Astronomy
Supernovae: The Explosive Deaths of Stars
Quick fact
The energy released by a single supernova in a few seconds can be greater than the Sun will produce in its entire 10-billion-year lifetime.
Why this is interesting
Look up at the night sky—most stars seem eternal and calm. But some stars end their lives in a cataclysmic explosion so bright it can outshine an entire galaxy for weeks. What causes this cosmic firework?