# March 2023, Plot Twist Level up your data viz work right here, with Plot Twist. Each month, get updates about fresh learning opportunities, be inspired by (and fork) community-created data viz, and check new features that'll get you from raw data to data viz that tells your story — faster than ever before.

${spacer(20)} ## Chart cell: accelerating the time from data to viz Observable's newest feature, Chart cell, intelligently creates charts based on the data you’ve selected, so you can explore data visually — without writing a line of code. [

](https://observablehq.com/blog/chart-cell?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_032920233) Chart cell allows you to incorporate charts into your data analysis workflow, easily iterate, and quickly uncover insights along the way. ${button("Learn more", "https://observablehq.com/blog/chart-cell?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)}

## Observable Plot: Noteworthy notebooks People love [Observable Plot](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/plot?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) for its code snippets that enable them to work (much) faster. Our JavaScript library for exploratory data viz is powerful and expressive, all while letting you create meaningful viz with as little as one line of code. ### Plot: Marimekko A Marimekko chart, or mosaic plot, visualizes a distribution along two dimensions. Mike Bostock's Marimekko notebook breaks down sales by market along the x-axis and segment along the y-axis. [

](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/plot-marimekko?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) ${button("Learn more", "https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/plot-marimekko?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### NYC scaffolding Zhi Keng He's notebook [What are Sidewalk Sheds?](https://observablehq.com/@betanyc/what-are-sidewalk-sheds?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) looks at data regarding sidewalk sheds (aka scaffolding) — why they may be up, for how long, and what the implications are for the city's image, pedestrians, wheelchair users, property owners, tenants, and more. [

](https://observablehq.com/@betanyc/what-are-sidewalk-sheds?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) The notebook combines several plots to show maps, histograms and other views of the collected data. ${button("Check it out", "https://observablehq.com/@betanyc/what-are-sidewalk-sheds?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### M2 Tide M2 Tide by Visionscarto uses data from the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Hamburg to plot the Moon-gravity component of Earth’s ocean tides by phase and by amplitude, showcasing how Plot’s **raster** and **contour** marks help make gorgeous maps. [

](https://observablehq.com/@visionscarto/m2-tide?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) ${button("Read more", "https://observablehq.com/@visionscarto/m2-tide?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### Autoplot matrix Autoplot matrix by Fil is a powerful way to visualize your dataset — a literal matrix of plots! The Plot code renders a symmetric grid where each row (and each column) represents a dimension of your dataset. Try it with the datasets in the dropdown, or use your own data. [

](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/autoplot-matrix?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) ${button("Try it out", "https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/autoplot-matrix?collection=@observablehq/using-plot&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)}

## Two new database integrations: Databricks and MongoDB Observable has expanded our data integration capabilities to include Databricks and MongoDB. [

](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/databases?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) These new integrations help you get from data to insight faster since you can now query your Databricks or MongoDB clusters directly from your Observable notebooks. [

](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/databases?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) To get started with Databricks or MongoDB and Observable, visit [our docs ](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/databases?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023)and learn more about connecting to databases and our self-hosted database proxy. ${button("Learn more", "https://observablehq.com/blog/databricks-mongodb?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)}

## Feature of the month: Safe Mode Check here each month for quick tips on how to work more efficiently in your Observable notebook.

Did you know that you can use Safe Mode to debug a notebook that isn't running properly? Safe Mode is a code-only view of your notebook, in which no cells are executed.

## Learn data viz from (and with) the Observable community Ask your questions on the [forum](https://talk.observablehq.com/?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023), and connect with other data viz creators on [Slack](https://join.slack.com/t/observable-community/shared_invite/zt-1icwex7uf-ovIAS0PcuJ~ZgBToSyUs8w?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) and [Mastodon](https://vis.social/@observablehq?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023). ${spacer(20)} Be inspired and learn from notebooks created by Observable community members. Check out the amazing notebooks Observable community members created this month:
- [Leaf Index Anomaly Map](https://observablehq.com/@climatelab/leaf-index-anomaly-map) by Harry Stevens, of _The Washington Post_ - [Fibonacci Lattices](https://observablehq.com/@meetamit/fibonacci-lattices) by Amit Sch - [Hello, Plotteus!](https://observablehq.com/@bartok32/hello-plotteus) by Bartosz Prusinowski - [Optimized Brushing](https://observablehq.com/@heman/brush) by Heman Robinson View more [featured creators](https://observablehq.com/featured-creators) and [trending notebooks](https://observablehq.com/trending). ${spacer(20)} ### Data Visualization Fundamentals and Best Practices Course Lectures from Observable's first Data Visualization Fundamentals and Best Practices course, led by Data Visualization Developer Robert Kosara, are [available for viewing,](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOHIJAFwtkEdEQ698jmgoEiC2FFtq-gys) along with [accompanying course materials](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/datavizcourse?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023). Learn when to use which chart types, effective methods for aggregating data, techniques for incorporating interactive elements into visualizations, and more. Stay tuned for more courses soon. ${button("Start learning", "https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/datavizcourse?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### Learning Observable (free) Are you a new(ish) to Observable? Our course ["Learning Observable"](https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/learning-observable-introduction?collection=@observablehq/intro-to-observable/&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) gives an intuitive intro to all knowledge levels. ${button("Start learning", "https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/learning-observable-introduction?collection=@observablehq/intro-to-observable/&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### Student Data Jam: April 10-20 The [Data Jam](https://observablehq.com/@educators-network/data-jam-sp23?utm_source=newsletter_03292023&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=edu_djsp23&collection=@educators-network/data-jam-spring-23) is a free, self-paced opportunity for students to practice creating data narratives for broad audiences. Teams of up to 4 can [register now](https://observablehq.com/@educators-network/data-jam-sp23-reg?utm_source=newsletter_03292023&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=edu_djsp23&collection=@educators-network/data-jam-spring-23) to grow their skills, connect with the community, and get started with Observable. We're giving away cash, merch, and more to the team that uses the data to explore "emerging" aspects of higher education. ${button("Sign up", "https://observablehq.com/@educators-network/data-jam-sp23-reg?utm_source=newsletter_03292023&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=edu_djsp23&collection=@educators-network/data-jam-spring-23", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### Observable transforms exploratory data analysis for data science students Check out our first [Data Educator Story](https://observablehq.com/blog/data-educators-bogden?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023). [

](https://observablehq.com/blog/data-educators-bogden?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023) Philip Bogden, Observable Ambassador and data science professor at Northeastern University, provides examples of how Observable promotes interactivity and novel methods of data exploration for data science students. ${button("Read", "https://observablehq.com/blog/data-educators-bogden?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)} ### Are you an educator using Observable? We need your help. This [3-minute survey](https://forms.gle/exhV2DGhMGsjqXph6) will help us improve our education community programs, learning opportunities, and more. ${button("Take the survey", "https://forms.gle/exhV2DGhMGsjqXph6", 140)} ${spacer(20)} ### Feature requests Do you have a feature request? We're listening, and improving the platform for everyone based on what **you** tell us. The product feedback that you give forms the basis of what we're building. Please submit your issues on our [community feedback repository](https://github.com/observablehq/feedback). ${spacer(20)} ### Practice with this data Need some data to hone your Plot skills? Our collection of [curated datasets](https://observablehq.com/collection/@observablehq/datasets?utm_medium=newsletter) is comprehensive and real, yet simple and friendly. Use it to learn, teach, and demo. ${button("Practice", "https://observablehq.com/collection/@observablehq/datasets?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)} ${spacer(20)}

## Missed last month's newsletter? ${button("Catch up", "https://observablehq.com/collection/@observablehq/newsletters/2?&utm_campaign=plot_twist_newsletter_03292023", 120)}

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