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 »
It is interesting that solar produces more energy in space!
So fun to learn about the Apollo missions! Can’t wait for next week!
I really want to go to Acellus World but my Mom said l don’t know. I don’t really know much about it. 😕
it is so amazing that computers can be big and small.
Did R-51 create the transistor?
what is a vacuum tube?
Hi from Oklahoma. Loved this episode.
It’s really interesting learning about how far we’ve come with technology!
Wow, I never new A.I used so much power,
or electricity!
I think its funny that a kid help solve a problem to help with the moon landing
SO cool!
It was so cool to learn about computers. Their evolution is crazy!! To hear about what my parents had to use, big chunky computers, vs the ones we have now, for example the small thin one I’m using is so interesting.
hello, watching from Texas! loved the video it was great!
Hello from texas
Science Live is always the highlight of my week!
thank you for teaching me something new!!
How can they weave the wire?
I agree. I love the videos on Acellus!
This Science Live was really interesting! Love the streams
Will the Ai work the same if its in space?
It’s so cool how computers started so big and now they look so small.
I like r51, He is pretty funny.
I find it so fascinating how computers are made with how complicated that stuff is!
Once again, the little acting from the Inventioneers and the Proteges really kept me intrigued with the lesson about vacuum tube computing. I’m glad I got to learn about how computers were invented.
I love Science Live!
So interesting can’t wait for the next one
I liked hearing Dr Tobias talk about what it was like trying to get to the moon in the 1950’s, & how they needed a computer to help them get to the moon.
I did not know that Elon musk sent 10000000 sadalits in space
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I really enjoyed this episode, the computers were very interesting to learn about.
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I love science live so much! I wish I could watch them live but I have church every Wednesday, I always watch science live first thing when I wake up! I’ve learned so many things so far and this is only my first year of Acellus! I can’t wait to learn so much more in the next few years. Thank you for making learning so fun!
this was such a cool video!
The clips it showed for the sneak peak looked fun
I didn’t know computers used to be so big. I would love to see an original computer.
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Loved the video! Thanks Mr. B!
I think it’ll be really cool to go to the moon again.
I never knew delivering a pizza would be THAT hard
Thank you for taking the time to do science live!
My dad uses vacuum tube amplifiers with his guitar
Its really cool that students help make the videos!
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Thank you <3.
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These kinds of videos are the best
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How will this new form help store hydrogen?
Really cool video. I learned about rockets, Ai and how computers and cellphones work, everything works with binary that is ones and zeros.
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From watching the video I learned about the different types of computers and how they are able to work. Using different computers for different reasons to compute different information.
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I love learning new things each episode!
So Cool!
I already knew computers used to run on vacuum tubes, but it’s still wild seeing how huge and complex they were.
I look forward to these videos every week!
Going to Kansas for the event would be super cool
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Can’t wait for next week’s live!
David and Caleb are back!
Amazing video this week!
I thought it was cool that they made a Starship!
How does AI get the data to make it smart?!
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Every time i watch these they get funner and funner to watch!
Thank you for this weeks video I really enjoyed watching science live I love learning new things every week.
The evolution of computing is really interesting !
Hi from Alabama
Wow, who knew this would be so interesting!
I feel like I learned so much in a single day. What vacuum chambers are, how the NASA landed on the moon, computers, and how they had to knit computers together just so they were programmed back in the 60s.
Very interesting video I really liked it
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Love the weekly Science videos never know what you will learn about.
These videos are so fun and you learn so much!
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Today is my first day and I love it! I enjoy stuff like this its interesting:)
love r-51 he is so cool
Very cool! i had zero clue you made floppy disc’s !
Hello from Kansas
My mom thinks it is fascinating that Dr. B
manufactured floppy disks. She remembers using them!
love r-51
These videos are so interesting!
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The change in computers is crazy. A lot of people worked very hard for these, it’s amazing!
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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.
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Computers are awesome!
I like computers.
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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
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I didn’t know that it was that hard to send a rocket to the moon
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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!
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I want to take a class taught by Tobias! He’s so funny!
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.