Data Vis Dispatch, March 24: Inequality, U.S. politics, and IVF

Social inequality has been a visible topic in the past week. While Cuba is facing an electricity crisis, resort areas appear to remain unaffected. Across Europe, people with disabilities face higher rates of housing challenges. And even though medical insurance is still considered a luxury in the United States, the expansion of Medicaid under President Obama thankfully enabled a larger percentage of the population to be insured.

Staying on the topic of U.S. politics, the country has experienced a slight decline in democracy recently. At the Federal Reserve meeting, an unusual number of dissenting votes were witnessed. The Trump administration's policies on nuclear power plant development have resulted in hundreds of staff losses. Additionally, Trump's tariffs have surprisingly barely affected the U.S. trade deficit, with imports from Asian countries increasing.

With a heatwave hitting the West Coast of the United States, snow levels have reached a historic low. Global warming has also fueled a tropical cyclone occurring over Australia, resulting in flash flooding. Additionally, the Thwaites Glacier is melting at an alarming rate, putting coastal cities and low-lying areas at risk if it were to break apart entirely. On a more positive note, air quality in Paris has improved, partly due to reduced car traffic.

Air tankers have been sent to the Middle East for refuelling of military aircraft. Tragically, a deadly collision occurred at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, when a plane collided with an emergency vehicle on the runway.

GPS signals have been jammed in the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the Iran war, making it difficult for ships to determine their own position and that of other vessels. Additionally, the war has seen other countries reluctantly being drawn in. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine seems to be monitored by Russian low-orbit satellites.

The map below compares land use in the U.K. with how much overseas land is used to produce its food. An alternative visualization of land shows a highly detailed model of New York City built using balsa wood.

As the war in the Middle East halted most oil and gas trade from the region, the impact on energy supplies is being felt globally, with energy prices surging. Energy prices also played a significant role in the latest announcements made by the U.K.'s central bank.