Beta Cephei and related stars

Summary The most striking aspect of the Cep and 53 Per stars is their complexity. Whereas in Cepheid-type variables, a dominant mechanism excites a dominant mode (or two at most) of a dominant kind of pulsation, in Cep stars, a number of mechanisms and processes are at work. Still there is hope that the mystery will soon be unraveled by the careful application of a combination of observational and theoretical techniques. These same techniques will provide a better understanding of B stars in general: their interior and atmosphere, mass loss and coronal heating.