I give a brief review of how X-rays from nearby galaxies are used as direct tracers of recent star formation. This leads to the conclusion that it is the most luminous point-like sources that are associated with star formation and that the majority of these are high-mass X-ray binaries. I then discuss a recent study that shows that ULXs are preferentially found in regions as young as or younger...

The nearby, low LB elliptical galaxy NGC821, known to host a central massive black hole but inactive at all wavelengths, has been observed with deep Chandra pointings, for a total exposure of 230 ksec, in order to search for nuclear emission and gas available for accretion. Within its optical image, 41 X-ray sources are detected, with spectral properties typical of low mass X-ray binaries (LMXB...