The past few decades have been characterized by the rapid development of astronomical polarimetry that has resulted from new polarimetric instrumentation, new techniques and new theories. Such advances have aided the exploitation of polarimetry in areas ranging from solar system bodies to exoplanets and allowed the development of completely new fields of polarimetric exploration such as cometary nuclei, transneptunian objects, protoplanetary and debris disks, and applications in astrobiology. In this talk, some important processes that produce polarization will be explained and a quick overview of the most recent advances in the area will be given.