Dr. Stephen (Steve) Shellman leverages expertise in statistical analysis and political conflict to serve as the chief scientist, president, and CEO of Strategic Analysis Enterprises (SAE). Outside of his responsibilities with SAE, Dr. Steve Shellman pursues a number of other interests, including astronomy.

2.  Dr. Stephen (Steve) Shellman leverages expertise in
statistical analysis and political conflict to serve as the
chief scientist, president, and CEO of Strategic
Analysis Enterprises (SAE). Outside of his responsibilities
with SAE, Dr. Steve Shellman pursues a number of
other interests, including astronomy.
According to an article in Astronomy Magazine,
scientists have discovered a new population of more
accurate “type Ia supernovae,” which are explosions
of dead stars that astronomers use to calculate the
distance to other galaxies and study the
acceleration of universal expansion.

3.  The new class of type Ia supernovae allow astronomers to
more accurately measure cosmic distances, as they are
located near young populations of bright stars.
In the article, Patrick Kelly from the University of California,
Berkeley explains that the light output from the recently
discovered class of type Ia supernovae is closely
correlated to how rapidly the supernovae fade, which
enables scientists to measure very precise distances to the
stars. The discovery will help astronomers more than
double the accuracy of their distance measurements.
Along with measuring cosmic distances, the new type Ia
supernovae will advance the study of dark energy. The
article notes that dark energy is believed to play a role in
the largely unexplained acceleration of cosmic
expansion.