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 »
I would like to own a drone like that!!(R-51 is the mastermind behind it, Just Kidding!)
Hello from Costa Rica
That’s so cool that it will able to go places drones can’t,I wonder what l we will be able to find
Hello
Zahdyn -Small inventors can make such amazing things love today’s live
how do they make things like that?
Hi from Florida
hello from Georgia
Hello!
Hello from Australia
Watching technology evolve is so cool! Imagine what kind of cars we’ll have in just a few years!
What would happen when they make the little insect drone not so little?
Hello from Virginia!
Henry ford is so cool I’ve always looked up to him I did a wax museum project about him in middle school!
hii from indiana
Hi
This is amazing
It’s wild on how they create things
The science lives are so fun to watch, and they teach me so many amazing things.
hi from Montana!
wow its amazing that they saw this technique as very simple.
I wonder if our military could use flying robots? I would think it would be much harder to find.
Hello from NC, the drones were really cool.
i absolutely adore these lives!
Great Information!
love science live
I did not know that they made tiny robots that fly really fast.
I like the idea of a little drone!
I thought it was very interesting how they made such a tiny flying robot like that, how do they program something like that?
That’s a really cool robot.
so excited for science live
Thank you Acellus
That’s amazing that drones can go that fast. it seems that those drones will be good for information.
Hello from Delaware Dover USA
Watching from IL as we prepare for the snow!
So cool!
hey every one from GA here! : )
Thats so cool!
Hello from Winston salem
How do they make things like that?
hi
the small things inventors make bold. i loved the flying robot. so many doors are open to inventions using similar strategies
I love science.
How do they program it to do that
How long did it take them to build the robot?
Honestly, it’s kinda cute lol
How the engineers give the instructions to the robot?
is the small insect robot faster then a drone with propellers at the same size or is the insect robot with wings faster
could Robots do light shows?
Hi from New Mexico and When I saw the robot fly it look like a bee and I love learning technology with Dr. John because of the robots.☺️🤖
Its amazing that they were able to make the drone flip so fast!
Watching from Virginia !
Hi from TX
i love sience liveeeee
Hello!
I enjoyed this episode!
how did they build that mini drone
That is one tough robot.
Hello from Florida. That Robot is super cool!!
hello
How do they build drones like that?
I’ve never seen a little robot move that fast!
Oliver likes the robot bug
Excited for the live
From Texas! so excited
I’m excited for the new Conspiracy Theories class in social studies! When will it be available?
Hello from Illinois
Great video!
that’s so cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi
So it’s kind of like a Airplane/Helicopter/jet
hii
That’s really cool that they can make the robot so it has control! 🦾
Those little robot bug looks weak but it’s really strong specially the wings don’t judge by looks
Love from NC!!
I like to Lisson to dr john
It’s so cool that they can use science to make something that fast and move like that.
Science live never gets boring.
love this episode!!
Hello from Texas!
Can you enter art into the science fair?
Hey From Lousiana
Why are predictive models important in data analysis and decision-making?
Hello from Mexico mi so excited
Hello everyone is it a great day ❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🤎🖤🩶🤍🩷♥️💯
Is it possible for any person to make a working robot or drone at home from scratch?
Hello! So excited to watch the live today!! 🙂
10 flips!!
Those drones are so cool! How long did it take to build them?
I really liked the tiny bit about the sharks as an ocean geek 🙂 Also HIII from stx
I love watching science live
Has anyone started their science fair project?
hi
hello!!
hello from tn
cool
hello everyone
Hi from tn
hello
Would the insect robot be able to carry any weight? From VA.
Im so excited!
Hello from Indiana!!
Hello from Mo!
wow those bug robots are so cool, its awesome that the people at MIT figured out hot to make the wings better.
Hello from Ohio!
Hello from Georgia!
This live science is good so far
That mini robot is awesome!
hello am so happy today
hi from tx
Hello from illinios
Hello from Minnesota!!
Those micro-bots are so cool!
Love this!
Hello from Nevada!
Hi from NC
A.I is being used in so many different ways!
thats cool the robots
HI science live
Awesome !
hi from tennessee
hello from tennessee
Hi everyone!
Very cool robot!
So excited for Live today! fron TX
Hello
That is cool what Dr John was showing
Hi from Alabama!
Wow that sounds so cool that a robot can circle 10 times in 12 seconds
hi from tx
im wiliam glad to be here
Hi
Wow how does it move so fast looks like a humming bird!
Hello from North Carolina! I love watching science live
It’s leigha!!!!
i love that
Hello from Tennessee
Hello from Vermont!
hiii
HI FROM KANSAS 😀
Wow! It moves like a hummingbird!
its very cool something can be built
Awesome
wow that is so cool
Great live show!! Lots to learn!!
Hello from VA!
hi
That’s a cool small robot insect
HEELLLOOO from Wisconsin
Hello from Wisconsin!
Hello from NC!!
oh wow!
hi here from montana
Hi from Texas!!
Swooping in from Texas!
Loving this science live so far!
hi from nd
Hello from Texas!
Does that robot spy on people?
I like science
I love Science Life and it is awesome
hello from nm
I love science!
hi from florida!
Hello from Illinois
hello
Hello from Georgia
Hello!
hi
hello from Georgia!!!!
Hello from Germany!
Hi from Missouri
I like the little robot
Hello from New York
How small is this robot?
that’s a rlly cool robot i didn’t know they designed robots wondering about how it could move like an insect
Hello from Texas!! Ready to see what tonight has in store for us!
Happy Wednesday from Idaho
How do you enter the science fair if you live in Idaho Dr. B?
so cool