Vacuum Tube Computing
February 4, 2026 • EPISODE 296
How did computers go from filling entire rooms to fitting in your hand? In this episode of Science LIVE, Dr. Roger Billings and the Protégés explore vacuum tube computing and the technology that launched the digital age. Hear stories about early machines, the Billings Computer, and floppy disks as Dr. Billings shares his firsthand experiences helping shape modern computing.
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 »
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!
Love R51! Thanks for teaching me how to count vacuum tubes! Hello from California, I just got back home from going to Yellow Stone National Park!
It is incredible how much power the AI data centers take to run.
It is so cool that a 4 year old playing gave the idea for a warning system for astronauts!
That’s so cool how there is a computer language . #Binary.
This was my favorite science live so far!
Thank you for all of the great opportunities you have given me Acellus.
This was a fun one.
technology is so cool!
The little girl was right!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8Accidentally bumping a switch would have been terrible if it was a real mission.
Computers are so cool!
This science live was great!
I love these I have watched every single one.
I loved learning about computers, so cool!
How do you see computer technology advancing in the future?
I loved talking about science and technology!
Science video is very informative and fun to learn.
Science live is awesome! Thanks!
It was so fun learning new things fron the science live!
I loved learning about airplanes and computers! :3
Science live is very fun!
I love learning about Vaccum Tubes!
Awesome story about the floppy disks!!
The proteges are great as always.
I love science live!!
That’s very cool with the computers!
Loved hearing you talk about space!
What is Acellus world? What is ai? Have people ever been to the moon before? What is algebra? What is college? What is a vacuum tube?
the airplanes are very intresting! They have many things to them I never knew
I never knew teh difference between RAM and ROM. I enjoyed the story of how they made the safety switch.
thanks Acellus
well that’s very cool about the Acellus world
It was interesting how many books they wrote from the computer that stacked higher then the lady.
I love learning from science live.
Wow! That was so interesting! I can’t wait for next week!
The proteges are so awesome
yall are so funny i love science live
The air plane pizza was my favorite part.
I loved learning about computers as well as the space part.
Great video today Accellus
Hi from Texas.
hello all the way from TN
loved this!! learning about vacuums and space is so cool and interesting!
science live in person!!
that was cool how the computer works
I love how Dr.John is always teaching me something new. Electricity is vital in artificial intelligence.
Hello from Texas! love learning about computers thank you!
I love this science class so much! Thank you all for putting so much time and energy into this program.
why would they choose 1’s and 0’s why not other numbers?
I love the protoeges
Dr.Billing what other things have you invented?
It’s really surprising that in the past computers weren’t tech but people.
I got to see the February snow moon it was so pretty!! I saw it from my window the moon was orange the reason why it was orange is because smoke and dust particles in the atmosphere scatter the blue and green wave langths of light allowing the moon to give off its orange color!!
This was so amazing. I love 💗 this show and you’re so amazing
Such an amazing video these videos are always amazing and I always learn so many knew things.
Great live! I love learning about computers and space!
The part about computers was so interesting!
Hi from North Carolina!
I’m tuning in from Indiana! I love Acellus and science live!
Science Live is so good
how did the weaving binary code work?
this was very interesting. Thank you for doing these each week
Is there a way we could get rid of all the space debris that aren’t in used before sending more into our atmosphere?
I love learning about computers.
I know! I loved learning about the computers!!!
you know this was acctuually a good episode on computers
Loved the pizza delivery. Amazing as always!
The Proteges actually answered a very good question I have wondered for a while. Though I ask how one would program new code out of the ones and zeroes of binary?
Never would have guessed you made floppy discs. That’s pretty cool.
Can I make a simple computer by my self?
Who made the binary code?
Is there an Acellus course that talks more about binary?
I like Dr RB
i like when the airplanes come in.
Science is so cool!
it was amazing learning about computers
Learning the computers and space was very cool.
how do you get hearing from the phone to a another phone if you are like 300 miles away?
Inventors are so cool!
it was awsome learning about computers
Computers are awesome.
loved learning about the computers.