visualcapitalist.com

Visualizing the Gravitational Pull of the Planets

Gravity is one of the basic forces in the universe. Every object out there exerts a gravitational influence on every other object, but to what degree?

The gravity of the sun keeps all the planets in orbit in our solar system. However, each planet, moon and asteroid have their own gravitational pull defined by their density, size, mass, and proximity to other celestial bodies.

Dr. James O’Donoghue, a Planetary Astronomer at JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) created an animation that simplifies this concept by animating the time it takes a ball to drop from 1,000 meters to the surface of each planet and the Earth’s moon, assuming no air resistance, to better visualize the gravitational pull of the planets.

Sink like a Stone or Float like a Feather

Now, if you were hypothetically landing your spacecraft on a strange planet, you would want to know your rate of descent. Would you float like a feather or sink like a stone?

It is a planet’s size, mass, and density that determines how strong its gravitational pull is, or, how quick or slow you will approach the surface.

 Mass (1024kg)Diameter (km)Density (kg/m3)Gravity (m/s2)Escape Velocity (km/s) Mercury0.334,8795,4273.74.3 Venus4.8712,1045,2438.910.4 Earth5.9712,7565,5149.811.2 Moon0.0733,4753,3401.62.4 Mars0.6426,7923,9333.75.0 Jupiter1,898142,9841,32623.159.5 Saturn568120,5366879.035.5 Uranus86.851,1181,2718.721.3 Neptune10249,5281,63811.023.5 Pluto0.01462,3702,0950.71.3

According to Dr. O’Donoghue, large planets have gravity comparable to smaller ones at the surface—for example, Uranus attracts the ball down slower than on Earth. This is because the relatively low average density of Uranus puts the actual surface of the planet far away from the majority of the planet’s mass in the core.

Similarly, Mars is almost double the mass of Mercury, but you can see the surface gravity is actually the same which demonstrates that Mercury is much denser than Mars.

Exploring the Outer Reaches: Gravity Assistance

Knowing the pull of each of the planets can help propel space flight to the furthest extents of the solar system. The “gravity assist” flyby technique can add or subtract momentum to increase or decrease the energy of a spacecraft’s orbit.

Generally it has been used in solar orbit, to increase a spacecraft’s velocity and propel it outward in the solar system, much farther away from the sun than its launch vehicle would have been capable of doing, as in the journey of NASA’s Voyager 2.





Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 flew by Jupiter for reconnaissance, and for a trajectory boost to Saturn. It then relied on a gravity assist from Saturn and then another from Uranus, propelling it to Neptune and beyond.

Despite the assistance, Voyager 2’s journey still took over 20 years to reach the edge of the solar system. The potential for using the power of gravity is so much more…

Tractor Beams, Shields, and Warp Drives…Oh My!

Imagine disabling an enemy starship with a gravity beam and deflecting an incoming photon torpedo with gravity shields. It would be incredible and a sci-fi dream come true.

However, technology is still 42 years from the fictional date in Star Trek when mankind built the first warp engine, harnessing the power of gravity and unlocking the universe for discovery. There is still time!

Currently, the ALPHA Experiment at CERN is investigating whether it is possible to create some form of anti-gravitational field. This research could create a gravitational conductor shield to counteract the forces of gravity and allow the creation of a warp drive.

By better understanding the forces that keep us grounded on our planets, the sooner we will be able to escape these forces and feel the gravitational pull of the planets for ourselves.

…to boldly go where no one has gone before!

The post Visualizing the Gravitational Pull of the Planets appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

Imagine creating a timeline of your country’s whole history stretching back to its inception.

It would be no small task, and simply weighing the relative importance of so many great people, technological achievements, and pivotal events would be a tiny miracle in itself.

While that seems like a challenge, imagine going a few steps further. Instead of a timeline for just one country, what about creating a graphical timeline showing the history of the entire world over a 4,000 year time period, all while having no access to computers or the internet?

An All-Encompassing Timeline?

Today’s infographic, created all the way back in 1931 by a man named John B. Sparks, maps the ebb and flow of global power going all the way back to 2,000 B.C. on one coherent timeline.

View a high resolution version of this graphic

Histomap, published by Rand McNally in 1931, is an ambitious attempt at fitting a mountain of historical information onto a five-foot-long poster. The poster cost $1 at the time, which would equal approximately $18 when accounting for inflation.

Although the distribution of power is not quantitatively defined on the x-axis, it does provide a rare example of looking at historic civilizations in relative terms. While the Roman Empire takes up a lot of real estate during its Golden Age, for example, we still get a decent look at what was happening in other parts of the world during that period.

The visualization is also effective at showing the ascent and decline of various competing states, nations, and empires. Did Sparks see world history as a zero-sum exercise; a collection of nations battling one another for control over scarce territory and resources?

Timeline Caveats

Crowning a world leader at certain points in history is relatively easy, but divvying up influence or power to everyone across 4,000 years requires some creativity, and likely some guesswork, as well. Some would argue that the lack of hard data makes it impossible to draw these types of conclusions (though there have been other more quantitative approaches.)

Another obvious criticism is that the measures of influence are skewed in favor of Western powers. China’s “seam”, for example, is suspiciously thin throughout the length of the timeline. Certainly, the creator’s biases and blind spots become more apparent in the information-abundant 21st century.

Lastly, Histomap refers to various cultural and racial groups using terms that may seem rather dated to today’s viewers.

The Legacy of Histomap

John Spark’s creation is an admirable attempt at making history more approachable and entertaining. Today, we have seemingly limitless access to information, but in the 1930s an all encompassing timeline of history would have been incredibly useful and groundbreaking. Indeed, the map’s publisher characterized the piece as a useful tool for examining the correlation between different empires during points in history.

Critiques aside, work like this paved the way for the production of modern data visualizations and charts that help people better understand the world around them today.

Without a map who would attempt to study geography? –John B. Sparks

This post was first published in 2017. We have since updated it, adding in new content for 2021.

The post Histomap: Visualizing the 4,000 Year History of Global Power appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

Can I share this graphic?
Yes. Visualizations are free to share and post in their original form across the web—even for publishers. Please link back to this page and attribute Visual Capitalist. When do I need a license?
Licenses are required for some commercial uses, translations, or layout modifications. You can even whitelabel our visualizations. Explore your options. Interested in this piece?
Click here to license this visualization.

▼ Use This Visualizationa.bg-showmore-plg-link:hover,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:active,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:focus{color:#0071bb;}

Companies Going Public in 2021: Visualizing Valuations

The beginning of the year has been a productive one for global markets, and companies going public in 2021 have benefited.

From much-hyped tech initial public offerings (IPOs) to food and healthcare services, many companies with already large followings have gone public this year. Some were supposed to go public in 2020 but got delayed due to the pandemic, and others saw the opportunity to take advantage of a strong current market.

This graphic measures 47 companies that have gone public just past the first half of 2021 (from January to July)— including IPOs, SPACs, and Direct Listings—as well as their subsequent valuations after listing.

Who’s Gone Public in 2021 So Far?

Historically, companies that wanted to go public employed one main method above others: the initial public offering (IPO).

But companies going public today readily choose from one of three different options, depending on market situations, associated costs, and shareholder preference:

• Initial Public Offering (IPO): A private company creates new shares which are underwritten by a financial organization and sold to the public.
• Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC): A separate company with no operations is created strictly to raise capital to acquire the company going public. SPACs are the fastest method of going public, and have become popular in recent years.
• Direct Listing: A private company enters a market with only existing, outstanding shares being traded and no new shares created. The cost is lower than that of an IPO, since no fees need to be paid for underwriting.

So far, the majority of companies going public in 2021 have chosen the IPO route, but some of the biggest valuations have resulted from direct listings.

Listing DateCompanyValuation ($B)Listing Type 08-Jan-21Clover Health$7.0SPAC 13-Jan-21Affirm$11.9IPO 13-Jan-21Billtrust$1.3SPAC 14-Jan-21Poshmark$3.0IPO 15-Jan-21Playtika$11.0IPO 21-Jan-21Hims and Hers Health$1.6SPAC 28-Jan-21Qualtrics$15.0IPO 09-Feb-21Metromile-SPAC 11-Feb-21Bumble$8.2IPO 26-Feb-21ChargePoint Holdings$0.45SPAC 03-Mar-21Oscar Health$7.9IPO 10-Mar-21Roblox$30.0Direct Listing 11-Mar-21Coupang$60.0IPO 23-Mar-21DigitalOcean$5.0IPO 25-Mar-21VIZIO$3.9IPO 26-Mar-21ThredUp$1.3IPO 31-Mar-21Coursera$4.3IPO 01-Apr-21Compass$8.0IPO 14-Apr-21Coinbase$86.0Direct Listing 15-Apr-21AppLovin$28.6IPO 21-Apr-21UiPath$35.0IPO 21-Apr-21DoubleVerify$4.2IPO 05-May-21The Honest Company$1.4IPO 07-May-21Lightning eMotors$0.82SPAC 07-May-21Blade Air Mobility$0.83SPAC 19-May-21Squarespace$7.4Direct Listing 19-May-21Procore$9.6IPO 19-May-21Oatly$10.0IPO 26-May-21ZipRecruiter$2.4IPO 26-May-21FIGS$4.4IPO 01-Jun-21SoFi$8.7SPAC 02-Jun-21BarkBox$1.6SPAC 08-Jun-21Marqueta$15.0IPO 10-Jun-21Monday.com$7.5IPO 16-Jun-21WalkMe$2.5IPO 22-Jun-21Sprinklr$3.7IPO 24-Jun-21Confluent$9.1IPO 29-Jun-21Clear$4.5IPO 30-Jun-21SentinelOne$10.0IPO 30-Jun-21LegalZoom$7.0IPO 30-Jun-21Didi Chuxing$73.0IPO 16-Jul-21Blend$4IPO 21-Jul-21Kaltura$1.24IPO 21-Jul-21DISCO$2.5IPO 21-Jul-21Couchbase$1.4IPO 23-Jul-21Vtex$3.5IPO 23-Jul-21Outbrain$1.1IPO

Though there are many well-known names in the list, one of the biggest through lines continues to be the importance of tech.

A majority of 2021’s newly public companies have been in tech, including multiple mobile apps, websites, and online services. The two biggest IPOs so far were South Korea’s Coupang, an online marketplace valued at $60 billion after going public, and China’s ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing, the year’s largest post-IPO valuation at $73 billion.

And there were many apps and services going public through other means as well. Gaming company Roblox went public through a direct listing, earning a valuation of $30 billion, and cryptocurrency platform Coinbase has earned the year’s largest valuation so far, with an $86 billion valuation following its direct listing.

Big Companies Going Public in Late 2021

As with every year, some of the biggest companies going public are lined up for the later half.

Tech will continue to be the talk of the markets. Payment processing firm Stripe is setting up to be the year’s biggest IPO with an estimated valuation of $95 billion, and now-notorious trading platform Robinhood is looking to go public with an estimated valuation of $12 billion.

But other big players are lined up to capture hot market sentiments as well.

Electric truck startup Rivian Automotive (backed by Amazon) is estimated to earn a public valuation around $70 billion, which would make it one of the world’s largest automakers by market cap. Likewise, online grocery delivery platform InstaCart, which saw a big upswing in traction due to the pandemic, is looking at an estimated valuation of at least $39 billion.

Of course, there’s always a chance that potential public listings and offerings fall through. Whether they get delayed due to weak market conditions or cancelled at the last minute, anything can happen when it comes to public markets.

This post will be periodically updated throughout the year.

The post Companies Going Public in 2021: Visualizing IPO Valuations appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

It’s no secret that tech giants have exploded in value over the last few years, but the scale can be hard to comprehend.

Through wide-scaling market penetration, smart diversification, and the transformation of products into services, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google have reached market capitalizations well above $1.5 trillion.

To help us better understand these staggering numbers, a recent study at Mackeeper took the market capitalization of multiple tech giants and compared them with the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of countries.

Editor’s note: While these numbers are interesting to compare, it’s worth noting that they represent different things. Market cap is the total value of shares outstanding in a publicly-traded company and gives an indication of total valuation, and GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced by a country in an entire year.

Companies vs. Countries: Tech Giants

Can I share this graphic?
Yes. Visualizations are free to share and post in their original form across the web—even for publishers. Please link back to this page and attribute Visual Capitalist. When do I need a license?
Licenses are required for some commercial uses, translations, or layout modifications. You can even whitelabel our visualizations. Explore your options. Interested in this piece?
Click here to license this visualization.

▼ Use This Visualizationa.bg-showmore-plg-link:hover,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:active,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:focus{color:#0071bb;}

If Apple’s market capitalization was equal to a country’s annual GDP, it might just be in the G7.

At a market cap of more than $2.1 trillion, Apple’s market capitalization is larger than 96% of country GDPs, a list that includes Italy, Brazil, Canada, and Russia.

In fact, only seven countries in the world have a higher GDP than Apple’s market cap.

Further back is Microsoft, which would be the 10th richest country in the world if market cap was equivalent to GDP.

With a market cap of more than $1.9 trillion, Microsoft’s value is larger than the GDP of global powerhouses Brazil, Canada, Russia, and South Korea.

Though all of the tech giants fared well during the COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps none have stood to benefit as much as Amazon.

With online retail and web services both in high demand, Amazon’s market cap has grown to $1.7 trillion, larger than 92% of country GDPs.

Other Companies “Bigger” Than Countries

Tech giants aren’t the only companies that would give countries a run for their money.

Country/CompanyNominal GDP (country) or Market Cap (company) United States of America$21,433 B China$14,343 B Japan$5,082 B Germany$3,861 B India$2,869 B United Kingdom$2,829 B France$2,716 B Apple$2,125 B Italy$2,004 B Microsoft$1,942 B Saudi Aramco$1,888 B Brazil$1,840 B Canada$1,736 B Russia$1700 B Amazon$1,688 B Alphabet$1,656 B South Korea$1,647 B Australia$1,397 B Spain$1,393 B Mexico$1,269 B Indonesia$1,119 B Facebook$939 B Netherlands$907 B Saudi Arabia$793 B Turkey$761 B Tencent$736 B Switzerland$703 B Poland$596 B Market cap data as of June 13, 2021

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned corporation Saudi Aramco also makes the list, boasting a market cap more than double the GDP of its home country.

China’s tech giant Tencent also has a market cap that towers over many country GDPs, such as those of Switzerland or Poland.

Until recently, Tencent was also ahead of fellow tech giant Facebook in market cap, but the social network has climbed ahead and almost reached $1 trillion in market capitalization.

Of course, the biggest caveat to consider with these comparisons is the difference between market cap and GDP numbers.

A company’s market cap is a proxy of its net worth in the eyes of public markets and changes constantly, while GDP measures the economic output of a country in a given year.

But companies directly and indirectly affect the economies of countries around the world. With international reach, wealth accumulation, and impact, it’s important to consider just how much wealth and power these companies have.

The post The World’s Tech Giants, Compared to the Size of Economies appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

The following content is sponsored by RYAH MedTech

When Big Data and Plant-Based Medical Treatments Collide

Plant-based medical treatments are gaining popularity, as consumers become increasingly more privy to their various health benefits.

By 2030, the global botanical and plant-derived drug market is expected to reach $37.8 billion, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5%.

Yet, while its future looks promising, the industry still some roadblocks to overcome. This graphic by RYAH MedTech looks at the key issues the plant-based medical industry is facing, and how big data can help solve them.

Key Industry Roadblocks

Plant-based treatments—such as medical cannabis—have come a long way in recent years. However, inconsistencies in regulation and dosage are making it hard for the industry to reach its full potential.

• Inconsistent regulation
  Access to medical cannabis is still not equal across America, but legalization is becoming increasingly more widespread. For instance, Kansas passed a bill earlier this year that will legalize medical cannabis, as soon as the legislation is passed through the Senate.
• Inconsistent dosage standards
  While consumers have expressed a desire for standardized dosing, there is no current jurisdiction to guide consumption. For example, studies have shown a lack of genetic consistency among different products that claim to use the same strain.
• Knowledge gap
  Many physicians see the value in plant-based treatments, but some still don’t feel comfortable talking to patients about it. A recent survey found that 50% of Michigan-based healthcare respondents—where medical cannabis has been legal since 2008—didn’t feel comfortable answering patient questions about medical cannabis.

In order to overcome these challenges, the industry needs to fill the knowledge gap and ultimately boost credibility.

For this to happen, plant-based treatments need to become more predictable and standardized. And that’s where big data and analytics can help.

Big Data’s Big Role in the Industry

Big data refers to large datasets that continually grow. These datasets are made up of information that is sourced from things like apps, devices, and online platforms. The need to leverage data in the plant-based medicine industry has resulted in an explosion of innovation.

RYAH MedTech collects massive amounts of patient data through devices such as smart inhalers, pens, and patches. These devices track, synthesize, and analyze patient information, which can help create a more personalized treatment plan tailored to the patient and their specific needs.

In addition to helping boost the patient’s experience, big data also has the potential to fill the knowledge gap within the plant-based medical industry and give physicians the information they need, which could boost its overall credibility.

Data is the Answer

Plant-based medical treatments have vast potential—so much so, that adjacent industries are taking measures to protect their market share.

But the industry needs to become more standardized before it can level up. This is why companies like RYAH MedTech are helping to close the gap in missing data, through a suite of IoT devices and software.

The post When Big Data and Plant-Based Medical Treatments Collide appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

Can I share this graphic?
Yes. Visualizations are free to share and post in their original form across the web—even for publishers. Please link back to this page and attribute Visual Capitalist.

When do I need a license?
Licenses are required for some commercial uses, translations, or layout modifications. You can even white label our visualizations. Explore your options.

Interested in this piece?
Click here to license this visualization.

▼ Use This Visualizationa.bg-showmore-plg-link:hover,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:active,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:focus{color:#0071bb;}

Breaking Down America’s Energy Consumption in 2020

The United States relies on a complex mix of energy sources to fuel the country’s various end-sectors’ energy consumption.

While this energy mix is still dominated by fossil fuels, there are signs of a steady shift to renewable energy over the past decade.

This radial Sankey diagram using data from the EIA (Energy Information Administration) breaks down U.S. energy consumption in 2020, showing us how much each sector relies on various energy sources.

The Balance of Energy Production and Consumption

In 2019 and now in 2020, America’s domestic energy production has actually been greater than its consumption—a development that hasn’t taken place since 1957.

Last year’s numbers were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing a 5% drop in energy production and a 7% drop in consumption compared to 2019. Total energy production and consumption for 2020 came in at 95.75 and 92.94 quads respectively.

The energy amounts are equalized and measured in quadrillion BTUs (British thermal units), also known as quads. A quad is a huge amount of energy, equivalent to 183 million barrels of petroleum or 36 million tonnes of coal.

So how is America’s overall energy production and consumption split between energy sources?

U.S. Energy Production and Consumption Share by Source Energy SourcePercentage of U.S. Energy ProductionPercentage of U.S. Energy Consumption Petroleum32%35% Natural Gas36%34% Renewable Energy12%12% Coal11%10% Nuclear9%9%

Source: IEA

America’s new margin of energy production over consumption has resulted in the country being a net total energy exporter again, providing some flexibility as the country continues its transition towards more sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Fossil Fuels Still Dominate U.S. Energy Consumption

While America’s mix of energy consumption is fairly diverse, 79% of domestic energy consumption still originates from fossil fuels. Petroleum powers over 90% of the transportation sector’s consumption, and natural gas and petroleum make up 74% of the industrial sector’s direct energy consumption.

There are signs of change as consumption of the dirtiest fossil fuel, coal, has declined more than 58% since its peak in 2005. Coinciding with this declining coal dependence, consumption from renewable energy has increased for six years straight, setting record highs again in 2020.

However, fossil fuels still make up 79% of U.S. energy consumption, with renewables and nuclear accounting for the remaining 21%. The table below looks at the share of specific renewable energy sources in 2020.

Distribution of Renewable Energy Sources Renewable Energy Source2020 Energy Consumption in QuadsShare of 2020 Renewable Energy Consumption Biomass4.5239% Wind3.0126% Hydroelectric2.5522% Solar1.2711% Geothermal0.232%

Source: IEA

The Nuclear Necessity for a Zero-Emission Energy Transition

It’s not all up to renewable energy sources to clean up America’s energy mix, as nuclear power will play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions. Technically not a renewable energy source due to uranium’s finite nature, nuclear energy is still a zero-emission energy that has provided around 20% of total annual U.S. electricity since 1990.

Support for nuclear power has been growing slowly, and last year was the first which saw nuclear electricity generation overtake coal. However, this might not last as three nuclear plants including New York’s Indian Point nuclear plant are set to be decommissioned in 2021, with a fourth plant scheduled for retirement in 2022.

It’s worth noting that while other countries might have a higher share of nuclear energy in their total electricity generation, the U.S. still has the largest nuclear generation capacity worldwide and has generated more nuclear electricity than any other country in the world.

Converting Energy to Electricity

The energy produced by nuclear power plants doesn’t go directly to its end-use sector, rather, 100% of nuclear energy in the U.S. is converted to electricity which is sold to consumers. Along with nuclear, most energy sources aside from petroleum are primarily converted to electricity.

Unfortunately, electricity conversion is a fairly inefficient process, with around 65% of the energy lost in the conversion, transmission, and distribution of electricity.

This necessary but wasteful step allows for the storage of energy in electrical form, ensuring that it can be distributed properly. Working towards more efficient methods of energy to electricity conversion is an often forgotten aspect of reducing wasted energy.

Despite the dip in 2020, both energy production and consumption in the U.S. are forecasted to continue rising. As Biden aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (from 2005 emission levels), U.S. energy consumption will inevitably continue to shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable and nuclear energy.

The post Visualizing the Flow of U.S. Energy Consumption appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

The following content is sponsored by Abaxx

A New Era of Commodity Trading

In today’s world of aggressive climate goals, awareness for the need to source commodities in a sustainable way has increased.

This infographic from Abaxx takes an introductory look at what commodity markets are, what drives revenue for commodity exchanges, and the need for a new set of contracts to deliver a more sustainable future.

The Evolution of Commodity Exchanges

From the simple gatherings of farmers to trade livestock to global contracts that trade the energy supplies of entire nations, commodity markets have evolved to deal with the changing demands of markets.

In the mid-19th century, commodity exchanges offered specialized contracts that resulted in less volume per exchange. The advent of the internet and digital platforms in the early 2000s increased the global reach of trading, increasing trading volumes.

While energy contracts dominate commodity exchanges, there are also metals and agricultural contracts that deliver the goods the world consumes. However, global economies take for granted the complex process that prices commodities, helping codify the terms of trade to facilitate a seemingly endless bounty of resources.

How Do Commodity Exchanges Work?

Exchanges facilitate discovery of the right price for commodities by providing a meeting place where buyers and sellers form a marketplace to trade and negotiate a price.

The price discovery process involves several market participants:

• The producers who supply the commodities
• The brokers who communicate with transport, shipping, and insurance to trade on behalf of clients
• The industrial end-users who are individuals or manufacturers that require or consume a commodity

The activities of these market participants generate a consensus on price and establishes a benchmark for a particular commodity. It is the future contracts that codify the terms of trades and prices, creating trust and minimizing risk between producers and end-users.

What is a Futures Contract?

Exchanges provide the market with contracts to facilitate trades and market data. It is these contracts that form the basis for the revenue of commodity exchanges.

In 2020, the four major commodity trading groups, ICE, CME, HKEX and SGX, generated $14 billion in revenue. While there are many types of contracts that cover the variety of commodities from metals to crops, typically only a handful of contracts account for the bulk of trading and revenue.

According to data compiled from the Futures Industry Association (FIA), in energy, metals and precious markets markets, the top 10 contracts account for 79.8%, 90.9% and 96% of the markets, respectively.

Markedly, this pattern makes contracts very valuable and a key driver of revenue for commodity exchanges. However, the commodity exchanges have yet to deliver specific contracts that can meet the demands for the specific materials and issues in the green energy transition.

Futures Contracts for the New Energy Era

The materials used to fuel economies are rapidly changing in order to create a more sustainable world. However, cleaner fuels such as LNG (liquified natural gas) do not have the history of established contracts and trust despite the rising demand.

Emerging markets in South Asia and India present the greatest opportunity for LNG adoption to provide clean burning fuel for a growing population.

The Abaxx Exchange is developing a LNG futures contract that will set the standard for this new market with new technology to better manage risks, execute trades, while embedding ESG concerns into global supply chains.

LNG is just the beginning—the world will need codified contracts to deliver the materials of the green energy revolution and Abaxx is leading the way.

The post The New Era of Commodity Trading appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

Can I share this graphic?
Yes. Visualizations are free to share and post in their original form across the web—even for publishers. Please link back to this page and attribute Visual Capitalist. When do I need a license?
Licenses are required for some commercial uses, translations, or layout modifications. You can even whitelabel our visualizations. Explore your options. Interested in this piece?
Click here to license this visualization.

▼ Use This Visualizationa.bg-showmore-plg-link:hover,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:active,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:focus{color:#0071bb;}

The Briefing

• Electricity from new solar photovoltaic (PV) plants and onshore wind farms is now cheaper than electricity from new coal-fired power plants
• The cost of electricity from solar PV plants has decreased by 90% since 2009

The Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy sources are at the center of the transition to a sustainable energy future and the fight against climate change.

Historically, renewables were expensive and lacked competitive pricing power relative to fossil fuels. However, this has changed notably over the last decade.

Renewables are the Cheapest Sources of New Electricity

Fossil fuel sources still account for the majority of global energy consumption, but renewables are not far off. The share of global electricity from renewables grew from 18% in 2009 to nearly 28% in 2020.

Renewable energy sources follow learning curves or Wright’s Law—they become cheaper by a constant percentage for every doubling of installed capacity. Therefore, the increasing adoption of clean energy has driven down the cost of electricity from new renewable power plants.

Energy SourceType2009 Cost ($/MWh)2020 Cost ($/MWh)% Change in Cost Solar PhotovoltaicRenewable$359$37-90% Onshore WindRenewable$135$40-70% Gas - Peaker PlantsNon-renewable$275$175-36% Gas - Combined Cycle PlantsNon-renewable$83$59-29% Solar thermal towerRenewable$168$141-16% CoalNon-renewable$111$112+1% GeothermalRenewable$76$80+5% NuclearNon-renewable$123$163+33%

Solar PV and onshore wind power plants have seen the most notable cost decreases over the last decade. Furthermore, the price of electricity from gas-powered plants has declined mainly as a result of falling gas prices since their peak in 2008.

By contrast, the price of electricity from coal has stayed roughly the same with a 1% increase. Moreover, nuclear-powered electricity has become 33% more expensive due to increased regulations and the lack of new reactors.

When will Renewable Energy Sources Take Over?

Given the rate at which the cost of renewable energy is falling, it’s only a matter of time before renewables become the primary source of our electricity.

Several countries have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and as a result, renewable energy is projected to account for more than half of the world’s electricity generation by 2050.

Where does this data come from?

Source: Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis Version 14.0, Our World in Data
Details: Figures represent the mean levelized cost of energy per megawatt-hour. Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy report did not include data for hydropower. Therefore, hydropower is excluded from this article.

The post Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources is Now Cheaper than Ever appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

Can I share this graphic?
Yes. Visualizations are free to share and post in their original form across the web—even for publishers. Please link back to this page and attribute Visual Capitalist.

When do I need a license?
Licenses are required for some commercial uses, translations, or layout modifications. You can even white label our visualizations. Explore your options.

Interested in this piece?
Click here to license this visualization.

▼ Use This Visualizationa.bg-showmore-plg-link:hover,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:active,a.bg-showmore-plg-link:focus{color:#0071bb;}

Ranked: The Richest Veterans in America

The U.S is home to 724 billionaires, many of whom have taken on immense risks in the financial world. 16 of these wealthy individuals have also taken on the risks that come with serving in the U.S. military.

These veteran billionaires are worth a collective $81.4 billion and have served in posts ranging from Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) to infantrymen in the Second World War. This visual, using data from Forbes, ranks the richest living American veterans.

This visual categorizes the individuals by either the military branch or war served in depending on what was applicable or determinable.

I Want You for the U.S. Army

According to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, there are around 18 million veterans in the U.S. Of these 18 million, less than 0.01% can claim the title of billionaire.

NameNet Worth (Billions, USD)Industry War / Unit Served Donald Bren$15.3Real Estate Marine Corps Edward Johnson III$10.3Finance & InvestmentsArmy Ralph Lauren$7.1Fashion & RetailArmy Richard Kinder$7.0EnergyVietnam War Charles Dolan & family$6.1Media & EntertainmentWWII, Airforce  Fred Smith$5.7Logistics Vietnam War, Marine Corps Charles B. Johnson$4.9Finance & Investments Army Ted Lerner & family$4.8Real Estate WWII Julian Robertson Jr.$4.5Finance & Investments Navy John Paul DeJoria$2.7Fashion & Retail Navy H. Ross Perot Jr.$2.7Real Estate Airforce Bob Parsons$2.2Technology Vietnam War, Marine Corps David H. Murdock$2.1Food & BeverageWWII S. Daniel Abraham$2.0Food & BeverageWWII, Army Charlie Munger$2.0Finance & InvestmentsWWII, Army Air Corps George Joseph$2.0Finance & InvestmentsWWII

Six of the above veteran billionaires served in WWII. They are some of the last surviving veterans of the historic war which was fought by 16 million Americans—today, only around 325,000 WWII veterans are still alive.

George Joseph, of Mercury Insurance Group, piloted a B17 Bomber plane in WWII, and completed around 50 missions. Warren Buffett’s business partner at Berkshire Hathaway, Charlie Munger, served in the Army Air Corps in the early 1940s.

Richard Kinder (Kinder Morgan Inc.), Fred Smith (FedEx), and H. Ross Perot Jr. (Hillwood Investment Properties) each served in the Vietnam war.

One notable figure, Ralph Lauren, whose name is synonymous with his clothing products, served in the Army branch for two years in the early 1960s.

Taking on Financial Risk

Billionaire wealth continues to grow in America. Most of these veteran billionaires saw their net worths increase from 2020 to 2021, as, typically, wealth begets wealth. Here’s a look at the changes in net worth of the top five richest veterans who experienced increases:

• Edward Johnson III: +$4.9 Billion
• Ralph Lauren: +$1.4 Billion
• Richard Kinder: +$1.8 Billion
• Charles Dolan & Family: +$1.5 Billion
• Fred Smith: +$3.0 Billion

The majority of these veteran billionaires are in the finance industry and some are tied to well-known companies, but they didn’t always have billions on hand to help them exponentially grow their fortunes.

David Murdock was a high school dropout, and after serving in WWII, had no money to his name. He took over a failing company called Dole, and eventually gained the moniker of ‘pineapple king’ after reviving the business.

S. Daniel Abraham, who was an infantryman in WWII, went on to found Thompson Medical. Their main product was Slimfast, which he later sold to Unilever for $2.3 billion in cash in the early 2000s.

Bob Parsons, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam, started out his professional career as a CPA. He later founded the enormous domain giant, Go Daddy. He has claimed that his time in the military helped him succeed in business.

Peace and Prosperity

We currently live in one of the most peaceful and prosperous times in history, with wars like WWII feeling to many like a story from the past — but for others these conflicts were defining moments for their generation.

While many veterans struggle to readjust to civilian life, on average pre-9/11 veterans have reported fewer difficulties compared to post-9/11 veterans, and some have even managed to reach the highest levels of financial success.

The post Ranked: The Richest Veterans in America appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

The following content is sponsored by Logiq

The History of Online Shopping

For many, it can be hard to remember the days when online shopping wasn’t an option. Yet, despite its prevalence now, online shopping is a relatively new phenomenon.

This graphic, presented by Logiq, outlines the brief history of online shopping and how it has evolved over the last few decades. We’ll also touch on how companies can get ahead in this rapidly evolving space and what it takes to remain competitive in today’s market.

Timeline: From the Late 70s to Present Day

According to BigCommerce, the first inklings of online shopping began in England, back in the late 1970s.

1970s: The Early Days

In 1979, the English inventor Michael Aldrich invented a system that allowed consumers to connect with businesses electronically. He did this by connecting a consumer’s TV to a retailer’s computer via a telephone line.

His invention was one of the first communication tools that allowed for interactive, mass communication—but it was costly, and it didn’t make sense financially for most businesses until the Internet became more widespread.

1980s: Bulletin Boards

By 1982, the world’s first eCommerce company launched. The Boston Computer Exchange (BCE) was an online marketplace for people to buy and sell used computers.

The launch of BCE predates the advent of the World Wide Web, and because of this, the company operated on a dial up bulletin board system.

1990s: The Big Dogs Begin to Emerge

By the mid-90s, the Internet had become an established hub for global communication and connection. In 1995, the most popular web browser at the time, Netscape, had around 10 million users worldwide.

That same year, Jeff Bezos launched Amazon, which at the time functioned as an online book marketplace. The company saw early signs of success—within 30 days of launching, it was shipping internationally to 45 different countries.

A few years later, an online payment system called Confinity—now known as PayPal—was born.

2000s: Monetization Goes Mainstream

When the Internet’s novelty started to wear off around the early 2000s, monetization methods and platforms started to become more sophisticated.

In 2000, Google introduced Google AdWords as an online advertising tool for businesses to promote their products. This ushered in the era of pay-per-click advertising.

Five years later, Amazon introduced its Prime membership package, which offered members perks like free rapid shipping and exclusive discounts. Prime users were (and still are) charged an annual membership fee.

2010s: That Escalated Quickly

By the 2010s, eCommerce rapidly started to pick up speed. In 2010, for the first time in online shopping history, U.S. online sales during Cyber Monday surpassed $1 billion.

Around the same time, the launch of new digital payment tools helped add fuel to the fire. For instance, the launch of Apple Pay in 2014 made it easy for consumers to pay for products directly from their iPhones.

Present day: The Future is Bright

Amidst the global pandemic, businesses were forced to close their brick-and-mortar stores, and lockdown restrictions drove consumers online. By May 2020, eCommerce sales had reached $82.5 billion, a 77% rise year-over-year.

And while the world has started to open up again, online shopping is expected to continue growing and expanding its market share—by 2023, online shopping is expected to make up 22% of total retail sales across the globe.

Marketplace Monopoly

While the future looks promising for online shopping, it’s important to note that historically, online sales haven’t been evenly distributed across the board. In fact, in 2020, just five retailers made up more than 50% of total online retail sales in America.

Vendor% of total U.S. retail eCommerce Sales (2020) Amazon39% Walmart5.8% eBay4.9% Apple3.5% The Home Depot2.1% Other (roughly 1.3 million companies)
44.7%

With the online world constantly evolving, it can be challenging for small to midsize businesses to keep up and remain competitive with the big players. That’s why companies like Logiq exist.

Logiq provides businesses with simplified eCommerce solutions, to help them level up their eCommerce game and stay ahead of the rapidly changing world of online shopping.

The post Timeline: Key Events in the History of Online Shopping appeared first on Visual Capitalist.

If you’re a regular visitor to Visual Capitalist, you know that we’re your home base for data-driven, visual storytelling that helps explain a complex world.

But did you know there’s a way to get even more out of Visual Capitalist, all while helping support the work we do?

New to VC+ in July 2021

VC+ is our members program that gives you exclusive access to extra visual content and insightful special features. It also gets you access to The Trendline, our new members-only graphic newsletter.

So, what is getting sent to VC+ members in the coming weeks?

“Ideas on Paper”

SPECIAL DISPATCH: A Closer Look at 6 Historic Data Visualizations

The charts and infographics we see today are the product of a rich history of experimentation in data visualization.

In this VC+ Special Dispatch, we look back at six historical visualizations for inspiration and to learn more about the context surrounding their creation.

Publishing date: July 7 (Get VC+ to access)

“Overhead Insights: Decoding the Earth’s Surface”

SPECIAL DISPATCH: Identifying Patterns From Space

From space, human influence on our planet is unmistakable.

For World Population Day, we’ll use satellite imagery to explain why estimates of city populations have so much variance.

This visual “tale of two cities” will examine boundaries, settlement patterns, and more.

Publishing date: July 14 (Get VC+ to access)

“VC’s High-Level Guide to Data Viz”

SPECIAL DISPATCH: Behind the Scenes on Content Creation

Visual Capitalist’s vision is to make the world’s information more accessible. This means that how we present data plays a big role in how it’s interpreted.

In this highly requested VC+ Special Dispatch, we’ll walk you through the seven steps we keep in mind when fusing art, data, and storytelling into our world-class visualizations.

We’ll also share tips from our talented team of designers, such as the variety of chart types in their toolkit.

Publishing date: July 21 (Get VC+ to access)

“The News in Charts: July 2021”

SPECIAL DISPATCH: Powerful Charts From News Stories of the Past Month

With the fast-paced news cycle, it can be quite difficult to keep track of all that’s going on.

In this recurring feature, we look back at some of the most newsworthy events of July 2021 across the economy, politics, and society—and provide key takeaways using succinct charts from various media outlets.

Publishing date: July 28 (Get VC+ to access)

The Trendline

PREMIUM NEWSLETTER: Our Weekly Newsletter for VC+ Members

Every week, VC+ members also get our premium graphic newsletter, The Trendline.

With The Trendline, we send you the best visual content, datasets, and insightful reports relating to business that our editors find each week.

Publishing Date: Every Sunday (Get VC+ to access)

More Visuals. More Insight. More Understanding.

Get access to these upcoming features by becoming a VC+ member.

For a limited time, get 25% off, which makes your VC+ membership the same price as a coffee each month:

Get 25% Off VC+ Today 

P.S. – We look forward to sending you even more great visuals and data!

The post What’s New on VC+ in July? appeared first on Visual Capitalist.