Abstract
Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimter Array (ALMA) is a large aperture-synthesis radio telescope constructed in northern Chile by international collaboration among east Asia, north America, and Europe. It observes spectral line emission/absorption of molecules and thermal emission of dust particles in various kinds of astronomical objects with much higher sensitivity and much higher angular resolution than conventional radio telescopes in the world. ALMA has started its early science operation from 2011, and chemical processes during star and planet formation are being explored in detail. Even in the early science operation, many surprising results are coming out. In this article, I would like to highlight some of them in particular emphasis on possible relation to molecular science.
