Star formation is among the most complex processes studied by astronomers to date. It is characterised by a multi-scale interplay between gravity, turbulence, magnetic field, galactic shear as well as ionising radiation. Because of its complexity, the physical mechanisms that drive the star formation remain unclear. I will present a few recent advancements. First, I present results from our recent study in the Galactic Center region, where, because of its unique location, shear can drastically reduce the star formation efficiency. I will present our study on the fragmentation of the Cygnus X region, where we demonstrate how the introduction of novel methods can help us to pin down the dominant process at work. Finally, I argue that in spite of years of reach, there are still plenty of undiscovered mechanisms which would drive star formation, and will present one as an example.
