Throughout our existence, humans have gazed at the night sky and used its steadfast patterns to understand and improve life on Earth. This vast starscape has defined seasons, unlocked navigation, and inspired wonder and awe for millennia.

Today, as the practical uses of the night sky have been eclipsed by modern technology, we’re left to still marvel at this unknown landscape – to look farther and to answer deeper questions.

In this episode of Ohio Today radio, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Ryan Chornock leads us on an exploration of supernovae – the universe’s most spectacular events – showing how what humans have regarded as a vast, unchanging landscape is, in actuality, anything but.

Join us as we travel from backyard stargazing to the depths of interstellar space, where Chornock has potentially discovered a major missing piece of evidence relating to stars, supernovae, and the birth of black holes.

FEATURE PHOTO: The Milky Way shines bright above Athens’ Hocking River. Photo by Shripathi Hadigal