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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1,096 Comments

  1. Jibril

    This story goes to show that you can keep learning indirectly from different experiences.

    Reply
  2. Faith

    Is Pajet Monet French?

    Reply
  3. Faith

    Is the fishing story about Pajet Monet and the Dynamite a true story?

    Reply
  4. Alvin

    I agree. I think it’s important to take time to think. What activity do you suggest for people who can not fish so they can still think? Thank you!

    Reply
  5. Nick

    I love fishing and Science Live

    Reply
  6. Gavin

    This was great information. I really enjoyed learning aboiut it.

    Reply
  7. Corinne

    haven’t been fishing since. kid so this story reminds me of being younger.

    Reply
  8. Matthew

    Thankfs for the great episode!

    Reply
  9. Marchessa

    How do you cut a magnetic force field?

    Reply
  10. Justin

    I liked learning about How a Fishing Trip Helped Edison Invent the Lightbulb.

    Reply
  11. Alana

    So funny that it all came from a fishing trip!

    Reply
  12. Riley

    Wow, I fish also.

    Reply
  13. Ezra

    I like the light block in the beginning.

    Reply
  14. Ezra

    I like the square light in the beginning

    Reply
  15. Rain

    How do you use bamboo for a fishing rod

    Reply
  16. Aslyn

    Sometimes taking a break can be more helpful than not.

    Reply
  17. Hollind

    This was cool!

    Reply
  18. Alexa

    I liked the fishing story, I like to fish with my grandma.

    Reply
  19. Nevaeh

    That is interesting how he created the lightbulb just from going on a
    Fishing trip!

    Reply
  20. Baleigh

    All because of a fishing trip, this is insane.

    Reply
  21. Kaydence

    I love these types of unexpected stories

    Reply
  22. Mia

    I like the experiment with the Rubex cube. That was interesting.

    Reply
  23. Ella

    My grandfather always says, fishing solves a lot. Not only to feed the soul but solve problems! I’ll have to talk with him and ask if he knew Edison fished and lived in FL during the winter.

    Reply
  24. Brody

    This was actually a very interesting story to learn about, I find it hard to believe that a fishing trip helped create a long lasting efficient light bulb.

    Reply
  25. Gabriel

    I love fishing!!

    Reply
  26. Brynlee

    Did not know that it took him a fishing trip to discover that!

    Reply
  27. Kyron

    Very amazing to know

    Reply
  28. Dylan

    How do you make that robot?

    Reply
  29. Tucker

    This was a good episode

    Reply
  30. Ian

    I love to fish and find this very interesting.

    Reply
  31. Gracelynn

    I love wednesday’s, because I get a new episode of my favorite show!

    Reply
  32. Braydon

    I never knew this, crazy that a fishing trip “lit the lightbulb” above his head, to make light!

    Reply
  33. Marlen

    It was amazing to learn about Edison and the lightbulb how he change the future for all of the world

    Reply
  34. Alexis

    I honestly wouldn’t have been able to believe fishing could’ve helped invent the lightbulb until this video.

    Reply
  35. Alex

    cool but short

    Reply
  36. Cooper

    It makes sense that such a great mind can think better in piece and quiet like on a fishing trip!

    Reply
  37. Stephanie

    I love the light bulb story

    Reply
  38. Gabriel

    good lesson

    Reply
  39. Tim

    loved the video really cool.

    Reply
  40. Jamie

    Thomas Edison was really smart

    Reply
  41. Michael

    Love science live

    Reply
  42. Annelore

    Where would we even be without the light bulb

    Reply
  43. Genaro

    Amazing video!!!!!

    Reply
  44. Tommie

    I always thought Edison was super great!

    Reply
  45. Max

    what a fun experiment

    Reply
  46. Brynna

    I had no idea how his invention was thought up! Interesting fact!

    Reply
  47. Levi

    Edison is amazing

    Reply
  48. Makenzie

    Saying hi from VA

    Reply
  49. Amelia

    Woah, I wanna go fishing now…

    Reply
  50. Christian

    I like the idea of just small things that can be used in inventions like fishing.

    Reply
  51. Grace

    Woowwwww

    Reply
  52. Corbin

    I used to go fishing with my dad.

    Reply
  53. Audrey

    It’s cool that Thomas Edison created light bulbs!

    Reply
  54. Adam

    I didn’t know Thomas fished.

    Reply
  55. Aubri

    love the lightbulb story

    Reply
  56. ,

    I love to go fish 🎣

    Reply
  57. Avonlea

    Wow!! I’ve never thought of science and fishing being correlated like that

    Reply
  58. Jacob

    I enjoy fishing to. It is really interesting learning about how the light bulb was created.

    Reply
  59. Bethany

    The story about Thomas Edison was so funny-I didn’t know he loved fishing! Loved when you talked about being a thinker and making goals you can accomplish and want to accomplish!!

    Reply
  60. Elle

    I think its cool that he thought of the light bulb just because of a fishing trip. Such a odd thing I would say.

    Reply
  61. Judah

    wow how I love science live.

    Reply
    • Arden

      I love it too.

      Reply
  62. Jackson

    I watched the video

    Reply
  63. Mckaylee

    It is crazy how fishing is behind the lightbulb!

    Reply
  64. Lilliana

    very interesting video.

    Reply
  65. Matthew

    how very interesting.

    Reply
  66. Justin

    I love to fish to.

    Reply
  67. June

    I love learning about Edison, thank you!

    Reply
  68. Abby

    I didn’t know that Mr. Thomas Edison was a great fisherman, and that he could used bamboo for making a light bulb with it, and that he also got the bamboo from Kyoto Japan with his best friend. (I LOVE JAPAN I WANT TO GO THERE ONE DAY! 🙂 ) and with the bamboo it made the light bulb to last over a 1,200 hours, and that Edison needed help from Michael Faraday who was interested in electricity and he invented a generator to help the light bulb to last longer. I can’t believe that PJ Monet nuked the the lake with a stick of dynamite! Poor fishies 🙁

    Reply
  69. Israel

    The dynamite fish story was craking me up!

    Reply
  70. Pierce

    I didn’t know that helped him invent the light bulb that custom Rubik’s cube was cool!

    Reply
  71. Jovan

    It is so cool how Edison discoved how to make the lightbulb last longer?

    Reply
  72. Tony

    Where are the protoges?????

    Reply
  73. Edwin

    I can’t believe our grand mentor is Thomas Edison – how cool!!!!

    Reply
  74. Charlie

    As many times as we talked about Edison in public school, I never heard the fishing story! This is what makes learning fun at Acellus! We go fishing a lot in the summer time, but never had life changing idea… only broken line and stories 🙂

    Reply
  75. Robert

    Thank you for doing these! Very interesting.

    Reply
  76. Reese

    I love fishing but usually only when I catch something. But it is time well spent with my thoughts. I’m gonna set more goals for myself.

    Reply
  77. Luscia

    I got to visit the Thomas Edison lab in Florida once. It was in Fort Meyers.

    Reply
  78. Taven

    I think it’s so crazy how fishing and lightbulbs are connected!

    Reply
  79. Skylar

    fishing is fun

    Reply
  80. Ryleigh

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

    Reply
  81. Journey

    I like the light bulb story!

    Reply
    • Alexander

      I had no idea how his invention was thought up! Super cool!

      Reply
    • Ember

      Me too

      Reply
  82. Benjamin

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

    Reply
    • Hudson

      cool how a lightbulb and fishing connect.

      Reply
  83. Annalise

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

    Reply
  84. Logan

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

    Reply
  85. Brooklyn

    This was a good science live

    Reply
    • Audry

      Great live

      Reply
  86. Savannah

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

    Reply
  87. Levon

    Very good science live

    Reply
  88. 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
  89. Maya

    Edison was a multitasker!

    Reply
  90. Brayden

    This was a good video!

    Reply
  91. 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
  92. Alexander

    I love how you structure these lessons around a story!

    Reply
  93. Dau

    Fishing looks so fun!

    Reply
  94. Vanessa

    I would love to fish someday with my mom.

    Reply
  95. Alynnea

    Never gone fishing before, this is neat!

    Reply
  96. Jack

    I used to live on a lake. Miss fishing!

    Reply
  97. Layla

    Super neat!

    Reply
    • Abigal

      what’s super neat? 🙂

      Reply
  98. 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
  99. Michael

    Its hard to imagine a world without power or light

    Reply
  100. Nicklous

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

    Reply
  101. Jeremiah

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

    Reply
  102. Makenzie

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

    Reply
    • Oliver

      It’s interesting to learn about what has inspired inventions and brilliant ideas. To think that everyday past times could bring inspiration to creative minds. Maybe I should try fishing!

      Reply
  103. Sawyer

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

    Reply
  104. Nicklous

    I love fishing, and Science live.

    Reply
    • Connor

      Sounds like an interesting subject!

      Reply
  105. Caleb

    Sounds like an interesting subject

    Reply
  106. Ben

    Fishing with dynamite is absolutely awesome!

    Reply
  107. Weston

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

    Reply
  108. 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
  109. Keilyn

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

    Reply
    • Justin

      did you watch the video

      Reply
  110. Raven

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

    Reply
  111. Zarek

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

    Reply
  112. Harper

    Hello from virginia

    Reply
  113. Addison

    Hello from Virginia

    Reply
  114. Matthew

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

    Reply
  115. Myka

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

    Reply
  116. Ariana

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

    Reply
  117. Kenniah

    I love fishing

    Reply
  118. Raylynn

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

    Reply
  119. Keaton

    This was my favorite video, I love fishing.

    Reply
  120. Analise

    This is one of the coolest facts ever

    Reply
  121. Cienna

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

    Reply
  122. Susan

    I always learn such cool things with sciance live!

    Reply
  123. Tatum

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

    Reply
  124. 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
  125. Isibella

    What a neat thing. I love to go fishing !

    Reply
  126. Ashlyn

    I love nature so much

    Reply
  127. Marley

    I never knew this about Edison!

    Reply
  128. Khloe

    i enjoyed this live because i like fishing

    Reply
  129. 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
  130. Lucas

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

    Reply
  131. Conner

    just the title alone makes you think

    Reply
  132. Emery

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

    Reply
  133. Antistrophe

    waow those r big fish

    Reply
  134. Roary

    Very great episode, from TX

    Reply
  135. Ellie

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

    Reply
  136. Derek

    Awesome Science Live!!!!!!!

    Reply
  137. Ava

    this video was very entertaining.

    Reply
  138. Mercedes

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

    Reply
  139. Liam

    this weeks science live was great!

    Reply
  140. Katherine

    I liked watching this video it was interesting

    Reply
  141. Hadley

    i like the robot looks like a figet cube

    Reply
  142. Annabelle

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

    Reply
  143. Maverick

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

    Reply
  144. Elijah

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

    Reply
  145. Jayden

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

    Reply
  146. Brian

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

    Reply
  147. Brooklynn

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

    Reply
  148. 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
  149. Bella

    I love fishing!

    Reply
  150. Viktor

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

    Reply
  151. Julia

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

    Reply
  152. 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
  153. Lee

    Its a good science live

    Reply
  154. Krispen

    I might going fishing tomorrow

    Reply
  155. Mundy

    Good for Charles. Nice video.

    Reply
  156. Jeremy

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

    Reply
  157. 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
  158. Jonathan

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

    Reply
  159. Taylor

    Fishing looks so fun

    Reply
  160. Zane

    I love fishing, this is really neat to know

    Reply
  161. Galvin

    It was a good science live

    Reply
  162. Abigail

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

    Reply
  163. Candon

    Science live is cool.

    Reply
  164. Lily

    Watching from Colorado

    Reply
  165. Ellie

    I didn’t even realize Edison had a family.

    Reply
  166. Tyler

    Quite interesting to learn about the origins of the lightbulb.

    Reply
    • Mulki

      Samee

      Reply
  167. Reyna

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

    Reply
  168. 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
  169. Reanna

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

    Reply
  170. Audrina

    Awesome Science Live

    Reply
  171. Lillian

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

    Reply
  172. Aubree

    Thank you for the video!

    Reply
  173. Abygail

    I want to go fishing

    Reply
  174. Riley

    I love science live!

    Reply
  175. Lyla

    That fish story was hilarious 😂

    Reply
    • Jedidiah

      I like that idea 👍

      Reply
    • Logan

      ya it wus

      Reply

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