Vacuum Tube Computing
February 4, 2026 • EPISODE 296
Join Roger Billings, a technology thought leader and innovator, as he draws from his diverse range of life experiences, inspiring students of all ages to love science and to understand the value of education in empowering their life missions.
This highly motivational and informative lecture series, hosted by the International Academy of Science, is part of the Roger Billings Mentoring Scholarship.
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 always look forward to these lives, My favorite part of the week!
This was very informative and interesting video
Watching from Texas
here from illinois
I am learning about radiation in science class
Awesome video today, always getting better.
Wow the history of computers is awesome!
The protégé’s movie was so funny!
I really loved this episode! I love learning about the different computers and I really enjoy all the talk about technology!
Computers are so cool to learn about!
cool as always just like the teachers and r51
If another number combo was used besides 1’s and 0’s, would it be more complex but better processing?
My parents covered their roof with solar panels in Colorado. Unfortunately, they weren’t enough to cover their bill. That is why they bought them. It did lower the cost.
I never knew that 2 +2=4 😏
Computers are very fascinating along with their development
That pizza falling from the air was really funny
Its interesting to see how far computers and technology have come
I loved how you taught me about space and vacuum tubes.
I wonder how much it cost to produce 2.5 millions houses worth of electricity.
Today i learned that the first computer was for the US Army. Also that math has much more porpouse.
This lesson has taught me so much. Thank you! 🙂
As time flies, technology just keeps getting better.
I am watching from Rome.
Alabama here!!
I love R-51! Good stuff as always.
Comment I loved learn about the computers and all the technology is so interesting.
Funny how Margaret Hamilton‘s four-year-old daughter who accidentally flipped the pre-launch switch playing with the simulator caused Margaret to want to launch a plan for in case an astronaut accidentally bumped a switch. They should have listened to her at that time.
Loved learning about the computers!
Hi, it was so funny when R51 just counted the vacuum tubes. Also loved the space talk
I like the airplane’s part.
Love these science lives thx for having them
That video was awesome. I’m so excited to see the video that is gonna be coming up next week. Thank you for making asules
Great science live! When will the Acellus backpack come back in stock?
It’s already in stock at least it is for me
I love technology and science live.
Hello from Tennessee.
I love learning cool stuff!
That was amzing thanks for teching me this asom lesson I can’t wait for the lesson for next week.
What is the true purpose of science?
I think this is my favorite eposide because of everything!
This actually made early computing make sense.
It’s cool that computers went from huge machines to devices that can sit on your desk.
I liked the Apollo 11 computer bug mission story.
Learning about technology is really cool
Science. Is awesome
I like learning about stuff like this.
thanks you teachers Billing, also to all the teachers at Acellus.
I can’t wait for the rocket to tacke all the Ai computers to space.
It is so cool that Acellus does a fair
This is hello from the Bayside area!
Tobias always talks about the most interesting things!
It is cool how the vacuum tube led to the chip. You talked about adding, but can it subtract too? Technology can be so complicated and has so many details!
How do you make a Floppy Disk Drive and what was it used for in early computers?
Audery S. They weave wires and cords to make like a program type thing. I like how Science Live gives information about history and technology.
I liked learning about the change of computers over time.
I loved this episode of science live! And, I couldn’t stop laughing!
I liked the proteges and R51 video. I also liked learning about vacuum tube diodes and Margaret.
Why did people choose to 0 and 1’s for writing binary code?
Why does space get more solar power then earth?
How did Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong not know that the switch was flipped?
I love science live!
I learned so much from this video
hello from Mississippi!!!!!
Science live is so interesting
I didn’t even know AI needs water and cooling but obviously it needs energy. But I think it would be better if we use it for thousands of homes. I wonder if they have satellites in space before they landed in the moon. Good thing the daughter flip the switch because now they had an idea that someone can flip the switch accidently. I always wondered how computers work and now I know and learn alot. Amazing video I really had fun and I learn so much.
Computers are so cool!
This science live was very fun!
Thank you! Learning about computers is fascinating!
vacuum tubes can create truly amazing things, or even small changes in detail can alter radio signal reception.
I though he was going to say ten or twenty, but a million?!
Learning about computers are my favorite part and radios are so cool.
Loved the science live !!!
It would have been really scary to go to the moon a long time ago.
I loved learning about the binary code! And I also loved how David and Caleb said that was pretty good at the end of the movie it was so funny!
I learned so much I didn’t know about computers! And, I was wondering if you could do a class or activity that teaches you coding on a computer? I just thought that it would be really interesting. And thank you for all you do!
Watching from Maryland
It’s crazy to me how much can go on in such small peices of technology!!
This taught me that small details can matter a lot.
The future seems very space involved but very interesting and cool at the same time.
Is Acellus World just for little kids?
I wonder how long it really took for Margaret and her team to write down all that code by hand for the computer.
Computers are so interesting! I love science!
I love learning about technology! It’s always so interesting!
Hi from Virginia
I love learning about technology!
I love learning about technology, especially computers. I think they are so cool!
Watching from Missouri!
r51 is so funny
David and Caleb are so funny!
The rapid developent of AI has had a tremendous impact on the world of technology.
I always look at the moon. It will be nice to walk on it.
R51 is my favorite!(:
How long will it take to launch all the AI servers into space?
Does Roger do science lives during the summer?
Transistors were an amazing invention so we could get to the moon.
never knew that floppy disks can be that big
happy Thursday cant wait to watch
vacuum tubes are cool!
The lecture taught me how the small details of a computer can affect the entire computer
I have a pc, and this is actually really cool to learn about
This is so cool. I hope to work in tech one day.
It’s awesome to see all the little mechanics in a computer.
The video taught me that if one little thing is messed up in the computer, then the whole thing is messed up
This was so cool, to be able to learn about the history of computers. It’s fascinating. Thank you!
Margaret Hamilton is so cool!
i love when yall post these videos !!!!!!
is it actually possible to get 1mil satilights in space
I know a lot more about computers now !!thank you 😁
technology is so cool!
The video taught me so much that small details really matter and everything that you do.
North carolina here!!!
Thank you for the new science live! Listening from Cape Town, South Africa
Learning how computers have changed over time is cool!
I thought this live became so cool, explaining about vacoom tube computing.
How does carbon dioxide form something?
I love science live and acellus teachers
that was a very interesting topic to talk about!
Tobias was awesome especially his voice!
I love learning from these lives’s a lot
So that’s how a vacuum operates. That’s so cool. I love Science Live! One small disfunction can effect the whole system.
On average, How many students graduate from acellus in a year?
It’s crazy that before the tiny transistors we learned about in Episode 294, vacuum tubes were the only way to process data at high speeds.
That’s a really important discovery. And if it had not been found, then the entire mission might’ve gone awry.
I want to program my own video games when I grow up
why do computers only speak in binary?
I loved when you talked about the computers, its so cool!
Early computers are so cool it’s crazy how far we have come with technology.
The original computers were huge.
I liked the appollo 11 part, i love these science lives
tell me more !
I find it crazy how computers use to fill a room, now they can fit into a persons pocket.
I really like learning about technology, I’m excited to see how far it will advance in the future.
Today I have learned that Binary is a code made up of ones and zeros and that it took two years to make the first “computer”.
Hey i am in Florida
I love the way that even when your coworkers do not fell good they still go to work, I am so thank full for yall.
Watching from South Carolina.
Vacuum tubes are very interesting to learn about
I really liked learning about computers!
this is so awesome it taught me so much!!!
thanks for explaining about how trip to the moon went!
Small things matter, not only when working on something, but also in life.
its amazing how you can use a computer for the weather
Is to important to know about science and history of the technology. I love it!
I don’t know how someone came up with the first computer like where do you even start!
So funny. hello from Oklahoma
They’re putting those things in space that sounds so crazy
I never knew how much preparation it took to get to the moon. It really is amazing how they got there with that type of technology back then.
The story about the scientists daughter was pretty funny.
So cool to find out about vacuum tubes and to know that’s how calculators came to be.
I remember floppy discs. I am old enough that we still use them when I was in high school.
R 51 is funny
Hello from Texas
The Protégés are so funny
😂
Computers are so intresting!!! Love watching this!
Hi from Canadaaaa
I love technology, thanks you teachers, love all
Computers are so complex it’s very cool
Are we going to live on Mars?
. Dr John had some very interesting information on the future of AI.
so interesting that AI needs as much as 1.5 million households. That is a lot. We have to think about, if its worth that.
I love tech and how is evolving. I am also interested in A.I.
I think computers are really cool!
I just love Science! One day, I will be working in this field.
Computers are so cool
i do my school on a computer! How cool?!
Wow! That’s so awesome and funny!
Good morning from Puerto Rico. Love hearing about new technology.
computers were bigger than I thought 💻
I love the technology, it was cool!
I never knew all these details of the moon landing and what they actually had to do to get there.
HI from tn
The history of computers is really interesting!
I love Acellus!
I can’t wait to grow up and become a scientist
I love this episode the smallest details can be the most important
Signing in from Cape Town
I’ve never thought about the process to getting to the moon
Learning about computers is so fun.
10/10 as always
I never knew how much power AI uses! That’s amazing.
How do vaccum tubes computing work