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

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 »

Follow

5,043 Comments

  1. Kole

    Wow, Ethernet is neat.

    Reply
  2. Quinten

    I loved learning about Ethernet

    Reply
  3. Gage

    This is very informative information

    Reply
  4. Julia

    Comment Thank you for another informative science live about old and new technology.

    Reply
  5. Parker

    This video was amazing!

    Reply
  6. Shadira

    Ethernet was so interesting to learn about!

    Reply
  7. Alyna

    Amazing video this week

    Reply
  8. Kaitlyn

    I loved learning about the Ethernet !!! It was super cool!

    Reply
  9. Jewel

    It was fun to learn about the ether! I loved it😁 By the way, you keep mentioning patents, how do you patent something?

    Reply
  10. Madison

    I love these videos, they are so informative. Cant wait for next week!

    Reply
  11. Zane

    it was fun learning about the ethernet and what it contributes to modern day society.

    Reply
  12. Joslynn

    I really like this video it was a good one

    Reply
  13. Joey

    I didn’t know that! I find it cool and confusing how internet works or the boards work, the vampires touch is silly but smart!

    Reply
  14. Lewis

    i like this episode and science live is cool

    Reply
  15. Jonah

    Roger Billings is amazing

    Reply
  16. Callie

    love learning on science live!

    Reply
  17. Allison

    I didn’t know Ethernet was invented in the 70’s .

    Reply
  18. Isaac

    I learn something new every week watching science live

    Reply
  19. Ali

    First time hearing about Ethernet. Thank you

    Reply
  20. Harper

    im so excided to watch this!

    Reply
  21. Thaeden

    Ready to watch!!!

    Reply
  22. Blyss

    Learn some thing new each and every video!

    Reply
  23. Meah

    So cool! This weeks video was so interesting!

    Reply
  24. Ryan

    Wow! I love learning new things in Science Live!

    Reply
  25. Delilah

    Wonderful science live this week, looking forward to next week!

    Reply
  26. Joshua

    Can’t wait for the next video! This was very interesting

    Reply
  27. Moira

    It’s so interesting how they found a way to stop the collisions.

    Reply
  28. Yvonne

    In this weeks video I learned that each device would notice the collision
    then wait a random amount of time and try again later.

    Reply
  29. Isabelle

    I love David and Caleb’s bit, the dinosaur game was perfect. I’m glad we have the Ethernet to communicate with each other!

    Reply
  30. Raymond

    Thats awesome love science live

    Reply
  31. Jacob

    I love this live!!!!

    Reply
  32. Kassidy

    Loved this episode! Cant wait to tune in tonight.

    Reply
  33. Job

    It’ll be cool when we go back to the moon.

    Reply
  34. Maverick

    Learning about ethernet was so interesting! Great science live.

    Reply
  35. Sebastian

    I love R51’s part!

    Reply
  36. Josiah

    The national cyber school initiative would be incredible, It is really unfair to parents that their tax dollars don’t follow the student in homeschooling or private schooling. It’s cool to see how ethernet cables developed and evolved.

    Reply
  37. Jaymerius

    he is smart his ideas can help the world evolve into a place were more people can help each other

    Reply
  38. Caleb

    i didnt realize how much eathernet contributted to wifi until this great video!

    Reply
  39. Hadley

    Great information on the Ethernet!

    Reply
  40. Ellie

    Great show, Ethernet is cool

    Reply
  41. Lacey

    This science live is so informative like always!

    Reply
  42. Emma

    amazing video very funny too, love R-51

    Reply
  43. Gabrielle

    The National Cyberschool Initiative looks amazing! It’s wonderful that Acellus and Dr. Billings are working to make quality education available to everyone.

    Reply
  44. Athena

    This was a good live

    Reply
  45. Eliana

    amazing lesson today!

    Reply
  46. Rowan

    i new to acellus cant wait to see this cool thang.

    Reply
  47. Isabelle

    I can’t wait for the science fair! I’m going to talk about Roy g biv.

    Reply
  48. Peter

    It’s great to learn more about Ethernet.
    Thnak you to keep me learning new things

    Reply
  49. Gianni

    Wow, this was just another amazing video!

    Reply
  50. Colin

    what would happen if the ethernet didn’t exist

    Reply
  51. Arianna

    WOWW SO COOL

    Reply
  52. Jace

    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  53. Rhea

    When was the first computer invented?

    Reply
  54. Isabelle

    I find it amazing how the Ethernet has developed into such a normal thing!

    Reply
  55. Gavin

    Hello from Tennessee

    Reply
  56. Aiur

    The ethernet today was really interesting!

    Reply
  57. Lailiana

    Thank you for teaching about the Ethernet and talks of space. Our family always enjoys science live and all the inventions. There was a part of the video that talked about connecting Acellus with the school districts and we want to know if there should be any concern with districts gaining control and change the way kids are being homeschooled with Acellus?

    Reply
  58. Brandt

    thankyou for making science live

    Reply
  59. Carter

    I can’t wait for the next science live.

    Reply
  60. Olivia

    i love science live so much thank you for making it

    Reply
  61. Olivia

    thank you again for a wonderful science live i cant wait for next time

    Reply
  62. Keeghan

    Comment Incredibly interesting!

    Reply
  63. Yessamine

    Its really interesting learning the history of the Ethernet and how it impacted how we network.

    Reply
  64. Chelsea

    I like ethernet! good episode!

    Reply
  65. Shyla

    The Ethernet is so amazing and interesting I love it.

    Reply
  66. Aiyana

    It’s cool how Ethernet has improved a lot!, Starting with the Coaxial and then the Category 5G, which stop the collision, I thought that was pretty cool.

    Reply
  67. Nicholas

    Today’s Science Live about the ethernet was really interesting.

    Reply
  68. Autumn

    lol I love watching science live 😁

    Reply
  69. Ayden

    And another great science live

    Reply
  70. Declan

    I really enjoyed this week’s show! I will be working on my next invention!

    Reply
  71. Isabelle

    I am so excited for the science fair!! I find it fascinating how the Ethernet evolved into such a normal thing to us today.

    Reply
  72. Jacob

    Great live, as always!!

    Reply
  73. Jaylin

    Thank you for mentioning ArtemissII, we followed the 10 days.

    Reply
  74. Emir

    Great lecture! Perfect things!!

    Reply
  75. Lourdes

    I loved this Science Live episode!

    Reply
  76. Justin

    I learned a lot from this and will be using the information I gather, thank you for being very informative.

    Reply
  77. Harper

    Excited to see some of the science fair presentations!

    Reply
  78. Tyler

    Dr. Billings has so many inventions!

    Reply
  79. Noah

    I like the bit where r 51 was doing the MLB THING was cool. I like it.

    Reply
  80. Michael

    Here from Palm desert CA

    Reply
  81. Jaxson

    This video was very interesting! Cant wait for the next.

    Reply
  82. Peighton

    Learning about the Ethernet was very interesting especially with how useful it is for today technology! Aswell as figuring out how to stop network collisions.

    Reply
  83. Makayla

    science live is something I look forward to every week!

    Reply
  84. Harleigh

    amazing video!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  85. Isabelle

    The scholarship program sounds super exciting I cant wait to look more into it!

    Reply
  86. Natalie

    I loveeeeeee uuuuuuuuu science live

    Reply
  87. Nicholas

    I ❤️ Science Live!!!

    Reply
  88. Quinn

    learning about the Ethernet was realy interesting! So glad theres no more collisions!

    Reply
  89. Flynn

    I’m really excited about the national program. My mom is going to look into it with our local public school.

    Reply
  90. Dominic

    What if there were computers that operated on a different frequency so they would only be able to communicate with other computers on the same frequency

    Reply
  91. Levi

    You guys have made and are making many things possible, including new technologies and a great learning experience for people worldwide!

    Reply
  92. Austin

    Thanks for always encouraging us to solve problems and never give up!

    Reply
  93. Damian

    How many chips does the average computer have?

    Reply
  94. Madison

    Another great science live! Loved it

    Reply
  95. Gabriel

    Understanding the concept of ethernet is very complex but cool.

    Reply
  96. Laila

    Wow, learning about Ethernet is so interesting!

    Reply
  97. Ruby

    I love this video 📸

    Reply
  98. Maggie

    i love science live!

    Reply
  99. Reagan

    I really liked learning about Ethernet .

    Reply
  100. Isabella

    Super cool lesson today cant wait for next week

    Reply
  101. Paisley

    It was quite interesting learning about the science behind ethernet! Can’t wait for the next live!

    Reply
  102. Tristen

    thank you so much for this lesson I can’t wait for next wensday!

    Reply
  103. Hailee

    Watching from New York! Love science lives

    Reply
  104. Tristen

    Thank you so much for all of this information I can’t wait for next wensday!!

    Reply
  105. Jesse

    I really enjoyed this science live!

    Reply
  106. James

    Great episode, learning about the ethernet is cool! I am interested in Cyberschool.

    Reply
  107. Stetson

    Wow this helped me learn so many new things! I really love how interesting this is

    Reply
  108. Elwood

    Hi, I’m watching with my mom and dad.

    Reply
  109. Taylor

    Comment It is so interesting to learn how computers can talk

    Reply
  110. Noah

    I think the bite at the end with r 51 was cool and funny.

    Reply
  111. Lila

    i love the science fair!

    Reply
  112. Kydant

    Thanks Science Live for the amazing video! r51 is so funny I CANT.

    Reply
  113. Savannah

    I liked leaning the investment process

    Reply
  114. Elaine

    The protégé’s explanation of the Ethernet was perfect! Thank you!

    Reply
  115. Liana

    Very cool and interesting! Cant wait for the next one.

    Reply
  116. Mia

    I thought learning about collisions and the ethernet was so cool. Science live is awesome.

    SCIENCE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  117. Haigen

    I love watching science live! I always learn so many new things!

    Reply
  118. Abigail

    This is super cool!!!! I am so excited for the help with paying from the schools! Thanks.

    HAHAHAHAHA “John Cen??’

    Reply
  119. Gavin

    I use Ethernet for my computer and to see how and why it was created is cool.

    Reply
  120. Logan

    Science Live was cool

    Reply
  121. Ava

    I loved this live! I was very interested

    Reply
  122. Alexis

    i love learning with these videos!

    Reply
  123. Felicitas

    So interesting! So many things that I didn´t know and now I do!

    Reply
  124. Gavin

    This is cool to see because I use Ethernet and now I know where It came from and why it was created is awesome.

    Reply
  125. John

    Can you do the science fair online?

    Reply
    • Science Live

      Yes! Submit your entry soon, the deadline for this year is coming right up: Acellus Science Fair

      Reply
  126. Megan

    so glad we have science live!!!

    Reply
  127. Emanuel

    It was a pleasure to watch Science Live as always!

    Reply
  128. Miley

    this was a wonderful video!!!

    Reply
  129. Destiny

    Cool science live I learned some pretty interesting information about Ethernet. I’m excited to see what you guys talk about in the next science live.

    Reply
  130. Daniel

    why are the wires twisted

    Reply
  131. Ava

    Wow! So cool!

    Reply
  132. Brantley

    r51was interesting

    Reply
  133. Peyton

    Science live teachers are so smart

    Reply
  134. Maverick

    I liked the example of thinking about it like highway traffic, that made it make sense!

    Reply
  135. Aaron

    great video this week can’t wait for next

    Reply
  136. Ariel

    Hi everyone, love science live!

    Reply
  137. Autumn

    Science live is shaping our future!

    Reply
  138. Daniel

    wny are the wires twisted

    Reply
  139. Katie

    I really liked this episode.

    Reply
  140. Eden

    I love science live shaping everything for the future!

    Reply
  141. Liam

    I liked the segment with Dr. Tobias

    Reply
  142. Avery

    Another great episode! Thanks for making these!

    Reply
  143. Emma

    Wow this was so cool to learn!

    Reply
  144. Joslynn

    This was a good one

    Reply
  145. Sawyer

    Ethernet has really changed the world of technology. It’s so crazy how far we’ve come with tech

    Reply
  146. Trace

    Ethernet is really something. Im curious to know what the future will hold.

    Reply
  147. Lyla

    That’s funny that you and Ron Crane got in a argument but then I love that you guys became good friends!

    Reply
  148. Noah

    It was interesting to learn about ethernets.

    Reply
  149. Kaden

    another wonderful Science Live! Can’t wait to tune in for the next!

    Reply
  150. Henley

    I love science live!

    Reply
  151. Haidee

    i love the whole thing! cant wait to see the next one.

    Reply
  152. Kyann

    why do i need science live

    Reply
  153. Nora

    The protégé’s are always my favorite part of science live.

    Reply
  154. William

    Ethernet is so useful.

    Reply
  155. Mackenzie

    I loved this episode!

    Reply
  156. Abigail

    Thanks Dr. B this is pretty cool do you think maybe you can do one about the space shuttle?

    Reply
  157. Jesse

    When all of the computers were on the one line. When the line was cut why would all the computers stop working instead of just the ones after the cut?

    Reply
  158. Jacob

    I thought the proteges were funny.

    Reply
  159. Callee

    Wow! I learned so much!

    Reply
  160. Nola

    Comment If one computer was on and the other was off would a message still send?

    Reply
  161. Karlee

    Such a great science live, cant wait for the next!

    Reply
  162. Adler

    Dr. Billings has done so much that I didn’t know about. Thanks!!

    Reply
  163. Ivy

    In the episode, I learned that One of Ethernet flaw was the packet collisions; as a result , WideBand networking was invented.

    Reply
  164. Matteo

    The Ethernet is amazing!!! I use it on my PlayStation all the time!!

    Reply
  165. Henry

    I thought the protégé were funny.

    Reply
  166. Nicolas

    Amazing video, can’t wait for the next one!

    Reply
  167. Elizabeth

    That was so amazing.

    Reply
  168. Nicolas

    It was really interesting learning more about ethernet cables.

    Reply
  169. Hunter

    hello from japan

    Reply
  170. Parker

    Hello from Missouri!

    Reply
  171. Jagger

    Love these lives and learning new technology every week.

    Reply
  172. Aryonnah

    love learning all of these new things from these lives!

    Reply
  173. Havyn

    I love the way Roger and Peget are always cracking me up!

    Reply
  174. Aryana

    Networking is really cool Isaac Newton did good stuff with his networking of corespondents.

    Reply
  175. Havyn

    I love the new scholarship program! Thank you for making more affordable for people who may not be able to afford it 🙏

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Joshua Cancel reply

By clicking "Submit", you agree to our Terms & Conditions. Required fields are marked *