Data Vis Dispatch, June 24: U.S. bombs Iran, energy reports, and rising temperatures

Welcome back to the 198th edition of Data Vis Dispatch! Every week, we’ll be publishing a collection of the best small and large data visualizations we find, especially from news organizations — to celebrate data journalism, data visualization, simple charts, elaborate maps, and their creators.

Recurring topics this week include developments in the ongoing Iran–Israel war, new reports on worldwide energy, and rising temperatures.

This weekend, the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites, and Iran responded with strikes on a U.S base in Qatar. We'll start with visualizations about the international relations and weapons systems involved:

Neue Zürcher Zeitung: Iran steht fast allein da – ein interaktiver Überblick über die wichtigsten Akteure im Nahen Osten [Iran stands almost alone - an interactive overview of the key players in the Middle East], June 17

Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-israel-targets-iranian-nuclear-sites/"><strong>Satellite Images Reveal Trump’s Dilemma Over Iran Nuclear Complex</strong></a>, June 20 <span class="badge">Effective visualization</span> — Bloomberg: **Satellite Images Reveal Trump’s Dilemma Over Iran Nuclear Complex**, June 20 Effective visualization

Reuters: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/IRAN-NUCLEAR/ISRAEL/dwvklgrgjpm/2025-06-17/iran-missile-arsenal-and-israel-defence-system/"><strong>Iran’s arsenal of missiles and Israel’s defence system</strong></a>, June 17 — Reuters: **Iran’s arsenal of missiles and Israel’s defence system**, June 17

The Economist: <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2025/06/18/how-do-americas-huge-bunker-busting-bombs-work"><strong>How do America’s huge bunker-busting bombs work?</strong></a>, June 18 — The Economist: **How do America’s huge bunker-busting bombs work?**, June 18

The Wall Street Journal: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/bunker-buster-bomb-iran-israel-conflict-fordow-1a65efca?mod=e2twg"><strong>This ‘Bunker Buster’ U.S. Bomb Could Cripple Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions</strong></a>, June 17 — The Wall Street Journal: **This ‘Bunker Buster’ U.S. Bomb Could Cripple Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions**, June 17

There was extensive coverage of U.S. strategic movements in the area, which culminated in "Operation Midnight Hammer":

Reuters: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/IRAN-NUCLEAR/ISRAEL/dwvklgrgjpm/2025-06-20/how-us-military-power-looms-over-israel-iran-conflict/"><strong>How US military power looms over the Israel-Iran conflict</strong></a>, June 20 — Reuters: **How US military power looms over the Israel-Iran conflict**, June 20

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/world/israel-iran-maps-tracking/pentagon-details-how-attack-was-carried-out?smid=url-share"><strong>The Pentagon detailed how the attack was carried out</strong></a>, June 22 — The New York Times: **The Pentagon detailed how the attack was carried out**, June 22

Diario Sur: <a href="https://www.diariosur.es/internacional/oriente-proximo/ataque-devastador-125-aviones-bombas-15000-kilos-20250622170013-ntrc.html"><strong>Un ataque 'devastador' con 125 aviones y bombas de 14.000 kilos</strong></a> [<em>A "devastating" attack with 125 aircraft and 14,000 kg bombs</em>], June 22 — Diario Sur: **Un ataque 'devastador' con 125 aviones y bombas de 14.000 kilos** [*A "devastating" attack with 125 aircraft and 14,000 kg bombs*], June 22

Meanwhile, Trump's cuts to funding for science and foreign aid stayed in the news — as did his declining approval ratings:

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/22/us/politics/usaid-foreign-aid-trump.html"><strong>What Remains of U.S.A.I.D.?</strong></a>, June 22 — The New York Times: **What Remains of U.S.A.I.D.?**, June 22

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/22/upshot/harvard-funding-cuts.html"><strong>Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard</strong></a>, June 22 — The New York Times: **Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard**, June 22

Alex Selby-Boothroyd: "These state-level approval ratings are a very cool new addition to our Trump Tracker […]," June 20 (Bluesky, Article)

These two maps visualized the importance of oil tanker routes in real and potential conflicts:

Financial Times: <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f452a247-7ff5-4337-9725-b36d976577cc"><strong>Military briefing: will Iran start a new ‘tanker war’?</strong></a>, June 23 — Financial Times: **Military briefing: will Iran start a new ‘tanker war’?**, June 23

Bloomberg: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-russia-war-with-nato-cost-world-trillions/"><strong>A Putin War With NATO Would Cost the World $1.5 Trillion</strong></a>, June 24 — Bloomberg: **A Putin War With NATO Would Cost the World $1.5 Trillion**, June 24

Moving from fossil fuels to clean energy with a selection of new charts from the think tank Ember:

Ember:<a href="https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/solar-electricity-every-hour-of-every-day-is-here-and-it-changes-everything/chapter-3-getting-close-to-24-365-solar-generation/"> <strong>Solar electricity every hour of every day is here and it changes everything</strong></a>, June 21 — Ember: **Solar electricity every hour of every day is here and it changes everything**, June 21

Ember: <a href="https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/eu-national-targets-show-gas-in-decline/recommendations/"><strong>EU national targets show gas in decline</strong></a>, June 17 — Ember: **EU national targets show gas in decline**, June 17

Ember: <a href="https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/grids-for-data-centres-ambitious-grid-planning-can-win-europes-ai-race/"><strong>Grids for data centres: ambitious grid planning can win Europe’s AI race</strong></a>, June 19 — Ember: **Grids for data centres: ambitious grid planning can win Europe’s AI race**, June 19

But progress with clean energy alone is not enough to stop rising temperatures — it looks like we are in for another record-breaking summer:

Die Zeit: <a href="https://www.zeit.de/wissen/umwelt/2025-06/klimageschichte-veraenderung-temperatur-entwicklung-daten"><strong>Scrollen Sie sich durch 485 Millionen Jahre Erdgeschichte</strong></a> [<em>Scroll through 485 million years of the earth's history</em>], June 20 — Die Zeit: **Scrollen Sie sich durch 485 Millionen Jahre Erdgeschichte** [*Scroll through 485 million years of the earth's history*], June 20

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/us/heat-wave-map-tracker.html"><strong>Tracking Dangerous Heat in the U.S.</strong></a>, June 23 — The New York Times: **Tracking Dangerous Heat in the U.S.**, June 23

World Weather Attribution: "The heat above 32°C in southeast England tomorrow will be 100 times more likely due to fossil fuel-driven warming […]," June 20 (Bluesky)

We managed to dig up two works on many people's favorite distraction, sports:

We Do Data: "[…] Pour les afficionados de NBA, cette viz en 3D de Vinicius Sueiro vous permet d’explorer le détail des matchs […]," [For NBA afficionados, this 3D viz by Vinicius Sueiro lets you explore the details of games], June 24 (Bluesky, Tool) Great interactivity

Der Spiegel: <a href="https://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/klub-wm-2025-so-hoch-ist-die-belastung-der-fussball-stars-a-2b3c14ed-0e7c-4f15-91d9-9a20e21cc467"><strong>So hoch ist die Belastung der Fußballstars</strong></a> [<em>This is how much stress the soccer stars are under</em>], June 21 — Der Spiegel: **So hoch ist die Belastung der Fußballstars** [*This is how much stress the soccer stars are under*], June 21

And to end this Data Vis Dispatch on a less serious note, please enjoy these works about German demography, the circular economy, and the movie Jaws:

Die Zeit: Sind Sie so verheiratet wie andere in Ihrem Alter? [Are you married like other people your age?], June 18

Marcel Pauly: "[…] how often each demographic group voted for different parties in the German federal election. This year, I’ve prepared the data as radar charts […]," June 23 (Bluesky, Article)

McKinsey & Company: <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/charts/closing-the-loop-with-circularity"><strong>Closing the loop with circularity</strong></a>, June 19 — McKinsey & Company: **Closing the loop with circularity**, June 19

The New York Times: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/18/upshot/jaws-at-50.html"><strong>How ‘Jaws’ Made a Template for the Modern Blockbuster</strong></a>, June 18 <span class="badge">Nice labels</span> — The New York Times: **How ‘Jaws’ Made a Template for the Modern Blockbuster**, June 18 Nice labels

What else we found interesting

Scientific American: <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-the-climate-warming-goal-of-1-5-degrees-c-isnt-a-lost-cause-even-if-we/"><strong>Why Climate Goals Aren’t a Lost Cause—Even If We Overshoot Them</strong></a>, June 17 — Scientific American: **Why Climate Goals Aren’t a Lost Cause—Even If We Overshoot Them**, June 17

The Straits Times: <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2025/06/why-handwriting-matters/index.html?shell"><strong>Why handwriting matters</strong></a>, June 18 — The Straits Times: **Why handwriting matters**, June 18

Chartography: <a href="https://www.chartography.net/p/the-supreme-ruleclarity"><strong>The Supreme Rule—Clarity</strong></a>, June 17 — Chartography: **The Supreme Rule—Clarity**, June 17

William Careri: "[…] An ever-growing library of personal and independent blogs and newsletters dedicated to data visualization," June 20 (Bluesky, Tool) Good resource

Applications are still open for…

A design principal at Clever Franke
A graphics/multimedia editor at The New York Times
A DC data reporter at The New York Times

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Data Vis Dispatch, June 24: U.S. bombs Iran, energy reports, and rising temperatures

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