Data Vis Dispatch, August 3

The Olympics are still in full swing! Although the competition is fierce, there’s no one right way to count who’s in the lead — especially if you’re willing to get creative:

More Olympic records are sure to be broken (though a few are likely to stand the test of time):

These charts helped us slow down the 100-meter dash:

And these charted personal triumphs and national hopes:

Although athletes have mostly been spared, COVID is still spreading at the Games and around the world:

Vaccinations are highly effective (and everyone is covering it):

…but the shots only work if people are willing to get them:

The pandemic changed how we spent our time:

Though as relief measures end, there will be more shocks to come:

Political charts this week offered us the big picture — constitutional crisis in Tunisia, polarization in Switzerland, and the value of a vote in Germany:

But we also got the political nitty-gritty, with charts on the US infrastructure bill, Indian-Americans in politics, and one Indian-American in particular:

Maps this week focused on cities and infrastructure:

And charts explored crime, corruption, and transparency:

Finally, we saw health, happiness, and how the British are trying to get there:

But no week goes by without charts on the climate crisis:

And the floods and fires that come with it:

In particular, this week marked Earth Overshoot Day for 2021 — meaning that as of last Thursday, we’ve been living off resources borrowed from the future: