... SUPERNOVAE . ... From time to time "guest stars" have appeared in the sky, at times shining bright enough to see during the daytime. ... In a desire to understand supernovae, astronomers seek them out, hoping to learn more about how the universe is seeded with the raw materials needed for new stars, planets, and ultimately life. In this special two-part edition of Astronomy Behind the Headlines we talk with Dr. Alex Filippenko about some current research and findings about supernovae. ...