Data Vis Dispatch, February 24: U.S. tariffs, Olympic winners, and livers

The Winter Olympics officially ended on Sunday, and the medal winners were announced (and woven into an interactive scarf generator)! Looking back at these and other games, we see that winning often comes down to milliseconds and that money is an important factor: hosting costs often exceed revenue, and training and equipment are expensive. Therefore, sadly but unsurprisingly, athletes from low-income countries are not represented in certain disciplines.

Also on Sunday, a major earthquake hit the South China Sea. Another environmental condition being tracked is the heavy blizzard currently battering the East Coast of the United States. And finally, a map of current air traffic (in 3D!).

Let's take a look at the U.S. economy. Since 2020, grocery prices have continued to rise. Trump's reorganization of the U.S. budget resulted in significant cuts to the Department of Education. Congress has granted few of Trump's requests for further spending reductions in other U.S. agencies. And once again, U.S. tariffs have re-entered the global stage.

U.S. transatlantic affairs are currently in a period of transition and turmoil, with many countries slowly leaning towards China. Trump's new global tariffs could further impact international relations.

The EU is collectively relying more on renewable energy and leaning further away from fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Across the U.S., though, dozens of data centers are being planned, each with a private power plant on site as their energy source.

Livers are packed with high amounts of nutrients, making them a great food choice to stay fit. On the topic of staying fit, South Korea’s age structure has been shifting from youth-dominated to senior-dominated, with almost half of the population projected to be 65 years or older. In politics, aging also plays a role in when politicians decide to retire.

We end this week's Data Vis Dispatch with a topic that we believe shouldn't go unnoticed: the change in popularity of study programs over the years.