I discuss how the fundamental theory of strong interactions given by QCD can
be exploited to make accurate predictions for the solar fusion processes
involving few-nucleon systems and to provide a novel description of nuclear
matter as well as excitations near the chiral phase transition. The tool used
is effective field theory combined with the modern technique of renormalization
group flow. The notion of "BR scaling" is reinterpreted in terms of the vector
manifestation \`a la Harada and Yamawaki. It is argued that the vector
manifestation scenario predicts a QCD phase structure much richer than the
standard scenario discussed up to date in the literature.Comment: RevTex4, invited talk at the Symposium 30th Anniv. Nucl. Phys. Div.
of Korean Physical Society, Seoul, Korea, 24-25 Oct. 200
