Molecules as probes of galactic and extragalactic star formation

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Abstract

In this article we review some of the most recent advances in the modelling and interpretation of molecular line emissions from Galactic and extragalctic environments, in particular from massive star forming regions. Hence We show that observations of extragalactic molecules can potentially be used to infer and disentangle the physical conditions in the gas, as it is already routinely done in our own Galaxy.