A Whimper and a Bang: Finding Novel Ways to Study the Past and Future of the Universe

Our understanding of the universe around us continues to grow at an amazing pace.  Today we hear terminology such as “Dark Matter,” “Dark Energy,” and “Accelerating Universe” in relation to how we understand the past, present, and future of our universe.  However, while our these are important concepts, we really don’t know what they are or even precisely how they work.  For example, the existence of dark energy was discovered through a specific type of exploding star, or supernova.  But at present we aren’t even certain how those stars explode.  Because of the importance of understanding these supernovae, a lot of work in astronomical research is being dedicated to this problem.  But how can an astronomer at a small institution like Valpo contribute?  I discuss how I discovered the “road less traveled” and how I am using it to add new perspectives to these studies.