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
Read more about DrB »
About the Roger Billings Scholarship Program »



Wow that was really interesting!!!
The Ethernet is so interesting!
Many of the inventors are going to come up with revolutionary ideas worth and I’m really excited to see which one Dr. Billings invests in
look forward to this all the time! my fav part of a wednesday is this! i learn so much! cant wait to learn more about ethernet.
Wednesdays are the highlight of my week because I get to wach the new science lives!!
I find networking interesting; I’ve wanted to design a system that does it.
Best science live so far!
Wow the modern ethernet is quite fast, thank you for fixing this problem.
This is my favorite Science Live so far!
Loved this one! Looking forward to next time!
Cant wait for another great one!!!
That is awesome!!
Science live is super cool!
r51 always make me laugh
Ethernet is sooo coool! loved learning about it.
Awesome video love this
Wow!! So exciting, coming to comment weekly is always a nice highlight of the week!! Amazing stuff.
wow that’s amazing I ever seen it was Soo cool
Thats so cool that you will review inventions and maybe invest in them!
Learning about the Ethernet was interesting because I actually did not know anything about it. I never knew just how many things Dr. Billings actually helped in.
I heard about FIFO being used in restaurants with food.
Loved this weeks video!
loved this live keep it upp!!!! i look forward to these every Wednesday!
I loved learning about Ethernet!
this was a amazing live cant wait for more
I loved this so much! Hope to see more
THIS IS THE BEST EPISODE EVER!!!!!111111
wonderful Science Live. Can’t wait to tune in for the next.
I am always amazed by the inventions and learning how much you have to just keep working at something and just not give up to be successful.
That was really cool!
I love live lessons and learning about new and different things every week, the comments always add helpful insight and different perspectives that are interesting to read through.
love watching science live.
I’m so excited to watch next weeks science live.
It was interesting learning how to solve collision network problem.
Great video! Learning about Ethernet was great learning new things about it! Can’t wait for the next video!!
I love Science Live!
It’s really interesting on the history of Ethernet
Loved this episode!
Its always cool learning how scientists work through problems
the scholarship program seems cool
That’s a really good scholarship program!! I’m invested,
Thank you so much for another good episode of Science Live! I really enjoy watching!
i love drb
and there’s another amazing science live show, next time in going to try to go when you guys are live!
I like how I learn new things watching Science Live.
I love these videos!!!!
How do you think the future of networks sharing data will change with the use of AI?
Im excited for the new program. How many projects have you invested in. Im so greatful for you and you shaping our generation and teaching them the importance of science
great vid this week 🙂
This is soooo cool l’m so excited to see this 🥳
wow!!! this was a very good video!
David and Caleb are so funny.
The Ethernet is great!
I watched all of the NASA videos and saw the pictures of the moon! They were really cool!
I i’m thankful for this information as it helps me grow weekly!
This is so cool!
I liked the aliens!
In the 1970 scientists made a protocol called Ethernet and this actually allows computers to talk back and forth with each other. In order to that they need to send a packet which includes the computers MAC addresses, their MAC addresses, the kind of data, the actual data and lastly the FCS.
I can’t wait until the next video to learn about Ethernet
Love the live lesson today!
they are so funny.
I loved this live and am excited for the next one
The new scholarship program is very interesting.
This was so cool!
I did not know that Alexander Graham Bell invented the twisted pair cabling.
Very nice to learn about Ethernet
the lives are a great way to learn new stuff!
The Ethernet is very interesting, it’s amazing its impact on the development of our world and communities today.
Great science live today!! super interesting!!
Hello! More kids having the ability to homeschool will be amazing!
how did they get a spacecraft on top of a rocket?
I think that it’s cool you might invest in someones new inventions.
Good episode!!!
Ethernet is very cool
I will be waiting for the full story so please do not forget.
Amazing video can’t wait for next weeks
The vampire connector is intriguing, did it puncture the wire of the main cable? Neat video.
Ethernet is so fascinating!
We should have a science live where R51 hosts the entire episode of Science Live!
This is wonderful, I absolutely love these lives! Can’t wait for the next one!
Learning about the ethernet was so cool!
This was one of my favorite videos.
Science live always has such fascinating topics. I can’t wait for next week’s episode.
I learned a lot in this video and hope to learn much more in the next post
Well it is good that we solved it.
I thought the video was interesting
The future looks bright!
The pros and cons of ethernet versus wifi is a great study too
This is so awesome! I love science!
Live science is the best!
So interesting! I’m so excited to learn more in the next live!
loved this science live
Concerning Ethernet cables and computational services, I had recently discovered a way to play certain video games that require an online connection to be able to play with friends, even in places like a flying aircraft, where the internet may not be easily available. This simply requires hosting a private connection and connecting the other devices through cables, where the game can easily run offline.
I’d like to see where the internet is in 50years !
Loved this video!
Watching from Ohio.
looking forward to this one
another great science live!
this was so cool!
r51 is so funny.
The Widebrand’s Gigabit Breakthrough part was awesome one of the best ones of seen in a while! I would really love to see more of that stuff!
love the live
investing into something further whilst already having far more then invested. wonderful! guess we have to wait and see where this goes no?
cant wait for the next one!!
I love to see new things
It’s awesome to learn about Ethernet! My mom’s friend uses Ethernet connections at his job wiring home security systems
It’s come a long way
how to get stuff from the store?
Where did they get the name Ethernet?
The new scholarship program is really cool!
I’m a little bit late but it was spring break but when I watched this I noticed the scholarship program that is very nice!
this was a good viedeo but it was not my favorite have a great day god bless!.☝️😳
I learned how fascinating Ethernet is in this video. I can’t wait for next weeks live.
It was intersting to learn how you can transfer stuff from one computer to the other, and more detailed on how it would work and go wrong.
It was interesting to learn about the history of Ethernet
I love learning about this new subject! I’m ready to tune in next week.
This was a great video!!
Always so interesting
The new scholarship program is so interesting!!
I love science lives! How awesome and generous our school is!
how do you guys make the cabel and aslo who made it?
This Science Live was awesome, thank you!
Really loved the pictures from the Artemis 2 launch!
LOL Clash of the titans mr B and Ron Cane.
I LOVE SCIENCE LIVE!!! : )
The Ethernet is such an interesting and awesome topic, I look forward to hearing more problems and solutions bc I like a good puzzle (or something similar) :3
It was so cool learning about the history of the Ethernet, it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s incredible!
Amazing program!
Amazing way to help shape the future of science!
That is wonderful!
I love science live!!!
I’ll keep my eye out for R51 and try to find him for you!
I LOVE ACELLUS!!!!!!!!!
R-51 is so hilarious I love him!
Cool beans!
It is so amazing that the ethernet problems were solved so effectively
The ethernet thing was interesting!
Thanks for teaching about the Ethernet networking technology this week!
i love science live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Loved the video. Thank you.
He’s at a baseball game! Let’s get him!!!
Its cool to learn more about ethernet i used it everyday on my computer
I love how we solved it. that was great.
my favorite part of the week!
watching from illinois
I love the prodigies
I could never get bored of these science lives!!!
Great Live today! I have always been curious about how the ethernet works and what it does but I have never truly had the time to study and research it. Thank you Science live!
thats super cool
Loved this one!
hey from ky!
Learning about the Ethernet was really cool
This live is my favourite! Learning about Ethernet was so fascinating
how you guys solved it is crazy
I love these videos!!
Another great science live this week!
I’m interested in the new solarship program!
Science live is so cool!
Can’t wait for the next live! This one was so interesting!
It’s so cool to understand how the internet actually works!
Ethernet is so cool!
Cool learning about Ethernet!
R-51 you will be missed this week 🙁
Why did r 51 tried to escape from area 51 🤣🤣🤣
Science Live is always interesting. Very cool to learn something new each week.
you explained it very good
It is so cool to learn about collisions and ethernet!
Glad the protege’s are back also this live was one of my favorites very knowledegeable.
It’s interesting that NASA just launched their Artemis 2 SSS Rocket along with the Orion Spacecraft, which is on top of the Artemis 2 SSS Rocket, which is the beginning of a ten day mission where four astronauts are going to fly all the way out past the moon and back and then safely back to the earth.
The new scholarship program sounds amazing!
The rocket science thing is really cool
The best science live
R51 is very funny!
Another great Science Live. Very interesting.