Some of the most spectacular astronomical images are of vast regions of gas and dust that currently form stars. The understanding of this process has advanced rapidly as new instrumentation from both ground-based and space-based telescopes has allowed astronomers to peer into the very sites when new solar systems are being born.

The Rice Science Café is a meeting in which for the price of a cup of coffee or tea, a glass of wine or beer, anyone can come explore and debate the latest ideas in science and technology. Patrick Hartigan, professor at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University, leads this chat.