The Collision Problem That Crippled Ethernet (And How We Solved It)
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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love the live from sc
hi from Texas
hello from maryland you guys are cool
Why do older devices called “hubs” cause more collisions than the “switches” we use today?
hi from indiana
Hello Lucas! Thank you for joining us tonight! We are super excited to have you with us! 🔬
hi from Indiana
I think that ethernet is super cool and i dint even know what it was before this
Really cool
Love this school
Hello Claire! Thank you for attending tonight. We love this school too! 🔬
Hii! form NJ
I love science live!
i loved how r-51 excaped the lab and hi from texas and how the ethernet was made
Yes! Let us know if you spot him!
I love how there were initial problems with the ethernet yet they were still able to fix the issues it really inspired and fascinated me how they worked through these problems.
that was a great video
wow, this was so cool!
hello from va
Hi from Texas
Brennan from RI!
thanks for the live.
My dad said when he got his first computer it was slow, not like todays computers!
Love this live
I love science Live! sending Love from mississippi
Another great Science Live!
heyo from minnesota!!!!!!!
Science Live is amazing! I’m learning new things every time!
Coming from Florida! Love this live!
Love science live
Love from Texas
Heyyy from Texas!!
hi from SC
hi from nd!
Hello from Georgia, this live is so interesting.
hi from nebraska
Learning about what Ron Crane did for our human civilization and the technology advancements he was able to help create with other brilliant minds was so cool and I’m so inspired by how he was able to do this. During such a difficult time to compete with amazing minds he was able to work in a team to create communication through computers and printers with so many different obstacles.
Cant wait till next week!
I love the science lives
Hi from Illinois cant wait for this live
What an interesting episode!! Glad i’m able to watch these!
Hi from Tennessee
love science live
I love watching science live
Great live! Keep up the good work!
Ethernet is so useful, glad we fixed it.
Hello from Mississippi
What is the fastest ethernet cable?
How did they find the difference between frequencies?
I like this episode a lot.
Tech has come so far I can’t even imagine the future
hi from RI
This is a great topic!
howdy from Alabama!
Hello from Idaho
North Carolina here!!
Hi Dr.B!
Hi from AMERICA
That is so cool! !!!
This live is amazing
The letter examples were insanely helpful for understanding.
Awesome!
Thank you so much Dr Billings!
Another incredible Science Live! Keep up the good work!!!
Hello from WestTexas!
hi from texas
I usually have a problem with the live due to the time difference between the USA and Egypt. Can I satisfy the requirement by viewing the recorded episode later in the week?
Hello Mohamed- thank you for your question! You’re welcome to tune into Science Live at any point during the week to meet the scholarship requirements. Just make sure to tune in every week, Wednesday to Wednesday. We’re so happy to have you! 🔬
interesting as always
Hello to everyone at Science Live. Thank you Science Live for introducing us to the amazing things of science. Every episode we learn something new and it is very exciting. Thank you!
From Florida
When was the internet first created and who thought of the idea of the internet? Also, when was the first connection made with the internet, and how far did it travel?
what would happen if Ethernet didnt exist
Thank you for the live
Hi from Texas
The Ethernet sounds really cool. Also, hopefully R51 doesn’t get into too much trouble!
Thanks for tuning in Amelie! We’re so glad he is learning to be socional 😌
Hi I really enjoyed this episode and I cant wait for next weeks!
sending a warm welcome from Maine!!!
What do you think Ethernet could look like in the distant future?
Coming from Texas, love this live !
hey from maryland
hello from texas
I didn’t realize early Ethernet had so many accidents before they were fixed.Amazing!
Wow! This is so interesting!
Hello Hannah! This week sure is a good one!
I love this live
Hello from Georgia!
Im glad we are able to have ethernet today!
heyyy thanks for the beautiful lesson
Hello from Idaho
Amazing as always
thank you guys for doing science live!
Hi from TN
I wonder what R-51 is going to do
It’s cool how ethernet was invented.
This is so interesting!
Why was it named ethernet
I really enjoyed todays video. From Az
I thought that learning about how the networks are working was pretty cool.
Did dr Roger billings co invent the internet
Hi from North Carolina
Ethernet seems really cool I didn’t know that it was so important lol that’s so cool.
Wow very interesting!
I thought it was really cool how network works.
I never thought about how ethernet is so important.
Kentucky here, interested with science!
That’s a really cool name “The Vampire Tap”
This is so cool!
Ethernet cables are so cool and was amazing to learn how they work
Ethernet cables are very cool.
Trying to fix all the collisions with the computers on the same wire to make it where all of the computers on different wires. Also that sounds cool anyway can you put a circut kit on the store and i watched the artiems 2 launch on tv. Good night science live
Hello, from Tennessee!
hello, from Idaho.
I love acellus.
Hi from Texas!
Ethernet its really interesting!!!!
love everything about science!
Greetings from Tennessee!
What does each twisted cable do in an ethernet cable?
Is Ethernet and internet similar
Hello from New Jersey!
Fun live!
The lives are amazing thank you!
thanks for science live this week!
Hello from Illinois!
It’s cool learning new things from Science Live.
Hello Yamili! We love all the new things we learn from Science Live! 🧪🔬
I love the way you guys formed this video. Introducing ethernets and how it was created, explaining how it works, and finally solving the problem with collisions.
hi from nc
I’m from Rhode Island!
Hi from kc
Great Wednesday video like always!
Thank yall for making these videos.
I love science live!!!
I enjoyed this science live
i love science live!
I loved this one the most
I use ethernet! I have an ethernet cable plugged into my PC, another great science live!!
i really love this
I’ve always wondered how ethernet cables worked!
Hi from Tennessee I’m lizzy!!!
Hello Lizzy! Thank you so much for joining us tonight! 😄
This science live was awesome and so informative!
hi!!!!! I’m loving this lesson!!
Hi from Michigan.
The Ethernet is very interesting! I’ve heard of Ethernet cables, but I’ve never learned what they are or what they are do before now.
nice show
Ethernet cable has changed so much. Great Science Live.
Hi from Illinois
How do computers generate random signals?
hi from florida
I like learning the history. Caleb and Eric make it easier to understand.
Hello Rowan! We love the Protégés and Inventioneers!
Hi from new Mexico 🙂
Hi! From Las Vegas!
FIFO is my new favorite word
Hello hello hello from Minnesota🧸💐
How many inventions have you made Dr. Roger
This is the best part
how many computers can connect
Hi from Minnesota🧸
Great live video
Hi from Nv
Hi from Texas
Awesome lesson about the internet!
Hey from texas!
Hi from Oklahoma
This subject about Ethernet is so cool!
Really liked this weeks science live!
Hello from Texas,
Watching from Texas
It’s interesting how Ethernet changed how computers communicate
You don’t think about how complicated this all is until you see a program like this explaining it all,
that is so cool
Today’s technology spotlight was fascinating.
Hello from maryland
Thankyou for explaining everything so clearly these videos are always so interesting to watch!
Does one computer’s usage of the Ethernet affect the local hub in a way that could make it slowed for the rest of the computers attached to the same hub?
hi from texas
Hello from California!
Hello, from Illinois
hi from tn
hi from ohio
hi from Florida
Hello from Indiana
hi from tennessee!
Wow, Ethernet is really cool.
hello from new york
Technology changes so quickly. Find an error and onto something new and better.