The Orion nebula is one of the most famous objects in the sky. It is visible with the naked eye as a hazy patch in Orion's sword; small telescopes show it well, but we now know that it is only part of a vast mass of gas and dust in which fresh stars are being born, Inside it are some remarkable objects whose nature is still uncertain. One of the astronomers who is carrying out research into these fascinating mysteries is Dr John Beckman, who talks to Patrick Moore about the latest news from this 'stellar birthplace'.