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 »
These videos are so interesting!
i love learning science live!
The change in computers is crazy. A lot of people worked very hard for these, it’s amazing!
These videos are absolutely phenomenal! They are so exiting and interesting!
its interesting to see how compact computers have become without sacrificing any preformance while even being far superior to their older and larger counterparts
Love learning about new things on science live!
me to
Thanks for this video it really intrigued me.
These videos are the best
What is vacuum tube computing?
I love the lives it gives me so much new information
This was cool!
Is it just 0 and 1s or are other numbers in computer programming.
So interesting! I cannot wait for the next video!
Me to! I’m so excited for the next video
thank you for making these every week
I want to go to Kansas to the event.
I really enjoyed this episode. David and Caleb were great.
Science Live is just so awesome!
Computers are awesome!
I like computers.
I love learning about the computers
Great Science Live this week! Can’t wait for next week!
It’s interesting how the early computers were so big and now they can be super tiny. I like this video because I know now a lot more about computers
Agreed!
This was incredibly helpful and interesting on early tech—also loving the Acellus event that’s so cool to hold.
hello for Texas, keep doing what your doing it’s going great guy’s!
i loved the show
Loved learning about the computers!! ❤️
How can 0’s and 1’s work a computer program? I find it interesting that numbers can dictate the functions of electronics.
Love the science lives they’re great
I think its so fascinating to see a huge computer machine become a literal book!
I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove the proteges thay are funny
Acellus world sounds so exciting I can’t wait. It was interesting how the first computers were invented.
I didn’t know that it was that hard to send a rocket to the moon
I loved this one a lot!
These are a highlight of my week.
Great insight on the history of computers. Thank you!
you should add the binary computer setup to the Acellus old shop that would be fun to feel like you inventing something basic! -Adam
I hope SpaceX provides free metal proof umbrellas in case a million satellites start falling from the sky!
Hi from Montana
I love r-51
the launch was fun to learn about!
Hello from Ohio!
Thank you for the Science Live video. It was really interesting!
Acellus world sounds like so much fun!
I like the airplane part. And this lesson I can’t wait for the lesson next week !!
Wow, I didn’t know that is how a computer works, how cool!
I loved learning about the computers and about kites.
I want to take a class taught by Tobias! He’s so funny!
I learned so much from this science video 😄
From nm how do they make vacuum tubes
Science live is the best
It’s really cool how we went from computers being really big and heavy machines to something you can carry around in your backpack.
My dad and brother build PC’s as a hobby. It is pretty cool to see all the different parts you need.
Computers are downright interesting! Thanks for the video!
The airplanes part was cool!
My favorite part was learning about how hard it is to go to the moon and all the mathematics required . I enjoyed to learn about how she coded and debugged everything .
1+1 = 2 the wisest words I ever heard .
Loved learning about computers like the ones i use daily
RUBY – how long will it take to launch all AI servers to space
Must be intense to be in those situations up in space.
really enjoyed learning about the vacuum tubes.
This makes Early computing so much easier to grasp and so much easier to learn about
Found all the information about computers pretty interesting.
How much materials would it take to put a million satellites into space?
Thank you for the science live! I love watching them!
Makes it seem so simple. Interesting!
I love learning from Tobias!
I never knew that a vacuum tube can amplify a current
Science live gets better every week
What are some other tips for using cameras?
I love how roger billing teaches.
It will be cool if I could be there at the end of the school year
I loved this episode and I think this was my favorite live class yet.
has Margaret Hamiltion’s daughter invented anything?
I love learning about computers! I take photos and you do have to stay focused.
I love learning from these science video.
a million satellights is crazy
Caleb and david are so funny
it was funny when the four year old pressed the pre-launch switch and when r-51 counted the vacuum tubes
It was pretty cool learning about computers today
What is your opinion on school grades, and do you think they are very important to someone’s career.
R-51 is so crazy haha!
The vacuum tube computing is very interesting.
The logic stuff was very interesting to learn about, thank you!
I wish I could be there for in person in Kansas City for the events at the end of the year
I am super exited for Acellus World this year!
it was funny when r-51 counted the vacuum tubes and hwen the four year old pressed the button
ok so if the pre-launch has already gone and they hadn’t had Margaret’s code then the computer would cut off and they’d have to abort if they accidentally bumped the pre-launch switch.
The computer talk was very interesting.
Such a fun and interesting video! Had an outstanding time learning!
That’s so cool that you got to help create that!
It’s crazy what might’ve happened if that prioritizing system didn’t get changed!
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. 85% complete. WHAT A POOR TIME FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WHAT ARE THE ODDS!!!!
How does a vacuum tube connect to a computer? The “Oh oh is it you’re voice” got me. The Protégés got me laughing so hard :> Apulase *clap clap clap*. Why did people only use 1 and 0 for on and off? The vacuum tube actally makes sense. What is the BC12FD?
Hello from NC
I would like it if you can make it so the you can buy a vacuom tube tryod with gold coins.
If we miss a week of science live can we make it up the next week?
I think space exploration could help us discover substances that we could use for medicine or resources. I got a telescope for my birthday and have been looking at the full moon with it. It’s really cool!
my favorite part was how hard it was to get to the moon
Science Live has teach my family a lot this is the best cant wait for more cool facts
That is cool about the hydrogen
Awesome science live 🙂
cant wait to see whats in store!
How does the computer system know that the different weving patterns mean different things?
the human computers was cool.
I loved this episode. It was cute and funny.
I can’t wait for the conspiracy theory course!
Apollo story was cool.
I enjoyed learning about how space is very cold and the information on putting a computing resource in space.
Todd Edmond is a FANTASTIC teacher, I would love to attend that!!
Carbon dioxide turning into a form and being used as hydrogen is cool
R51 was so funny!
I find computers so interesting!
It’s so cool how you can use binary to do math!
My favroite part or what was most intresting was when he ways talking about how hard it was to go to the moon and the dart idea!
I like breakthrough moments and science with Tobias
It was great to learn a bit more about the tech we use.
How do the threads hold memory in the computer chip?
What is the purpose of vacuum tube computing?
My favroite part or what was most intresting was when he ways talking about how hard it was to go to the moon
It’s really cool how the person who was in charge of it all was a girl.
Computers are so cool, it’s amazing how small we’ve made them nowadays
Todays episode was super cool!
I LOVE R51
The science lives are amazing, I also look forward to seeing R51! Thank you science live!
I loved learning about computers!
Once again, another really good science live with amazing facts! Keep up the amazing work!
This was a really cool Science Live!
Wednesday is my favorite day of the week now because of Science Live.
I learned not to flip a switch on a spaceship lol! Loved the video!
I like how a lot of stories in science like this just happen due to random chance. It is crazy to think about where we would be today with out a lot of “mistakes” and accidental discoveries.
R51’S MY FAVORITE! HE’S HILARIOUS!
Does Margaret Hamilton have any relation to Alexander Hamilton? Or is that just a common last name?
What is your favorite invention?
really enjoyed learning about how vacuum tubes worked during the olden days.
how long did it take them to write that code if it was by hand?
Learning about binary is so interesting!
The vacuum tubing method makes sense
i ❤️ Area 51
enjoyed learning about how the vacuum tubes used to work during the olden days.
I love this it’s so cool and exiting! I love them so much I can do more this helps me a lot Acellus you are a 5 stars!
I like David and Caleb a lot and their presentation was very interesting.
I didn’t know about the binary system.
Do we still use vacuum tubes today, If so, what do we use them for? But if not, why not? Also how come we have not been back to the moon since Apollo 11 and Apollo 17s trip? And why can we not do it now if we did it in 1968 and 1972?
I love the funny, but entertaining skits you guys make! Thank you for making Acellus wonderful!
Hello from a snowy and very cold TN!!!
Can we meet our teachers at Acellus World?
I loved this new fun and cool video and can’t wait for more.
How did they now where to go and at what speed to go to the moon where it would be in 3 days?
Science live is so cool!
I loved this cant wait for next week
i’ve always wondered if at some point in time will AI be smart enough to take over virtual jobs
I really liked this video it was good. I like the facts!!!
I loved this video and I wonder what my name is in binary!
It is crazy how computers used to be!
would like to hear more about vacuum tube computing
I enjoyed learning about the Apollo mission
The proteges/inventioneers are so funny! I love how they explained computers in simple terms!
Thanks! 🙂
Floppy disk is a funny name.
I loved learning about new things in this weeks Science Live!
What technology replaced the vacuum tube?
Science live is so fun!
This episode was really interesting.
I love how big computers used to be and now they fit in our pockets
Hello from Virginia and thanks for the great Science lessons.
Thats crazy how much power is used to run Ai.
I Like Science Live And Learning About Vacuum Tube Computing
I enjoy learning about computers!!!
These lives are always interesting!!
I love airplanes, this by far the best episode.
i love R51 so much please don’t stop doing him no matter what.
I like the video David and Caleb did!
I think the moon landing inspired lots of people.
It was cool learning about the vacuum tube functions but can it also subtract?
what if we live outside of kansas and cant make it?
Didn’t know that there was this much science behind vacuums. Pretty cool
hi from teaxs
Learned a bunch of new things! I found learning about the computers was interesting.
computers are fun to learn about
Favorite part was definitely the airplanes.
So amazing!!!!
First time watcher! Thanks!
I love how in every episode now they do little skits and dress up.
Awesome video! My favorite part was learning about the very first computer!