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 »
live is so much fun and all the things are funny and cool what you guys do
I really enjoyed this weeks science live!
Watching from Guatemala.
My favorite section was when the acted like they were in an old-time radio station.
I love science so much!
super awesome video!! i love science live
<3
where is science live?
Very intresting video, thank you since live.
The assembly line story was pretty cool!
so interesting! I love watching science live.
MIT would be a cool school to go to.
I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT THE MODEL T!!!!!!
This was cool! My brother has a toy model T car!
Its cool to see the new technology that is being developed for the future.
the model T is super cool
This was a great video, and a funny one.
This was something I did not think much of until this video. We don’t realize the technology that we rely on for everyday life.
Wow this is such an interesting video
This was so cool, Thank you for anther great video!!!!!!
Your videos are always amazing!
Loved learning about Ford and the Model T, and I thought the “Twin Sisters” joke was hilarious! R-51 just keeps missing the point of everything lol
These videos are always so awesome.
I learned about the assembly line a while ago, but it’s still an amazing thought process to get to it.
This is really neat! I always love listening to Dr. Tobias.
Studying for my chem final right now, wish me luck
hello from saudi
Coding has always been so difficult for me but I still love learning and watching it work even if I don’t understand how it’s working!!
Hi from Tenneesse, I loved this weeks Sience live.
model T is so interesting!
Is there anyway to request a topic for Science Live? I really liked learning about Henry Ford, and would really like to request for other things I like.
Thank you for the episode!!!
Transistors was something I always wanted to know about. And now it makes sense when compared with the vacuum tube examples by the Protégés.
Thanks for another great science live!
R.51 I like your radio lol
Amazing video!!! I love ScienceLIVE!
Thanks for the great video!
Hi again from Colorado!
I like learning about electricity and to know where to put the wires and how y’all do it
Thank you Dr billings for this awesome video
Learning new things is super cool!
awesome episode acellus!
I love Area 51!
I liked learning about the model T!!!!
Area 51 is my favorite!
Loved this! I love how they explain transistors through tv shows and running out of vacuuum tubes
I just looked up Epaulette sharks and they are pretty fascinating. They are the only sharks who have the ability to walk so if the get stranded on land they can walk out of danger. It’s truly incredible how many different types of creatures there are in a given species. I didn’t realize until now there were over 400 species of sharks including the Epaulette shark I would of just guessed it was a fish not a shark. So thank you science live for teaching me about something new every time including possibly my new favorite shark!
These science lives are so amazing keep up the good work.
Transistors are the start of the signals that allows for us to have our smart phones today.
It would be cool if my shirt sent me a reminder. This was a cool video!
Can’t wait for the conspiracy class!
Very interesting. Thank you for your time
This was very interesting
Biology was interesting and the joke as well.
Thank you! I look forward for the next video.
Love dr billings
Watching from SC
When the protégés where like talking about those scientists it was quite obvious that they where the ventioneers
I think it would be so cool to have a transistor radio.
learning about how transistors control electric currents was awesome.
Can these be used for other good stuff?
The way the episode showed why transistors are important made it easier to understand how computers and phones work. Crazy how such a small component can have such a big impact, definitely doing a lot of work for it’s size lol!
One of my favorite science live yet!!!!
Loved this science live always helps my education !!!!!
I learned a lot of this great video!!
Hello. I am from Nebraska. Great video.
really cool video this week. hope next week is cool to!
i liked this episode 🙂
transistors are so cool to learn about!
Model T was cool to learn about. Good video, I love science live videos.
This science live was cool.
Henry Ford is so smart.
I loved learning about coding.
Thank you for another awesome science live!
Hello from KY, I thought learning about the model T was really interesting!!
Great Video! We can’t wait for next week!
The ability to retake tests helps a lot with my GPA, I love acellus
model t was really cool!
transistors are simple but not
That was really interesting! I learned why transistors are so important.
I love Science Live!
I liked learning about the model t
I’m not a fan of bugs, but that little insect robot is super cool
This was great loved the model T part
I liked the robots
hello from massachusetts!
David and Caleb rock!
Thank you for the video!
transistors control electric current? What’s is a transistor?
Yes please on another Social Emotinal course. I also really hope I can come to Acellus World.
Thanks for these videos!
Super cool video!
I really enjoyed learning about the process behind the creation of the Model T, I never knew Henry Ford had such a difficult time with manufacturing it!
Electricity is cool!
I really like how interesting the transistor works, great episode!
Hello from Virginia!
I am loving these episodes, keep up the work
This live was very cool!
That little bug looking thing is so cool
Watching from FL!
I liked learning about transistors and their properties!
What is r51 up to?
I love R 51!
wuy are robots geting smallr
How can you make robot move fast not even more electricity can make it faster
How small can transistors be
I would love to see another SEL course!!!
I loved this one
I loved this episode, I learned so much!
Hi from Georgia. Enjoyed video!
YES, please! We would love more social emotional classes! Thank you. 🙂
I really want to come, but I live too far away from Kansas City.
Advancements in science are so important!
so excited for the next one !!
Transistors are such an intresting invention!
My grandfather worked on transistors. It was cool to see what he was talking about.
Dr. John always has the best jokes on technology spotlight.
This episode is great. Thanks, Acellus!
Love all of the science that I learn from these videos. Thank you Dr. Billings
Loved This Episode!
The Drone is very amazing.
I learned a lot from this video.
I really enjoyed this episode and my favorite part is that cool robot that is super small and super fast
Super Cool! I love henry ford
the model T was interesting to learn about
I love Science Live!
the insect robot was cool. this was really great!
If a tiny electrical signal can control a much bigger one in a transistor, where does the extra energy actually come from?
How many years did it take to build the radio?
Transistors was really cool to learn about.
I keep trying to find free apps to learn more about coding
im getting my first car soon so i liked learning about the model T cars.
I live near the Edison Ford museum. Pretty cool to see how it all started and how it progressed.
wow, thank you I’ve learned so much from all of these amazing videos!
I’m excited to watch the next Science live.
So cool to see how technology works with transistors.
I’m going to make a foxhole radio
learning how transitors work was interesting
I was amazed by the robots and their abilities.
Great science live! Thanks!! 🙂
I’m so excited for Todd Edmond’s new class!!!! And I would love another class by Dr. Pajet!! 😀
Learning about the model T was awesome!
The fly robot looks so cool.
learned about model T and that transitors are used for alot of things
I learned about the model T.
It is interesting learning transistors.
What else can the MIT drones be used for?
I love science you learn so much
What is a merchandise? From Anassa
It is very important to know about the transistor.
Its nice to learn about the transistors control electric current.
My Mom says that when she was a kid she used to listen to an old tube radio with my Pawpop. They listened to a show called Gunsmoke every Sunday night. My Pawpop still likes to collect radios and lots of antiques. But it is good that they made transistors to make radios work better.
This video was really cool. Really liked learning about all the inventions!
The little bug robots are cool.
Glad we got to visit r.51.
This episode was so cool!
Today I learned about…….. CODING!
I learned about coding!
Today’s live was fantastic and i learned so much.
thank you for the opportunity you gave us to learn something new!
interesting science live! amazing!!
another amazing video yet again! love it
loved learnning about the model T
Loved this video it was very intresting !!
Acellus is the best
I love science live!
Thank you for another great video.
i just learend about thomas edison so this helped me with that
love this was a great episode
Thank you for having us experience this! I enjoyed learning about how Henry Ford never gave up.
My favorite part of this science live was learning about Henry Ford and how he almost gave up on his invention. I wonder how much longer it would have taken to have affordable cars if he had given up. Dr Billings may have never made the first hydrogen car!
Dr. B, you are such an inspiration! God bless your life!
I didn’t know that the Model T was called that because it was the 20th model! Super cool! Do you think Ford will ever revive any of the Model line?
Thank you for sharing this video
We have a ford car
i learned a lot from the video!
If modern technology keeps increasing and escalating, is there any concern regarding the effects that excessive high and low frequency infrasound will have on humans and animals?