  The XMM-Newton Extended Survey of the Taurus Molecular Cloud (XEST) is a
survey of the nearest large star-forming region, the Taurus Molecular Cloud
(TMC), making use of all instruments on board the XMM-Newton X-ray observatory.
The survey, presently still growing, has provided unprecedented spectroscopic
results from nearly every observed T Tauri star, and from ~50% of the studied
brown dwarfs and protostars. The survey includes the first coherent statistical
sample of high-resolution spectra of T Tauri stars, and is accompanied by an
U-band/ultraviolet imaging photometric survey of the TMC. XEST led to the
discovery of new, systematic X-ray features not possible before with smaller
samples, in particular the X-ray soft excess in classical T Tauri stars and the
Two-Absorber X-ray (TAX) spectra of jet-driving T Tauri stars. This paper
summarizes highlights from XEST and reviews the key role of this large project.
