High-resolution observations of nearby galaxies allow us to probe the detailed physical processes at work in the interstellar medium. I review recent results for nearby galaxies with a focus on observations that probe the 100-pc scale of giant molecular clouds. I also discuss recent observations which point to the existence of extremely massive clouds in unusual galactic environments, as well as the evidence for an extremely cold dust component in nearby dwarf galaxies. I conclude with a discussion of the potential contributions from ALMA and Herschel to this field.
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