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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Wow, Ethernet is neat.
I loved learning about Ethernet
This is very informative information
Comment Thank you for another informative science live about old and new technology.
This video was amazing!
Ethernet was so interesting to learn about!
Amazing video this week
I loved learning about the Ethernet !!! It was super cool!
It was fun to learn about the ether! I loved it😁 By the way, you keep mentioning patents, how do you patent something?
I love these videos, they are so informative. Cant wait for next week!
it was fun learning about the ethernet and what it contributes to modern day society.
I really like this video it was a good one
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!
i like this episode and science live is cool
Roger Billings is amazing
love learning on science live!
I didn’t know Ethernet was invented in the 70’s .
I learn something new every week watching science live
First time hearing about Ethernet. Thank you
im so excided to watch this!
Ready to watch!!!
Learn some thing new each and every video!
So cool! This weeks video was so interesting!
Wow! I love learning new things in Science Live!
Wonderful science live this week, looking forward to next week!
Can’t wait for the next video! This was very interesting
It’s so interesting how they found a way to stop the collisions.
In this weeks video I learned that each device would notice the collision
then wait a random amount of time and try again later.
I love David and Caleb’s bit, the dinosaur game was perfect. I’m glad we have the Ethernet to communicate with each other!
Thats awesome love science live
I love this live!!!!
Loved this episode! Cant wait to tune in tonight.
It’ll be cool when we go back to the moon.
Learning about ethernet was so interesting! Great science live.
I love R51’s part!
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.
he is smart his ideas can help the world evolve into a place were more people can help each other
i didnt realize how much eathernet contributted to wifi until this great video!
Great information on the Ethernet!
Great show, Ethernet is cool
This science live is so informative like always!
amazing video very funny too, love R-51
The National Cyberschool Initiative looks amazing! It’s wonderful that Acellus and Dr. Billings are working to make quality education available to everyone.
This was a good live
amazing lesson today!
i new to acellus cant wait to see this cool thang.
I can’t wait for the science fair! I’m going to talk about Roy g biv.
It’s great to learn more about Ethernet.
Thnak you to keep me learning new things
Wow, this was just another amazing video!
what would happen if the ethernet didn’t exist
WOWW SO COOL
Thank you for sharing!
When was the first computer invented?
I find it amazing how the Ethernet has developed into such a normal thing!
Hello from Tennessee
The ethernet today was really interesting!
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?
thankyou for making science live
I can’t wait for the next science live.
i love science live so much thank you for making it
thank you again for a wonderful science live i cant wait for next time
Comment Incredibly interesting!
Its really interesting learning the history of the Ethernet and how it impacted how we network.
I like ethernet! good episode!
The Ethernet is so amazing and interesting I love it.
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.
Today’s Science Live about the ethernet was really interesting.
lol I love watching science live 😁
And another great science live
I really enjoyed this week’s show! I will be working on my next invention!
I am so excited for the science fair!! I find it fascinating how the Ethernet evolved into such a normal thing to us today.
Great live, as always!!
Thank you for mentioning ArtemissII, we followed the 10 days.
Great lecture! Perfect things!!
I loved this Science Live episode!
I learned a lot from this and will be using the information I gather, thank you for being very informative.
Excited to see some of the science fair presentations!
Dr. Billings has so many inventions!
I like the bit where r 51 was doing the MLB THING was cool. I like it.
Here from Palm desert CA
This video was very interesting! Cant wait for the next.
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.
science live is something I look forward to every week!
amazing video!!!!!!!!!!!!
The scholarship program sounds super exciting I cant wait to look more into it!
I loveeeeeee uuuuuuuuu science live
I ❤️ Science Live!!!
learning about the Ethernet was realy interesting! So glad theres no more collisions!
I’m really excited about the national program. My mom is going to look into it with our local public school.
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
You guys have made and are making many things possible, including new technologies and a great learning experience for people worldwide!
Thanks for always encouraging us to solve problems and never give up!
How many chips does the average computer have?
Another great science live! Loved it
Understanding the concept of ethernet is very complex but cool.
Wow, learning about Ethernet is so interesting!
I love this video 📸
i love science live!
I really liked learning about Ethernet .
Super cool lesson today cant wait for next week
It was quite interesting learning about the science behind ethernet! Can’t wait for the next live!
thank you so much for this lesson I can’t wait for next wensday!
Watching from New York! Love science lives
Thank you so much for all of this information I can’t wait for next wensday!!
I really enjoyed this science live!
Great episode, learning about the ethernet is cool! I am interested in Cyberschool.
Wow this helped me learn so many new things! I really love how interesting this is
Hi, I’m watching with my mom and dad.
Comment It is so interesting to learn how computers can talk
I think the bite at the end with r 51 was cool and funny.
i love the science fair!
Thanks Science Live for the amazing video! r51 is so funny I CANT.
I liked leaning the investment process
The protégé’s explanation of the Ethernet was perfect! Thank you!
Very cool and interesting! Cant wait for the next one.
I thought learning about collisions and the ethernet was so cool. Science live is awesome.
SCIENCE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
I love watching science live! I always learn so many new things!
This is super cool!!!! I am so excited for the help with paying from the schools! Thanks.
HAHAHAHAHA “John Cen??’
I use Ethernet for my computer and to see how and why it was created is cool.
Science Live was cool
I loved this live! I was very interested
i love learning with these videos!
So interesting! So many things that I didn´t know and now I do!
This is cool to see because I use Ethernet and now I know where It came from and why it was created is awesome.
Can you do the science fair online?
Yes! Submit your entry soon, the deadline for this year is coming right up: Acellus Science Fair
so glad we have science live!!!
It was a pleasure to watch Science Live as always!
this was a wonderful video!!!
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.
why are the wires twisted
Wow! So cool!
r51was interesting
Science live teachers are so smart
I liked the example of thinking about it like highway traffic, that made it make sense!
great video this week can’t wait for next
Hi everyone, love science live!
Science live is shaping our future!
wny are the wires twisted
I really liked this episode.
I love science live shaping everything for the future!
I liked the segment with Dr. Tobias
Another great episode! Thanks for making these!
Wow this was so cool to learn!
This was a good one
Ethernet has really changed the world of technology. It’s so crazy how far we’ve come with tech
Ethernet is really something. Im curious to know what the future will hold.
That’s funny that you and Ron Crane got in a argument but then I love that you guys became good friends!
It was interesting to learn about ethernets.
another wonderful Science Live! Can’t wait to tune in for the next!
I love science live!
i love the whole thing! cant wait to see the next one.
why do i need science live
The protégé’s are always my favorite part of science live.
Ethernet is so useful.
I loved this episode!
Thanks Dr. B this is pretty cool do you think maybe you can do one about the space shuttle?
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?
I thought the proteges were funny.
Wow! I learned so much!
Comment If one computer was on and the other was off would a message still send?
Such a great science live, cant wait for the next!
Dr. Billings has done so much that I didn’t know about. Thanks!!
In the episode, I learned that One of Ethernet flaw was the packet collisions; as a result , WideBand networking was invented.
The Ethernet is amazing!!! I use it on my PlayStation all the time!!
I thought the protégé were funny.
Amazing video, can’t wait for the next one!
That was so amazing.
It was really interesting learning more about ethernet cables.
hello from japan
Hello from Missouri!
Love these lives and learning new technology every week.
love learning all of these new things from these lives!
I love the way Roger and Peget are always cracking me up!
Networking is really cool Isaac Newton did good stuff with his networking of corespondents.
I love the new scholarship program! Thank you for making more affordable for people who may not be able to afford it 🙏