"Astrophysics Updates" is intended to serve the information needs of professional astronomers and postgraduate students about areas of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology that are rich and active research spheres. Observational methods and the latest results of astronomical research are presented as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations. The contributed commissioned articles are written by leading exponents in a format that will appeal to professional astronomers and astrophysicists who are interested in topics outside their own specific areas of research. This collection of timely reviews may also attract the interest of advanced amateur astronomers seeking scientifically rigorous coverage. "Astrophysics Updates" is intended to serve the information needs of professional astronomers and postgraduate students about areas of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology that are rich and active research spheres. Observational methods and the latest results of astronomical research are presented as well as their theoretical foundations and interrelations. The contributed commissioned articles are written by leading exponents in a format that will appeal to professional astronomers and astrophysicists who are interested in topics outside their own specific areas of research. This collection of timely reviews may also attract the interest of advanced amateur astronomers seeking scientifically rigorous coverage. Chemistry of Low Mass Substellar Objects 1(28) K. Lodders B. Fegley, Jr. Introduction 1(2) Classification Schemes 3(3) Effective Temperatures along the L and T Dwarf Sequence 6(1) The Case for Condensate Cloud Layers 7(2) Chemistry of Selected Elements 9(9) Kinetics 18(3) Summary: A Chemical Temperature Scale 21(8) Acknowledgements 24(1) References 24(5) Neutron Star Structure and Fundamental Physics 29(26) T.E. Strohmayer Introduction 29(4) Neutron Star Interiors: Fundamental Physics 33(1) An Overview of Recent Observational Advances 34(6) Constraints from Fast X-ray Timing 40(7) Constraints from High Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy 47(1) Future Prospects 48(7) Acknowledgements 49(1) References 50(5) Six Years of Chandra Observations of Supernova Remnants 55(60) M.C. Weisskopf J.P. Hughes Introduction 55(2) The Point Sources in Supernova Remnants 57(31) Basic View of the Debris and Gaseous Parts of Remnants 88(1) Studying Ejecta in Supernova Remnants with Chandra 89(14) Shock Properties 103(3) Acknowledgements 106(9) Acknowledgements 106(1) References 106(9) Galaxy Collisions - Dawn of a New Era 115(44) C. Struck Introduction: Some Past Highlights and Current Issues 115(7) Induced Star Formation and Winds 122(16) Environmental Effects 138(4) Interactions and Galaxy Evolution 142(5) Archaeology 147(1) Coming Attractions 148(2) Acknowledgements 150(9) References 150(9) Formation and Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes 159(36) F. Combes Introduction 159(2) BH Growth 161(9) Interpretation of the Mbh --- ? Relation 170(9) Stellar Cusps and Cores and Binary Black Holes 179(4) History of Accretion onto SMBH: X-ray Constraints 183(1) Conclusion 184(11) References 187(8) Quasars and Their Host Galaxies 195(18) M. Lacy Introduction 195(2) New Surveys for Quasars 197(1) Black Hole Masses and their Implications 197(1) Radio-loudness of Quasars 198(2) Clustering of Quasars 200(1) High-z Quasars and Reionization 200(1) Broad Absorption Line Quasars 201(1) Finding the Obscured Quasar Population 201(1) Quasar Host Qalaxy Studies 202(4) Open Questions 206(7) Acknowledgements 208(1) References 208(5) Applications of Gravitational Lensing in Cosmology 213(44) M. Bartelmann Introduction 213(2) Basic Principles of Gravitational Lensing 215(9) Structure and Contents of Galaxies 224(8) Galaxy Clusters 232(10) Large-scale Structures 242(6) Summary 248(9) References 250(7) The Oldest Stars 257(28) T.C. Beers Introduction 257(2) Low-Metallicity Stars 259(1) Ongoing Surveys for Metal-Poor Stars, and the Nature of the Halo Metallicity Distribution Function 260(5) Recent Results from High-Resolution Spectroscopic Follow-Up 265(10) Next Generation Surveys for Low-Metallicity Stars 275(10) References 279(6) Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxies 285(52) C.J. Lonsdale D. Farrah H.E. Smith Introduction 285(4) The Discovery of ULIRGs 289(2) The Physics of Local ULIRGs 291(17) The Emerging Picture of ULIRGs: Local Universe 308(3) ULIRGs at High Redshift 311(9) ULIRGs and Large-Scale Structure 320(3) Open Questions and New Directions 323(14) Acknowledgements 327(1) References 327(10) The Role of Galactic Winds in Galaxy Formation 337(26) C.L. Martin The Astrophysics of Galaxy Formation 337(2) Basic Feedback Physics 339(3) Measured Properties of Galactic Outflows 342(7) Constraints and Challenges for Dynamical Models 349(4) Cosmological Impact of Galactic Winds 353(6) Summary and Future Direction 359(1) Acknowledgements 360(1) References 360(3) Astronomy with Extremely Large Telescopes 363(28) F.G. Watson I.M. Hook M.M. Colless Introduction 363(3) Extremely Large Telescopes 366(6) Some Science Drivers for a 50m to 100m ELT 372(10) Science with ELTs up to 30m 382(3) Complementing Other Facilities 385(2) Conclusion 387(4) Acknowledgements 387(1) References 387(4) Index 391