How a Fishing Trip Helped Edison Invent the Lightbulb

What does a fishing trip have to do with inventing the light bulb? More than you’d ever imagine. Thomas Edison is one of the most famous inventors in history — but most people have never heard the real story behind his greatest invention. In this episode of ScienceLive, Dr. Roger Billings tells the complete, fascinating story of how Edison didn’t just invent the light bulb — he made it practical, affordable, and accessible to the entire world.

At the heart of the story is a fishing trip that changed history. While most people think Edison simply worked tirelessly in his laboratory, the truth is far more interesting. A day spent fishing gave Edison the key insight he needed to find the perfect filament — the tiny thread inside the bulb that makes it actually work. It’s the kind of story that reminds us that great inventors keep their eyes open everywhere, not just in the lab.

But this episode has a second story that students love even more. Edison and his son had a fishing contest — and what happened during that contest reveals the kind of man Edison really was. Warm, competitive, curious, and endlessly creative even when he wasn’t working. 

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 »

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832 Comments

  1. Ryleigh

    It is amazing to learn about how Edison created the lightbulb because of a fishing trip!

    Reply
  2. Journey

    I like the light bulb story!

    Reply
  3. Benjamin

    That’s crazy how fishing and science can be connected like that

    Reply
  4. Annalise

    I am not a fisher but I will tell my dad about the artificial fly!

    Reply
  5. Logan

    this was awesome learned so much cant wait till next one these episodes are always so funny

    Reply
  6. Brooklyn

    This was a good science live

    Reply
  7. Savannah

    This inspired me to check out a biography on Edison. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Levon

    Very good science live

    Reply
  9. Isabella

    It’s really shows how observant Edison was, the fact he connected fishing to his invention of the lightbulb to make it better is amazing.

    Reply
  10. Maya

    Edison was a multitasker!

    Reply
  11. Brayden

    This was a good video!

    Reply
  12. Isabella

    I can’t believe that Edison went fishing and found a solution to the lightbulb! I don’t think I’d ever get that!

    Reply
  13. Alexander

    I love how you structure these lessons around a story!

    Reply
  14. Dau

    Fishing looks so fun!

    Reply
  15. Vanessa

    I would love to fish someday with my mom.

    Reply
  16. Alynnea

    Never gone fishing before, this is neat!

    Reply
  17. Jack

    I used to live on a lake. Miss fishing!

    Reply
  18. Layla

    Super neat!

    Reply
  19. Jaylen

    I always found the inventions fascinating. What makes it even better is learning that simple things such as fishing or nature can contribute to something so much bigger.

    Reply
  20. Michael

    Its hard to imagine a world without power or light

    Reply
  21. Nicklous

    I love fishing and Science live! I learn so much.

    Reply
  22. Jeremiah

    Im so excited about this episode i love fishing and science live!

    Reply
  23. Makenzie

    So it’s a fancy rubix cube! Super neat!

    Reply
  24. Sawyer

    I’ve never been fishing, maybe I should go some time.

    Reply
  25. Nicklous

    I love fishing, and Science live.

    Reply
  26. Caleb

    Sounds like an interesting subject

    Reply
  27. Ben

    Fishing with dynamite is absolutely awesome!

    Reply
  28. Weston

    I would love to go fishing.
    I really liked this sicence live.
    I also really want to go to Kyoto.

    Reply
  29. Aiden

    My brother and me like to go fishing. It is very peaceful and I can see how someone can do some thinking when they are fishing.

    Reply
  30. Keilyn

    How did a simple fishing trip lead to a major scientific breakthrough?

    Reply
  31. Raven

    i didn’t know Thomas Edison fished, that’s cool! but helping him invent??? shocking!

    Reply
  32. Zarek

    I love fishing, and I always go with my dad!

    Reply
  33. Harper

    Hello from virginia

    Reply
  34. Addison

    Hello from Virginia

    Reply
  35. Matthew

    Always loved when my dad took me fishing great memories this one brings!

    Reply
  36. Myka

    Did Thomas Edison invent LED lights, too? If not, then who?

    Reply
  37. Ariana

    This science live was so interesting, I want to try fishing myself!

    Reply
  38. Kenniah

    I love fishing

    Reply
  39. Raylynn

    I accidentally posted a comment on the YouTube video instead of this, but this is awesome! I love these live videos!

    Reply
  40. Keaton

    This was my favorite video, I love fishing.

    Reply
  41. Analise

    This is one of the coolest facts ever

    Reply
  42. Cienna

    I would love to get an invention idea while doing a hobby!

    Reply
  43. Susan

    I always learn such cool things with sciance live!

    Reply
  44. Tatum

    How the light bulb was made is so very interesting an informative!

    Reply
  45. Lyla

    It is amazing that Edison tried 6000 materials until he found the filament that worked, perserverance at its best! I am glad he did not give up so now we have the amazing lightbulb!

    Reply
  46. Isibella

    What a neat thing. I love to go fishing !

    Reply
  47. Ashlyn

    I love nature so much

    Reply
  48. Marley

    I never knew this about Edison!

    Reply
  49. Khloe

    i enjoyed this live because i like fishing

    Reply
  50. Fayth

    Distractions from what we are to do is a huge problem in the world today. We have so many distractions around us from the internet to world issues, it is a real challenge to stay ahead of what we need to accomplish.

    Reply
  51. Lucas

    Thanks for making scientists like Edison relatable and fun to learn about

    Reply
  52. Conner

    just the title alone makes you think

    Reply
  53. Emery

    I liked this video. My Mom loves to fish but I am not patient enough!

    Reply
  54. Antistrophe

    waow those r big fish

    Reply
  55. Roary

    Very great episode, from TX

    Reply
  56. Ellie

    The rubiks cube at the beginning was super cool. I may try finding where i can get one.

    Reply
  57. Derek

    Awesome Science Live!!!!!!!

    Reply
  58. Ava

    this video was very entertaining.

    Reply
  59. Mercedes

    A 100lb fish is so huge! I really liked that story.

    Reply
  60. Liam

    this weeks science live was great!

    Reply
  61. Katherine

    I liked watching this video it was interesting

    Reply
  62. Hadley

    i like the robot looks like a figet cube

    Reply
  63. Annabelle

    A fishing trip helped invent the lightbulb?! That’s amazing!

    Reply
  64. Maverick

    I liked the story of Thomas Edison’s son catching a bigger silver fish. That was funny!

    Reply
  65. Elijah

    I love the little colorful robot, it’s like self solving rubiks cube!

    Reply
  66. Jayden

    fishing is a sport around here in Oklahoma. Enjoy this information thanks

    Reply
  67. Brian

    Great episode as always! I never knew fishing helped with the invention of the light bulb!

    Reply
  68. Brooklynn

    It’s so cool how random thoughts and ideas come to our minds when we are doing something completely different!

    Reply
  69. Mary

    I can’t believe you made an electric rubrix cube. I didn’t know Thomas Edison tested 6,000 materials to make the lightbulb.

    Reply
  70. Bella

    I love fishing!

    Reply
  71. Viktor

    Whoah… He made the first light bulb out of Bamboo! That is so cool!

    Reply
  72. Julia

    I love fishing so so much! Thats awesome how Edison went fishing and then thought of creating the lightbulb!

    Reply
  73. Memphis

    That was funny how Thomas Edison’s son caught a much larger fish than him. That picture really shows the difference between a 100lb fish and a 40lb fish!

    Reply
  74. Lee

    Its a good science live

    Reply
  75. Krispen

    I might going fishing tomorrow

    Reply
  76. Mundy

    Good for Charles. Nice video.

    Reply
  77. Jeremy

    I love fishing. It is a lot of fun. It can give you quiet time to think about things too

    Reply
  78. Dathan

    Could simple things involving nature lead to more abstract discoveries involving technology? such as something like wireless electricity? (which Nikolai Tesla had proved may be possible)

    Reply
  79. Jonathan

    Scientist a fisherman Edison went to Kyoto . I want to go to Kyoto. The bamboo trees there make fishing rods.

    Reply
  80. Taylor

    Fishing looks so fun

    Reply
  81. Zane

    I love fishing, this is really neat to know

    Reply
  82. Galvin

    It was a good science live

    Reply
  83. Abigail

    That was so cool how edison went on a fishing trip AND thouhgt on how to make a lightbulb!

    Reply
  84. Candon

    Science live is cool.

    Reply
  85. Lily

    Watching from Colorado

    Reply
  86. Ellie

    I didn’t even realize Edison had a family.

    Reply
  87. Tyler

    Quite interesting to learn about the origins of the lightbulb.

    Reply
    • Mulki

      Samee

      Reply
  88. Reyna

    That was an incredibly interesting story, I was so invested.

    Reply
  89. Lacie

    Great Live today! Fun fishing trip stories, I didn’t realize that Thomas Edison used to fish. There’s more to people than we realize, can’t wait for the next one!

    Reply
    • Riese

      Fishing is awesome it is crazy how helped eddision

      Reply
  90. Reanna

    I love fishing so I thought the fishing story was funny.

    Reply
  91. Audrina

    Awesome Science Live

    Reply
  92. Lillian

    I would have never thought fishing would help lead to the invention of the lightbulb.

    Reply
  93. Aubree

    Thank you for the video!

    Reply
  94. Abygail

    I want to go fishing

    Reply
  95. Riley

    I love science live!

    Reply
  96. Lyla

    That fish story was hilarious 😂

    Reply

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