  The thermalized energy from the radioactive decays of 56Ni and 57Ni and their
daughter nuclides power the light curves of supernovae near maximum light. The
bolometric light curve gives us a fundamental understanding of the energy
evolution of a supernova explosion and the amount of radioactive nuclides
produced. In this review, I will discuss the bolometric evolution of the Type
IIp supernova SN1987A, and the general class of bolometric light curves of Type
Ia thermonuclear explosions.
