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. Anthony

    What’s the name of the shark?

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  2. Talia

    Hi from CT!

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    I love Wednesdays because of science live!

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  4. Wyatt

    It’s so cool to see kids from this school doing cool things in science.

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  5. Caden

    Very excited for Acellus today (:

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  6. Michaela

    Dr Billings is my inspiration!

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  7. June

    Hi from Texas! I am loving my new ASL class!

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    hi from eldon missouri love sciance live

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    Hi from NM

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  10. Brinley

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  11. Andrea

    Hello from Texas

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    Hi from New Jersey

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  13. Laura

    hello from texas!

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  14. Landon

    hi form tx

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  15. Maddison

    From Va.

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  16. Elyssa

    hello from MS!!

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  17. Alina

    this is so interesting

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  18. Andrew

    Hi from sc!!!!

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  19. Alicia

    great video! thanks for providing us with these

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  20. Madison

    I’m so excited for this video!

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  21. Rylie

    hello from El Paso!!

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  22. Milani

    Hello from CA!
    I am looking forward to tonight’s science live!

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  23. Madelynn

    Hello from Sugarland, Texas

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  24. Opal

    I have been so busy, I haven’t been able to watch live. But, i’ve finally made time. So, here I am… IM SO EXCITED!!!!

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  25. Tenleigh

    Checking in from NC

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    I love Science Live.

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  27. Axel

    Science is so amazing!

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  28. Carlos

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    HI from NC! love the science live!

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  30. Skylar

    these videos are so cool to see every week how people are changing the world day by day

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  31. Danny

    good day or night and thank you for the video 😀

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  32. Makai

    Hi from Texas! 🤠

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  33. Riley

    Hello from NC.

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  34. Lucas

    Hi from Tennessee

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  35. Isabel

    I never knew that there are essentially “walking sharks” , so cool.

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  36. Noah

    hello from ohio

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  37. Landyn

    hello from TN

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    Hello from NY

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  45. Adalynn

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    Hi everybody!

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  47. Caleb

    Hey ya’ll! Can’t wait to watch today’s science show

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  48. Logan

    Howdy from Tennessee

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  49. Skyler

    Sharks can breathe and walk on land?

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  50. Cindy

    I wonder how they discovered that fact about sharks, like what led to them testing that.

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  51. Kaden

    Hello from Tennessee!

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  52. Charli

    Ready to learn! always look forward to Wednesday:)

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  53. Natalia

    HIII love science ❤

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  54. Aiden

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  55. Charlotte

    Hi Charlotte from nc

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  56. Ana

    Hi!

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  57. James

    hi from georgia

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  59. Calista

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  60. Caroline

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    Hello from New Jersey

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  64. Esme

    Hello from Texas! Science lives are very educational!

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  65. Anna

    Hi from New York!

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  66. Daemon

    The information about the sharks was very interesting. Where can I learn more about them?

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  67. Cassidy

    Hello from Brooklyn!

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  68. Christopher

    Hi From Tennessee

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  69. Addley

    Hi from Tennessee 🧡

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  70. Thomas

    Looking forward to tonights video! Love Live Science

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  71. Brayden

    hey from Alabama

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  72. Jerry

    why do we have migraines

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  73. Adriel

    Hi from Missouri!

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  74. Jackson

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  75. Glen

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  77. Mercedes

    hi from texas!

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  78. Siddalee

    HI FROM GEORGIAAAAA

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  79. William

    I love this

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  80. Victoria

    Could scientists use what they found out about epaulette sharks and apply it’s energy saving adaptions into technology?

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  81. Cole

    Hi from Nevada

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  82. Jerry

    I love Science live

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  83. Christina

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  85. Gunel

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  86. Alexander

    Hi from North Carolina

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  87. Audrey

    Will there be any new language courses released this year?

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  88. Lillian

    This is awesome thank you so much!!

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  89. Amelia

    hi from illinois

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  90. Brent

    Hello from Kentucky! Today I ask how our eyes allow us to see?

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  91. Braelynn

    Watching from SC!!

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  92. Joel

    Hello from Oregon! Where are those Sharks located?

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  93. Jayden

    Hello from mississippi

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  94. Ella

    hi from texas

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  95. Ashlee

    Can’t wait to watch this weeks live.

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  96. Joshua

    Science live is awesome

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  97. Logan

    Hi Im watching from Florida

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  98. Mary

    Hi from New Jersey

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  99. Cierra

    Hi from tennessee

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  100. Abigail

    Hello from texas

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  101. Khloe

    Hi!!!so excited❤️

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  102. Josh

    Hello from mo

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  103. Adlynn

    hi from illinois

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  104. Lariat

    How big are the sharks

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  105. Alex

    hello from mississippi

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  106. Lane

    Hi I’m lane poythress, I’m so happy to be here to night!

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  107. Anthony

    What’s the sharks name

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  108. El

    Hello form NC!

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  109. Samirah

    I love watching these science lives

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  110. Chloe

    Hiiii from North Carolina!!!

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  111. Angelica

    Hey from Texas!!!! I can’t wait to start my ASL course.

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  112. Sterling

    Thats cool!

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  113. Michael

    Hi from Georgia

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  114. Brayden

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  115. Liam

    ok this is cool

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  116. Makaylah

    Hi from texas

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  117. Gabrielle

    hello from Missouri!

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  118. Jacob

    Hello from Texas!

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  119. Izzabella

    Sharks ARE COOL!

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  120. Micaiah

    Hi, from Florida.

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  121. Logan

    Hello Logan from Illinois.

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  122. Laney

    Hello from TX

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  123. Isaac

    hi!!! watching from texas

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  124. David

    *hi from mexico

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  125. Claire

    I love this program.

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  126. Ayden

    I love science.

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  127. Valerie

    hi from Ct!

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  128. Copelyn

    hello from North Carolina

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  129. Sebastian

    Hi from Illinois

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  130. Murphy

    Hi from Texas!

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    • Ellie

      Haiii I’m also from Texas!

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    • Thalia

      hi from texas.

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    • Jeremy

      Hello from Houston Texas!

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    • Dean

      Happy Birthday Dr Roger Billings!!!

      Reply
  131. Ciarac

    Hello

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    • Kahlen

      Hello from Houston 🙂

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  132. Renuka

    Hello from Florida!

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    • Liam

      Hello from Michigan

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    • Sophia

      Happy Wednesday!!

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  133. Jameson

    Love science live ❤️

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  134. Jayleigh

    hiiii

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  135. Jayla

    Happy belated birthday Dr. B!!!

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  136. Jonathan

    Hello from missouri!

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  137. Riata

    How many named shark breeds are there?

    Reply
  138. Kaitlynn

    Hi!

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    • Debora

      Hola

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  139. Erik

    flying in hot from the east coast

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  140. Kelby

    Hello! here from North Carolina, im excited learn more!

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  141. Wagner

    Good evening from Madison TN

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  142. Abbygayle

    Hello from Illinois

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  143. Elijah

    What does the sharks egg look like?

    Reply
  144. Jack

    hello from texas

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  145. Ahmed

    Hello from North Carolina, glad I could make it, hopefully we can view another innovative episode

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    • Natalia

      Hi from Mexico 🫶🏻

      Reply
  146. Brantley

    Hello

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  147. Alexander

    Hello, everyone!

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  148. Mackenzie

    how do sharks help our ecosystem?

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  149. Finnigan

    How much money did it take make Acellus.

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  150. Chloe

    Hello from Tx!

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  151. Kennedi

    CommentHi from Georgia.

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  152. Barbara

    oh that’s cool, I love sharks they are so fascinating.

    Reply
    • Landon

      Me too

      Reply
  153. Sebastian

    Hi

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  154. Hayleigh

    hey

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  155. Tiffany

    Hi from Maine

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  156. Gwen

    happy wednesday everyone! <3

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  157. Victoria

    Hi from Alabama I love science
    .

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  158. Lilly

    hello!

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  159. Mason

    Sharks can help us determine the water flow in the ocean.

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  160. Owen

    Hello from michigan

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  161. Josiah

    josiah from missouri

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  162. Avery

    heyo ! here from nc, love learning new stuff from this live !!

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  163. Mariya

    Hiiiiii

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  164. Jalen

    hi

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  165. Sabastion

    hello from kansas.

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  166. Faith

    hi from Texas!

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  167. Trystan

    THIS MY FIRST TIME! Pretty exciting.

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  168. Rigel

    Where can I find more information on these sharks they sound really neat.

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  169. Faith

    What oceans can you find those sharks?

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  170. Parker

    Sharks are so cool!

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  171. Madelyn

    What are some of the other characteristics of the sharks?

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  172. Isaac

    love this live

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  173. Efrain

    Very cool to learn about that shark

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  174. Michael

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  175. Natalie

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    • Katie

      That sounds like a lot of snow.

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