Why do scientists study supernova stars?

Supernova burns only for a short period of time, but it can tell scientists a lot about the universe.

One type of supernova has shown scientists that we live in an expanding universe that is growing at an increasing rate.

Scientists have also found that supernovae play a key role in the distribution of elements across the universe. When a star explodes, it ejects elements and debris into space. Many of the elements that we find here on Earth are created in the nuclei of stars. These elements travel further, forming new stars, planets, and everything else in the Universe.