The Collision Problem That Crippled Ethernet (And How We Solved It)
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Ever wonder how computers actually talk to each other over a wire? In this episode of ScienceLive, we break it all down — starting with the earliest Ethernet networks running over coaxial cable, through the switch to Cat5 cabling, and into the fundamental building block of all network communication: the packet.
You’ll learn what packets are, how they carry your data across a network, and why early Ethernet had a serious flaw — data collisions that could bring an entire network to its knees. We explain why collisions happen and what they mean for the data you’re trying to send.
Then comes the part we’re most excited about: how my team and I discovered a solution to stop packet collisions entirely, leading to the invention of WideBand networking. In this episode we give you the teaser — next week, we’ll teach you exactly how it works.
This lesson is for anyone who wants to truly understand computer networking from the ground up — how Ethernet came about, how it works, and where it’s headed.
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What is a bug in your circuit board
Very good, hello from ms!
Thank you Dr. John
Hii from Illinois
Hi from Tx
I love science
Hi from Maine
Interesting as always. Thanks Acellus staff.
I can’t wait to see what’s on today’s video!
hi from brandon ms
I didn’t know that computers talk to each other using data.
Hello from Illinois
Hi Amelia! Yes, it’s wonderful to learn these new amazing things!
Hello from NJ
Hi from Oliver in Washington!
Hello from Mississippi.
hello from nc!
How many computer computers can they connect altogether?
Annabel from TN!
Hello from New York
Hi from America
Hello from Montana
Hello from WA
Hello from Texas!
Are Concentrators a relatively new invention?
Wow, really intresting!
Hello from VA!!!!
That is so cool!
Hi from SC
Hi from Texas. 200 zettabytes of data is crazy to think about!
Hello Landry! Yes, that amount of data is truely mind blowing! 🤯
Ethernet is the new thing that I learned today thank you!
Wideband?! I’m so excited about this!
Hello from Indiana!
That is cool how you can connect so many electronics together but what is the max you can have connect together?
Hello from Montana
love this concept love seeing how things were solved
Hi from California.
Hey from Ohio *
Hi from Phx,Az
This has been a fun episode, love it!
Hello from Delaware!
protegaes are super funny
Those computers must have a difficult thing to make work.
Hi how are yall today this lesson was very intresting
hi i love science!:)
Hiii from Florida!!!
Hello science live.
Hello from New mexico
leo from nj glad to be here today!
Hi from North Carolina
Another good video this week as usual.
Glad we have ethernet
I’m from Virginia !!
Hi from Phuket
I really like this topic!
What happens when the FIFO gets to full?
i really enjoy the protege segments as I found myself laughing at most of their jokes and seeing people closer to my age participating in the conversations about science makes it more enjoyable.
Hi Ethan! We love the Protégé’s, we are so glad to hear that you do too!
how do you fix the F.I.F.O.
This is interesting, with wifi you don’t think so much about ethernet cables because they are plugged into your modem hidden away somewhere in your house and not directly plugged into our computers anymore.
Hey from Texas!!
hello from missouri
Hello from TN!
It would be great to have the tuition paid by the school district
It was cool to learn how the Ethernet changed the way the internet works.
Hi from Savannah Georgia
The science lives are the best!
1. can you restock the aculles label pin please 🙏
2. R-51 was so funny today 😂, i loved it❤️
3. Howdy from Texas
4. Silly tabias
5. Ms Roger you inspire me so much i started to make trashpack its were if you are walking on the beach you can put stuff in your trashpack like extra flip-flops and it also has a trash can attached to it so if you find a litter you can throw it away.
Hey Kaylee here from AL! Can’t wait for the live!!
It was amazing
I think it’s cool how they made ethernet and it can connect to a lot of computers.
Hi from Florida.
hi from florida!
I really enjoyed this ScienceLive, it was very informative. Keep up the amazing work, have a good day! 😁
Hello from Iowa !
hi from florida
that is really cool!!!!!!!!!!!
That is so cool! I liked this lesson!
Hi from New York
Hello from Tennesse!
Hello from Wyoming
Hi from NY
hello from texas!!!
Great live episode today
Hi from Florida!
Hi from Al. I liked this science live about ethernet.
this is so cool
hey from SC
Hi I’m from New Mexico and my name is Mila I love to learn in acellus science live it gets me into a great mood and ready to learn. 🤗🤩
the Artemis 2 launch was pretty cool to see
HI FROM TN!!
Science question of the weak, answer in the reply. You can use the internet.
If you wanted to power a 15 volt lightbulb, how far away could you power it with extension cords before the voltage dropped below 15 volts?
Alright, let’s get more specific to make the question easier. Let’s assume we use 50 foot extensions cords, with a 14 gauge, and you run the maximum 15 amps and 120 volts through the cords.
Assuming the voltage drop remains constant between cables, and doesn’t increase, how many cords could you attach before the light bulb stops working? and how long would the final cord be?
Amazing video! I’ve personally been researching the power behind Ethernet, hope you’ve had an amazing night!
My problem is money.
I learned so much today!! Love Acellus!!
What is the max speed of ethernet
Great live!
Hellooo from texass
It would be great to have the tuition be paid from the school districts.
Hi from NY!
Great lesson this week!
How many computers are they able to connect together?
Hello from Missouri! I hope you all are having a wonderful week
I wonder how far they’re going to go.
How long did it take to make the ethernet?
hello from tn
so excited for the new news!
I use Ethernet for my computer.
What’s the difference between an Internet and Ethernet?
Hey from Wyoming!!!
I wonder how many petabytes of data are sent through the internet every minute?
I got so interested in the topic that I didn’t even notice the time passing. Wonderful video!
Excited to watch this live!
Hi from Illinois!
Hello from vegas
Great science live!
So the main hub is just a server that filters information? From VA.
Ethernet is so cool!
loved the video!
I can’t imagine back when internet was dial-up and you paid by the minute. That’s what my talks about.
Hello from texas
The Collision Problem That Crippled Ethernet (And How We Solved It) Hi from North Carolina.
When is the science fair and when will you announce the winners?
Hello from GA
Hope everyone has a good day!
I like the rockets.
It is cool how much Internet has changed. How do people think up these things?
I think its cool that your computer can listen to the wires and how there can be collisions between them
FIFO is very interesting!!
I think it is cool how the Proteges talk about how to they ended up fixing the collision.
this was cool!
How does a computer get its mac address?
Hi! Watching from Texas!
Hi from SC
Its amazing how early ethernet handled data crashing.
I’m really excited for next weeks live to go more in depth on ethernet.
Thank you inventors who gave us functioning internet and networks.
this live is gonna be amazing!
Hi from North Carolina !
How do people put together microchips?
Hi from Texas!
HI from Tennessee
i love these videos!
Hello from lilburn
Hi from Massachusetts
Hello from IL
Hello from Tennessee!
Claire is here!
why do you call it entrnet
I got to watch the Artemis 2 launch and im excited that this trip will help prepare them to land on the moon in 2028. Also excited to learn about the Ethernet in this lesson.
Hi from Illinois
Hi, good live!
What’s the maximum amount of bits that can be transferred by the second with the technology we have today?
How different are the ethernet and the internet?
Hello from North Carolina!! This live was really good!
the best live yet
i liked the part with the aliens while he was talking about making ethernet better
Hi from Oklahoma
The beginning of the ethernet was very interesting to learn about!!
Very interesting. In away its like writing code with all the zeros and ones.
Very interesting!
Hello from Nevada
hello from oregon !
Hi from Kentucky!
Hello, from Mississippi!
Hi from NC
Hi from TN
Hi from Georgia!
Hello from Kentucky – Great video!
When is the science fair and when will you announce the winners of the science fair?
I love learning!😁
Ethernet is so cool
hi from Georgia
Hi from Texas!
Love watching these every week!
Hello from Massachusetts!
Hello from Idaho.
The protégés are hilarious 😂