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.

About DrB
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Hi from Tennessee!
Thanks for the scholarship!!! 🙂
science is so awesome
I loved science live this week!!! see you next week!!!
Hi from sd
i always look forward to seeing these lives!
I love science live!
I love the idea of maybe going to space one day! Another awesome video!
Love the lives!
This love is awesome! It makes me understand science more.
100/100
This science live was very interesting this week.
How does the Ethernet affect cell phones and tablets? More specifically, how does the interconnection apply to these devices? Do they use a smaller system between each other? On the other hand, are they connected to the same system as computers and laptops?
hi from virginia
loved this live!!
I love being a Acellus student , And being able to learn so much from Science live.
good video looking forward to what’s next
It’s amazing how Ron Crane went to Stanford and M.I.T
I love science live!
Cool episode! 10/10!
10/10 science live today.
these lives are always so imforming
I think the Ethernet cable is one of the greatest inventions ever! Another amazing Science live Dr. Billings
I enjoyed this episode. Thank you!
Good evening from Georgia!
Love how you guys manage to get better every week.
how does electricity travel so fast?
This science live was very fun!
every live video is so exciting to watch!
I love it thank you so much and very funny
Interesting live tonight, hello from nv!
I love it thank you so much
I love watching these videos from acellus!
Hi from Kentucky
Hello from Illinois!
this is awesome on the learning of science
This was a awesome video I loved R51 so much
Alexa from Florida
This is amazing!!
Networking is so interesting!! I wonder how gigabit Ethernet runs faster?
The “Ethernet” process was very neat and how very neat and how computers could be connected.
I thought it was very interesting how they solved the problem of all the collisions.
Hi from Las Vegas
So cool to see how far the internet has come.. we can’t wait to hear the rest of the story next week!
Hi from Texas awesome science live tonight!
I love to hear the back stories about how we got the technology we use every day!
I love Mr. Billings
I am so grateful for Science LIVE
Why do people think that they didnt really go to moon?
it’s awesome how much technology has changed. When you were talking about a gigabit standard, I thought about the possibility of a speed of 1 terabit/second.
always look forward to these lives
Tuning in from sd very excited to watch another science live tonight!
Loved the lesson thank you!
Why are they waiting until 2028 to land on moon and not just land there now?
I enjoy watching the live they are cool.
This live was awesome!!
Hello from Connecticut! Sorry that I’m late.
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How much time did it take until they made the link card
it gets better and better every week !
Another great episode. The new program of having the local school fund the tuition of Acellus students for the parents sake is very decent and hopefully can heavily help the parents out.
This lesson was so interesting thank you so much!
This was such a cool science live
My favorite part was the poem your mom told you. It must have been hard to hear your friend taking credit for your idea and even harder to not say anything.
Hi from California! great live this week
I love fishing!
science live is cool.
I like acellus
this is great! love watching these lives
Watching from Texas
wow!!! Ethernet is such an interesting thing and it has really made our world the way it is, i love it!
Watching from Texas
All these cool things are amazing! I love seeing all the things you guys show us each week!
Hello from missouri!
i loved science live this week
I love these science lives!
That was super cool!
I find it intriguing how ethernet works with the constant signals and collisions!
I loved learning about the history of ethernet
I loved this live! So interesting!
wonderful science live. I love watching these. I feel like every time I watch them. I’ve already learned a lot, but I’m always ending up learning more. The science lives truly open education and imagination, and I love learning while watching them
Area 51 was funny! He was at a baseball game. I couldn’t stop laughing!
I would like to go to the moon one day. There might be something on it that we still haven’t found.
Why did the ethernet have a flaw?
i like these live more and more I get teached more and more that I don’t know
It was cool to see the process of connecting computers.
I love science live so much!!! thank you for teaching me what ethernet is !
Definitely love Science live !!! Excited for tonight
Science live is a wonderful way to learn new things!
I saw videos and pictures of Artemis 2 trip to the moon. It was cool and they had great pictures.
I enjoy watching science live
Science is my best subject!
Hello from Colorado!
Tuning in from Texas!!
Look forward to these videos!
Amazing live! I really enjoy enjoy these stories!
It’s very interesting. I really like it!!
This is a great science live guys!
Amazing how far technology has come.
I love science live
This was a very interesting video and it made me enjoy science even more. The Ethernet is a cool invention.
So happy to learn something NEW
Ethernet is so fast
Hii from Vietnam
when will the gold key be ready
I love the live science is great
currently artimis 2 is the farthest ship that humans traveled
I love Science Live!!!
I really enjoyed this video I’m grateful to be able to watch it
I love how informative these are
I love being an Acellus Academy Student.
It’s so cool to hear how ethernet affects the internet!
Very interesting, I think i’m getting into science thanks to science live!
I had never heard of an ethernet before
Happy science live day!
Amazing video! See you next week!
I had never heard of ethernet until now
great. Live more and more will come.
Hello from Connecticut!
Hi from Ohio!!!!
Hi from fort scott
I love this live!!! It’s made me love science even more !
I like acellus
i love science live!!
Cool!
So so cool, hope they do more like this.
Love these!
This one is interesting I like it
Such a great and informative live!
Love this episode
How long did it take for Ethernet to get standardized?
Science live is good and exciting.
hi from colorado!
I love watching these!!!
Great Science Live! Thank you
Great live, Hi from Florida
I didn’t know about the Ethernet before.
Hi from Illinois!
Hi from MT
I would like more information about Ethernet topic . The two boys talked about connected wires to the printers and computers. I am so glad the Ethernet is working .
Hello from Texas!!!
this is a good one
Hello from Nevada!
This was awesome!!
Very interesting! Mr. Billings is an incredible person. I like to hear his stories. I love Science Live and Acellus
Soldering so many boards by hand must take a while.
I actually want to get into the electrical trade
Watching this with an ethernet connection!
Cool I liked today’s video
Hello from FL!
Ethernet is so cool!
10/10
Third comment tonight. Ethernet video made well.
Love this lol this is so educational
Science LIve is always intresting. We have been watching the Artmies II launch. This lesson about the Ethernet cable was a great thing to make.
Hi from Tillamook, OR What causes collisions in Ethernet?
Great video today!
Acellus just knows how to make these lives better and better every Wednesday.
This already looks awesome
do I have to comment to get credit for the scholarship?
This episode was so intriguing , I wonder what next weeks topic will be on
Hey! I’m from Nebraska!
I will be looking for R51
I love science live! It’s amazing!
Loved this science live !
very enjoyable science live
I love being an Acellus Academy Student.
this very cool to lean
This is Savannah from rosepine!
This is so cool.
very interesting video
thanks for making this!
Hello from Tennessee!
Hi from tn
this was a intresting since live
Hii from Chicago
that was so cool I love the ethernet!
This was one of my favorite science lives, cant wait for more.
From WV! I never heard of Ethernet before, that was a very interesting live tonight!
Hello from tennessee
Hello from New Jersey
This was great!!!
Hello from Georgia, USA
how long does it take to make electric things?
Hi from Kansas City
Thanks for the new science live! Really enjoyed this one.
This was awesome!
The story about how they made the Ethernet is really cool
Hello from new Orleans