Studies of Dense Cores with ALMA

Dense cores are the simplest star-forming sites that we know, but despite their simplicity, they still hold a number of mysteries that limit our understanding of how solar-type stars form. ALMA promises to revolutionize our knowledge of every stage in the life of a core, from the pre-stellar phase to the final disruption by the newly born star. This contribution presents a brief review of the evolution of dense cores and illustrates particular questions that will greatly benefit from the increase in resolution and sensitivity expected from ALMA.