Li Hua-bai (Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Since 1980’s, astronomers realized that gravity, turbulence and magnetic fields may all take part in the process of star formation. But how exactly these three forces interact with each other and result in the observed, e.g., star formation rate, efficiency, and stellar mass distribution remains as one of the most controversial subjects in astronomy. I will review the development of star formation theories/observations with an emphasis on the recent paradigm change.
Picture Credit: ESA/Hubble