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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1,320 Comments

  1. Hayden

    that’s crazy!

    Reply
  2. Ariana

    who new you could learn so much from fishing!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

    Reply
  3. Cooper

    I can’t believe Thomas E. tested over 6000 materials to look for the right filiment.

    Reply
  4. Tyler

    I never knew fishing could help Thomas Edison with the invention of the lightbulb.

    Reply
  5. Izek

    really cool stuff

    Reply
  6. Lucia

    Woah, I’m not a big fishing person, but this was really amazing! I never knew that fishing helped Edison to invent!

    Reply
  7. Opal

    I love fishing. My grandpa takes me fishing when I get chance. One time, when I was about 8 or so, I out-fished my grandpa and my uncle…. They weren’t very happy 😅

    Reply
  8. Bristol

    I love hearing stories of tricks inventors used to help them!

    Reply
  9. Sawyer

    I love learning anout how edison created the lightbulb its always been interesting.

    Reply
  10. Abernathy

    I found it very Intriguing that Thomas Edison liked fishing without bait!

    Reply
  11. Jude

    I love to fish too!

    Reply
  12. Diesel

    That was really cool to watch

    Reply
    • David

      Yea!!

      Reply
    • Mya

      Would have never guessed fishing helped Edison, another win for Science Live!

      Reply
    • Logan

      thank you d.r Roger Billings.

      Reply
    • Valentino

      Can’t wait to go fishing. Cool info.

      Reply
    • Alpha

      Yeah!

      Reply
  13. Joseph

    Catching fish with a fly

    Reply
    • Lizzie

      Fishing help make the light bulb!? That’s amazing and crazy!

      Reply
    • Alex

      Can you make a electric fishing pole, and make it power a lightbulb?

      Reply
    • Maisen

      I LOVE FISHING

      Reply
  14. London

    The light up cube test in the beginning was so cool!

    Reply
    • Londan

      My name is Londan to! Just with an A 😱😂

      Reply
    • Tyler

      yeah it was very cool.

      Reply
  15. William

    I never heard the stories of Edison loving to fish and how it helped him with inventing.

    Reply
    • Blaze

      So cool!!

      Reply
    • Sophia

      I never knew this about Edison. Have to read more on this .

      Reply
  16. Presley

    Oooo fishinggg

    Reply
    • Kaiden

      I love fishing

      Reply
  17. Isabella

    wow! who would have thought fishing could be related to a lightbulb!!

    Reply
  18. Dorian

    i loved this Science Live!

    Reply
  19. Ayame

    I want to go fishing now!

    Reply
    • Maya

      Have you ever been? It can be really fun!

      Reply
  20. Raylynn

    It’s so cool to watch how Edison made the light bulb by such successful problems and courses through the journey.

    Reply
  21. Nethanjah

    This Science video was very interesting, and fun to watch.

    Reply
  22. Blazen

    This was a great Live, thank you!

    Reply
  23. Kylie

    She have a dark side. GO GIRL!

    Reply
  24. Hunter

    that’s insane how common household items get invented by one idea

    Reply
  25. Koon

    I love fishing

    Reply
  26. Anaya

    I enjoy fishing and hearing this information about it!

    Reply
  27. Cody

    Innovation is truly anywhere.

    Reply
  28. Kassandra

    Very interesting. Didn’t know science and fishing were related.

    Reply
  29. Sulaiman

    Love this one

    Reply
  30. Matthew

    Never thought to use a magnet on a wire to move electricity.

    Reply
  31. Reagan

    This episode is so interesting

    Reply
  32. Presley

    Another great Science Live !

    Reply
  33. Angelina

    I like to fish alot.

    Reply
  34. Jane

    I like Science Live!

    Reply
  35. Daisy

    This one was really cool

    Reply
  36. Henry

    I think Newton’s cradles are so satisfying!

    Reply
  37. Canon

    I love fishing I cannot believe how much science is in it

    Reply
  38. Emmett

    I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • James

      Cool how a fishing trip lead to the the thing we depend on every day.

      Reply
  39. Carys

    We own an Edison Diamond Disc phonograph 1915 official laboratory model. Very cool . He was such a prolific inventor.

    Reply
  40. Oivia

    I always thought fishing was boring, this is interesting

    Reply
  41. Eli

    Science live is so cool.

    Reply
  42. Sophia

    I didnt realized this was science too

    Reply
  43. Liam

    I just went fishing with my brother.

    Reply
  44. Joshua

    “GONE FISHING” LOL

    Reply
  45. Zion

    Its amazing how nature and science go together

    Reply
  46. Holt

    Good science live.

    Reply
  47. Mimzy

    I would like to try to fish.

    Reply
  48. London

    This is so cool!

    Reply
  49. Oaklee

    I didn’t know fishing and science could go together

    Reply
  50. Isaac

    I use lures when I fish, But I mostly use baits.

    Reply
  51. Madison

    Fishing is one of my favorite things to do

    Reply
  52. Joseph

    I love science life!

    Reply
  53. Craig

    This was so interesting I didn’t know fishing was science

    Reply
  54. Anabelle

    I miss fishing- its almost warm enough to fish again here

    Reply
  55. Griffin

    This was fun to learn about, i want to go fishing now.

    Reply
  56. Harper

    This was a super cool way to think about Edison!

    Reply
  57. Alexis

    love thisssss!!

    Reply
  58. Ember

    Amazing cube!

    Reply
  59. Regan

    I like fishing and lightbulbs

    Reply
  60. S

    Fishing is science, more reasons to enjoy fishing. Now if I can get credits for fishing even better, thanks Edison!

    Reply
  61. Reese

    i love fishing toooo

    Reply
  62. Lillian

    never thought that it would have involved fishing

    Reply
  63. Athena

    Thank you!

    Reply
  64. Dakota

    So amazing! Fishing is such a fun hobby!

    Reply
  65. Justin

    thank you for the live

    Reply
  66. Logan

    I love fishing, its so relaxing.

    Reply
  67. Natalia

    Very interesting!!

    Reply
  68. Aiden

    i find inventors realy cool

    Reply
  69. Hadley

    That’s so cool

    Reply
  70. Mason

    I like fishing my dad takes me alot

    Reply
  71. Joseph

    How to catch a fish with a fly

    Reply
  72. Chi

    That is cool. I love fishing

    Reply
  73. Logan

    I like to fish with my dad. I will have to tell him what I learned.

    Reply
  74. Kaylee

    My brother has one of the moving metal ball toys. It is fun to watch.

    Reply
    • Kensleigh

      I know it is so satifing!

      Reply
  75. Nathan

    I like to fish alot. I did not realize it was science.

    Reply
    • Lilllian

      I enjoy fishing so this was an interesting video for me.

      Reply
  76. Ashlynne

    I loved that you humanized Edison with fishing and family. Who would have thought bamboo!! I love fishing!!

    Reply
  77. Jaxon

    I love fishing!

    Reply
    • Justus

      I love fishing what another great video.

      Reply
  78. Candice

    When you invent do you work on one thing at a time or multiple, as it seems one needs to be patient with the trouble shooting all the little issues?

    Reply
  79. Nicholas

    I love to fish. This was interesting to me.

    Reply
    • Kassandra

      Very interesting video! I didn’t know fishing connected with science.

      Reply
  80. Ember

    I hope you catch a fish using an artificial fly!

    Reply
  81. Sophia

    Love fishing so this was fun to learn.

    Reply
  82. Leah

    maybe I should start going fishing and see if I can come up with a great invention lol

    Reply
    • Ember

      Totally

      Reply
  83. Aaron

    What type of programming does the cube from the beginning use.

    Reply
  84. Alicen

    It is amazing how anything you do can spark creativity. So thankful for Edison’s creativity!

    Reply
  85. Seraphina

    Great episode! That fish story was hilarious !

    Reply
  86. Molly

    Funny to think about Edison fishing, doing normal every day things.

    Reply
  87. David

    Fishing is always good.

    Reply
  88. Aiden

    Our world would be so different without this invention.

    Reply
  89. Jake

    Nice demonstration of transfer of energy.

    Reply
  90. Ana

    hello from chicago

    Reply
  91. Karson

    The fish story is cool.

    Reply
  92. Joseph

    How to catch a fish with supplies

    Reply
  93. Sophia

    I love to go fishing with my dad. Weird how fishing and science go together.

    Reply
  94. Nathan

    Fishing can be very fun. Its not a surprise Edison had one!

    Reply
  95. Justin

    This is so cool!

    Reply
  96. Evelyn

    This is so interesting!

    Reply
  97. Owen

    Its hard to imagine a world without power or light

    Reply
  98. Sabrina

    I never knew that a fishing trip would cause Edison to create the lightbulb!

    Reply
  99. Joshua

    How to go fishing with a fly

    Reply
  100. Liam

    This science live was pretty fascinating.

    Reply
  101. Austin

    science live is fun.
    Austin, IL

    Reply
  102. Ashura

    very cool lightbulb story.

    Reply
  103. Marilyn

    I wonder how led bulbs last longer than regular ones.

    Reply
  104. Gabe

    I like the Newton’s cradle

    Reply
  105. Luke

    I love science live🩷💙

    Reply
  106. Samuel

    Really enlghtening video

    Reply
  107. Diana

    This is a great story!!!

    Reply
  108. Christopher

    Good episode!

    Reply
  109. London

    this was so cool

    Reply
  110. Averey

    This was a very interesting video!

    Reply
  111. Jordan

    I have the AI mars EX cube, it is really cool that the sides turn themselves

    Reply
  112. Tanner

    Fascinating! Thanks for another great video!

    Reply
  113. Derek

    there were light bulbs before edisons

    Reply
  114. Addison

    hi love this one

    Reply
  115. Valentina

    I did not know that it helped the light bulb be invented.

    Reply
  116. Micah

    I liked this video

    Reply
  117. Ardynn

    I LOVED IT

    Reply
  118. Mila

    mila from TX

    Reply
  119. Mattison

    I love fishing so this really interests me

    Reply
  120. Jaxson

    woahhhhh

    Reply
  121. Houston

    the light bulb

    Reply
  122. Trenton

    Determination and continuously trying will almost always end with you catching the fish you want.

    Reply
  123. Audi

    Edison is someone I want to learn more about thank you!

    Reply
  124. Eleanor

    I never knew this about the light bulb!

    Reply
  125. Beckett

    I wish David and Calab was in this science live.☹️

    Reply
    • Mykolas

      me too they are really funny, my fav is Calab.

      Reply
    • Paisynn

      Who is David and Caleb???

      Reply
  126. Adriana

    Fishing looks really fun!

    Reply
  127. Karla

    Can’t wait to tell my Fisherman dad about this ; D

    Reply
    • Paisynn

      My dad used to fish all the time but then he met my mom and then my mom had me and my brothers so I’ve been asking my dad if me and him could go fishing sometime and he said maybe I’m so excited eek

      Reply
  128. Ian

    I love science live

    Reply
  129. Charlie

    I think its so cool that Edison liked to fish and he came up with the idea about the light buld. Fishing is so fun!

    Reply
  130. Paislee

    Such a cool story!

    Reply
  131. R`mhani

    I never in my life would have thought a fishing trip could spark something amazing and important . Great news.

    Reply
  132. Mabry

    Love to fish!

    Reply
  133. Nevaeh

    love the light bulb story

    Reply
  134. Gavin

    Great information!

    Reply
  135. Oona

    Is the Newton’s Cradle a toy??

    Reply
  136. Logan

    I really liked the light bulb story

    Reply
  137. Joshua

    I love fishing!

    Reply
  138. Alivia

    That’s so neat!!

    Reply
  139. Hee-jeong

    I admire how Thomas Edison worked so hard and didn’t give up.

    Reply
  140. Kyser

    Me and my dad loves fishing

    Reply
  141. Abigayle

    Knew Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb..but was very interesting to learn he did it with bamboo by fishing! That was very cool!!

    Reply
  142. Maya

    It was cool to learn how fishing helped to create one of the greatest inventions of mankind.

    Reply
  143. Blake

    Wow I’ve never seen those original lightbulb photos! so cool! Also i love fishing!

    Reply
  144. Parker

    I never knew that fishing helped in that way! so cool and i love fishing!

    Reply
  145. Beckham

    I love the intelligence testing robot.

    Reply
  146. Josiah

    I still love these and I always will

    Reply
  147. Tull

    I knew that this is how Edison created the light bulb!

    Reply
  148. Conrad

    I love fishing!!!!

    Reply
  149. Sara

    Now this is neat my family fishes all the time but I never knew this information

    Reply
  150. Emily

    the rubics cube thing is cool

    Reply
  151. Taj

    I love fishing!!!

    Reply
  152. Farrah

    Edison’s observation of how a wet fishing line conducted electricity better inspired him to understand and manipulate electrical resistance, which was crucial for developing the lightbulb filament.

    Reply
  153. Damian

    It’s crazy how the two things collided, awesome recollection of the beginning of the lightbulb, W video!

    Reply
  154. Jaycob

    Love science live!

    Reply
  155. Aiden

    i always liked Edison he gave us that light we really needed

    Reply
  156. Calli

    I love Newtons Cradle magnet things they are so interesting and fun in my opinion. It’s so cool how they work.

    Reply
  157. Mercedes

    Science live was amazing this week very informative.

    Reply
  158. Harper

    that’s a funny story love fishing

    Reply
  159. Declan

    Learning about Newton’s Cradle, energy, and electrons was very interesting. I just love Science. Such a great episode of Science Live!

    Reply
  160. Lillian

    Probably one of my favorite videos so far! It’s crazy how pretty much everything is connected to science!

    Reply
  161. Liam

    It’s amazing that Edison discovered how to make a longer lasting light bulb from a fishing trip just by carefully looking at his bamboo fishing rod and coming up with the idea! Science is so cool!

    Reply
  162. Nicole

    Sometimes a change of scenery provides the best spark for innovation.

    Reply
  163. Bowie

    That is amazing that Edison had over 1000 inventions! So many science ideas lead to new discoveries that change everything. Makes me want to be an inventor when I grow up.

    Reply
  164. Flora

    I love doing the Rubik’s cube! So watching Pajet Monet and Roger Billings do the computer activated one was so neat!Science Live is the Best!

    Reply
  165. Madelyn

    that was awsome

    Reply
  166. Pham

    Edison was lucky.

    Reply
  167. Emma

    It was really interesting how a simple fishing trip helped lead to such an important invention!

    Reply
  168. Sofia

    My favorite video

    Reply
  169. Bethel

    I like Thomas Edison

    Reply
  170. Kynlie

    Watching science live makes my whole week better

    Reply
  171. Shaine

    Wow I didn’t know this. Very cool,

    Reply
  172. Estelle

    I like the story of how the lightbulb was created

    Reply
  173. Reyna

    I really like the rubix cube, it is very neat 😀

    Reply
  174. Aubree

    i enjoyed it

    Reply
  175. Rheya

    i love science live

    Reply

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