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 »

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6,385 Comments

  1. Holly

    How does the shark not use any energy?

    Reply
  2. Isaiah

    hello from la

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  3. Emery

    Hi from TENNESSEE

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  4. Esdee

    Esteem watching from Nevada!

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  5. Bianca

    Hi from florida

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  6. Eshrak

    hi

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  7. Leland

    hello every body NC here

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  8. Christopher

    Hello!

    Reply
  9. Ayonna

    Hi from Texas!

    Reply
  10. Briana

    hello! i’ve always been interested in sea life, i feel like sharks are misunderstood

    Reply
  11. Johnathon

    saving sharks? Wow!

    Reply
  12. Aiden

    Here from arkansas getting ready for a winter storm hitting here on Friday night all thru the weekend they are calling up to a max of 2 feet of snow or 2 inches of ice

    Reply
  13. Madyson

    hi

    Reply
  14. Lyric

    Hello from Arkansas.

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  15. Catalina

    Hi from Texas! :]

    Reply
  16. Kylie

    happy science live.

    Reply
  17. Jordan

    Wow sharks are very cool and fun, but dangerous, very dangerous

    Reply
  18. Juliana

    I’m from wierton wv

    Reply
  19. Jaidyn

    Hello from Indiana! Do you offer, or are you going to offer, an online college program?

    Reply
  20. Mason

    I would to watch the sharks! How Cool!!!

    Reply
  21. Larissa

    hello

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  22. Diego

    hello from Houston!

    Reply
  23. Kole

    Good evening

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  24. Conner

    I can’t wait too see tonight’s Science Live.

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  25. Lee

    Good evening

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  26. Charlotte

    So excited for science live today!

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  27. Skyler

    Hello

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  28. William

    so excited for science live! from georgia

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  29. Ayden

    how big are eplec sharks

    Reply
  30. Jaxson

    Do those sharks still exist and if so could we use them to help us?

    Reply
  31. Liliana

    That shark sounds pretty cool

    Reply
  32. Genesis

    Hello form Georgia

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  33. Levi

    Hello science live from Missouri!

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  34. Aurelia

    Hello!

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  35. Philasinee

    Hello

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  36. Conner

    love this

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  37. Landen

    Hi from Illinois!

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  38. Zara

    Howdy from Texas!

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  39. Natalie

    Hello!

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  40. Addison

    Already wednesday!? im so excited!!! Love science live!

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  41. Elijah

    Woah I wonder if other sharks can do that or if its the only one?

    Reply
  42. Stephanie

    Hi everyone! Super excited to learn more about science!

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  43. Ezra

    Hello from California! I’m excited for todays Science Live!

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  44. Peyton

    I am here

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  45. Jordyn

    Hello from Georgia!

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  46. David

    Hi from Texas!

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  47. Clarke

    Hello from Texas!

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  48. Mckenna

    Hello from a farmer!!

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  49. Evan

    HI HERE FROM MO SOOOO HAPPY

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  50. Naiah

    Hello from New York!

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  51. Joseph

    Hello!

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  52. Samuel

    Hello I like sharks and like everything about sharks

    Reply
  53. Kadin

    hi everyone

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  54. Linus

    Hello Linus From Illinois.

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  55. Rex

    How big are sharks?

    Reply
  56. Eden

    Hello everybody!

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  57. Anthony

    Hello from TN

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  58. Nicole

    Happy to be here

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  59. Makayla

    hi, so happy to be back

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  60. Makenna

    Hello from Virginia!

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  61. Lyla

    Hi from Florida!

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  62. Kaidence

    Hello my name is kaidence and I’m form Texas!😆

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  63. Charley

    I’m graduating this year!

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  64. Allie

    hi from Illinois

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  65. Cameron

    Hi everyone glad it’s Wednesday and Science Live.

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  66. Maci

    watching from VA!!

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  67. Elias

    Hello from Texas

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  68. Violette

    Hi from New Hampshire

    Reply
  69. Jack

    Hi Emma and jack are here

    Reply
  70. Matthew

    I find it interesting to learn more about animals, as animals all work in very different ways, so learning more about them are interesting as we can potentially try and mimic some of their behaviors for our technology.

    Reply
  71. Liz

    Hi from Flordia where are epolope sharks are in the world

    Reply
  72. Kyle

    Hello from Missouri! My favorite thing to do on Wednesday is watch science live

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  73. Caden

    Hello from VA! Can’t wait for tonight’s episode .

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  74. Abigail

    Helloooooo from TN

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  75. Farin

    Hi, I’m Farin I’m from VA.

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  76. Leora

    Imagine having 100 to thousands of baby sharks pop up out of nowhere

    Reply
  77. Angelo

    Hi from Michigan.

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  78. Ethan

    hi from Alabama

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  79. Neriah

    Hi, from Florida.

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  80. Dynia

    Hi, I am excited to learn from the science live!

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  81. Chanel

    Excited for todays live !

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  82. Ayden

    i love science

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  83. Alinae

    hi from Texas 🥳

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  84. Allessandra

    When will science reach peak evolution?

    Reply
  85. Cheyenne

    how did they discover that about the sharks??

    Reply
  86. Arabella

    amazing live

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  87. Khloe

    Heyyyya so excited!!!❤️

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  88. Preston

    Hello from Colorado

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  89. Timothy

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  90. Alexander

    Hello from NC!

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  91. Laramie

    watching from nd

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  92. Emma

    Hello from TN

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  93. Lyric

    Hello I’m from Illinois!

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  94. Garrett

    I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE

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  95. Usman

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  96. Ethan

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  97. Megan

    Happy Wednesday!

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  98. Evan

    hi from ohio

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  99. Isabella

    Hello!! I’m very excited for today’s science live!

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  100. Nathan

    Comment How big are these sharks eggs???*

    Reply
  101. Caleigh

    Hello from Florida!

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  102. Leticia

    Can you get biodegraded if you don’t pass biology

    Reply
  103. Bella

    hey from tennessee

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  104. Josiah

    Hi from AS

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  105. Alexander

    Hi Acellus. I love science and technology!

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  106. Shekar

    I love science! Thank you for taking time out of your day to teach.

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  107. Thomas

    Really excited about the new history subject!

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  108. Josiah

    this was a good live no questions.

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  109. Olivia

    wow thats so cool how that works

    Reply
  110. Lydia

    Hey, I am here from South Carolina!

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  111. Katelyn

    Hello from North Carolina! Can’t wait to see what we learn today! Stay safe this weekend guys!

    Reply
  112. Colton

    So cool!!! Hey from from Florida

    Reply
  113. Phichsinee

    hi from thailand

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  114. Jacob

    great video!!!

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  115. Jaxson

    From texas

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  116. Taylor

    Good evening!

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  117. Damien

    wow, there’s been nearly 300 episodes’ of this. that’s impressive

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  118. Raegan

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  119. Gene

    science live is amazing !

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  120. Ashton

    How many species of sharks are there in the world

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  121. Kaylei

    Hi from Mississippi! What did you eat for dinner? I had pizza.

    Reply
  122. Raylan

    Sharks are really cool

    Reply
  123. Sean

    Hello, from North Carolina!

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  124. Alastair

    Where do these kind of sharks live and what do they eat?

    Reply
  125. Elena

    Hello from New York.

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  126. Aliz

    Good evening from Virginia.

    Reply
  127. Reilynn

    i love acellus

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  128. Tristan

    hi from florida

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  129. Huda

    Hi, from Maryland!!

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  130. Genevieve

    Hello from Chicago!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  131. Valentina

    Hi from Arizona

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  132. Adam

    Hello from Nashville Tennessee

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  133. Orlando

    hello from tn!!

    Reply
  134. Gracie

    How many types of sharks are there in the world that we know of?

    Reply
  135. Alexis

    Hello from Texas!

    Reply
  136. Kaiden

    I love sharks

    Reply
  137. Shaima

    Finally SCIENCE LIVE started.🤩🤩

    Reply
  138. Cameron

    how big is the shark?

    Reply
  139. Kelsey

    Hello From NJ

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  140. Jorel

    Yay science live

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  141. Merielle

    Hello from Texas!

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  142. Charlotte

    Good evening!!

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  143. Lana

    I’m excited for the science live

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  144. Abigail

    what are elptic sharks

    Reply
  145. Mason

    hello from texas

    Reply
  146. Zoe

    Hello from SC!

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  147. Matthew

    LOVE SCIENCE LIVE SOO COOL LOVE YOU PAJEt

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  148. Jax

    Hello from MD. Hope everyone is well on this chilly Wednesday evening.

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  149. Michael

    Hello, from Texas

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  150. Brynlee

    Yesss, brynlee here!

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  151. Joahana

    Hello from Texas !!!

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  152. Thailyn

    hiii i love watching these lives!

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  153. Tanner

    Hello from Belton, Texas!

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  154. Gunner

    Hello from TN!!!

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  155. Alexa

    Good afternoon!

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  156. Isabella

    Hello from Illinois!!!

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  157. Ayden

    hi from montana

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  158. Gunner

    Hello from Gunner in South Carolina!!! Looking forward to learning tonight!

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  159. Victor

    Hello from FL!

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  160. Jabari

    I like biology.

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  161. Dhyland

    Hi From New York

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  162. Ashleigh

    I AM EXCIDED FOR TODAY SCIENCE LIVE.

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  163. Arabella

    hi from MD… love the show

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  164. Ryan

    Hello from California! thank you for another amazing video!

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  165. Annalise

    hello from CT

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  166. Chuck

    hello from tennessee

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  167. Tessa

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  168. Keaton

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  169. Amelia

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  170. Alexander

    What’s your favorite thing about science

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  171. Braylen

    Hello everyone! Happy Wednesday!

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  172. Jack

    Hey!
    Im excited to watch this!

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  173. Sarai

    Hello from NYC

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  174. Jackson

    Watching in NJ

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  175. Nadia

    Hi from Nevada

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