A little over a year ago, astronomers began to see the universe with a new set of ' eyes '. The Instruments that made this possible are X-ray telescopes mounted aboard the Einstein Satellite. The data returned by the satellite are relevant to many of the important questions in astronomy and astrophysics. Last week the American Astronomical Society held a three-day symposium In Boston, when the new insights were discussed. John Maddox reports on its highlights.