Lets go!
Always the The best part of my week!
I am so excited for another live! Dr. John’s section on robotics and engineering is always my favorite part, but I also loved the radio show!
This is so good!
Have assembly lines been phased out due to employee costs?
I really enjoyed this lesson and I think that Henry Ford was a very intelligent man and that God gifted him the incredible ability to create such wonderful things. I can’t wait for this weeks live.
the radioshow part was funny
A breakthrough will not always go as planned. Henry Ford started with a pocket watch to see how it worked. In the late 1800s he started coming up an idea for a horseless carriage. He started coming up with engine styles, framing, and tires. Henry presented his carriage idea to Thomas Edison and he told Henry to go for it.
I enjoyed the part with Henry Ford.
Robots are interesting.
Amazing!
I liked the walking sharks. Sharks never stop moving their entire life.
The Henry Ford portion was very interesting! Good episode
I liked learning how car engines were made a long time ago.
wow! so interesting!!!
I am constantly amazed at the technology of the world today! Thank you for doing these science Live vidos!
The naming of the Model T was a fun story to hear!
those little robots are really cool
what material did they use for the wings?
I loved the bug robot!
I can’t wait for the next Science Live!
Loved learning about this
I liked that tiny robot bug!
The robot bugs are super cute and really helpful! Just imagine how much better search and rescue could be if you had something as small and fast as that helping
R51 really likes Pajet.
Where can I buy the little “bugs”?
Good lesson!
I loved the T model, learning about robots is so interesting.
r51 lolll
Science live is the best
I love these science lives, they teach me so much!
Great episode!
so good!!
How did they make the robot so small but still be able to do advanced movement and how is it so incredibly fast.
I love science , cant wait for the next one
Hi from Texas!
Cool!
What are transistors?
love these vids
Polar bears are black?
i enjoyed watching this science live and learning so much.
I learned about the transistors pretty 😎 it’s brilliant. 💗
my uncle would like the old car, good radio show
How do transistors differ in function between computers and smartphones?
Wow learning about the tiny robot was awesome, couldn’t belive how fast it was!
This was such a great episode! The epaulette sharks sound interesting!
LIKED Dave and Caleb very interesting
I loved watching this video!
Fascinating how all these scientists are connected to Thomas Edison. Still pushing for the Lewis-51 election and for the coherer science kit.
Science Live is my favorite part of the week!
I love that you included an animal fact this week. Could you please add more animal facts please?
You know i didn’t know that about henry ford
thee radio show was so funnnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t know that transistors could be so fascinating! 😮
I love science lives !!!
I find it so fascinating how many connections Dr Billings has!
Amazing episode
Loved the radio show!!!
you ask it I know it !!!!!!
Great episode!