Physicists at Florida State University, with the help of The REsonator SOLenoid with Upscale Transmission (RESOLUT), are creating supernovas in an attempt to further their understanding of the universe. Their latest experiment had RESOLUT creating certain types of radioactive materials which are also present in Type 1a supernovas.

This type of supernova is what happens when a white dwarf (a type of star) hits critical mass and starts an explosive chain-reaction from its carbon fusion core. This event lasts about one second and leaves nothing in its wake.

Since Type 1a supernovas have a constant energy signature, the variations in its light signature is only changed due to its distance Earth. Thus, these experiments have already yielded us a method for measuring the distance from the dying star. Physicist Ingo Wiedenhover, explained this:

It is what astrophysicists call a "standard candle" for mapping out distances. At the same time they look at the observed redshift [describing a supernova's velocity away from Earth] and measure the expansion of the universe.

Not all Type 1a supernovae have exactly the same brightness. Our effort is to make a model of brightness differences. To do this we need to understand the physics of the explosions.