We review current understanding of star formation, outlining an overall theoretical framework
and the observations that motivate it. A conception of star formation has emerged in which …

The radiation from stars and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) creates photodissociation regions
(PDRs) and X-ray-dominated regions (XDRs), where the chemistry or heating is dominated …

Cold dark clouds are nearby members of the densest and coldest phase in the Galactic
interstellar medium, and represent the most accessible sites where stars like our Sun are …

In the past twenty years, the reconnaissance of 12CO and 13CO emission in the Milky Way
by single-dish millimeter-wave telescopes has expanded our view and understanding of …

Hi-GAL, the Herschel infrared Galactic Plane Survey, is an Open Time Key Project of the
Herschel Space Observatory. It will make an unbiased photometric survey of the inner …

Star formation lies at the center of a web of processes that drive cosmic evolution:
generation of radiant energy, synthesis of elements, formation of planets, and development …

The future of cm and m-wave astronomy lies with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a
telescope under development by a consortium of 17 countries. The SKA will be 50 times …

We report the results of a 100 deg 2 survey of the Taurus molecular cloud region in 12 CO
and 13 CO J= 1\rightarrow 0. The image of the cloud in each velocity channel includes≃ …

In recent years, exciting developments have taken place in the identification of the role of
cosmic rays in star-forming environments. Observations from radio to infrared wavelengths …

We present new analytic theory and radiative transfer computations for the atomic-to-
molecular (H i-to-H 2) transitions and the buildup of atomic hydrogen (H i) gas columns in …