Need to make a chart? Here are 24 options.

WHAT I LEARNED RECREATING ONE CHART USING 24 TOOLS is awesome - she took the same data and created the same scatter plot with all of them.

If that's not enough for you: have a look at http://dataviz.tools/ and their curated and categorized compilation.

Mapping with Google Sheets

Need an interactive web map? Try this: How to make awesome interactive map using Google Sheets in under 1 minute?

Using low-cost UAVs

Here's a nice example of using a low-cost UAV for a 'real' scientific application: An evaluation of the effectiveness of low-cost UAVs and structure from motion for geomorphic change detection (Cook, 2017, Geomorphology). The challenge here of course is that you need highly-accurate GCPs and those require a) access to the study site and b) sophisticated GPS surveying.

Mapbox Terra

Mapbox Terra is just cool - a 3D world map in your browser. More at Maps Mania. It would be nice to add a Search Tool and a way to save/share views.

States vs. Megaregions

Here is an interesting new paper: An Economic Geography of the United States: From Commutes to Megaregions (G.D. Nelson and A. Rae) where they mapped commutes between 2006 and 2010. The maps are great and you can read more about here: Five Maps That Improve Our View Of America’s Megaregions.

Now also available as an interactive map: The Megaregions of the US

This is related to the concept of megacities and associated megaregions.

Maps 3D

Now this is fun and cool: Maps 3D. Read more about it on Maps Mania. Here's an example: Mount Tom (MA) in 3D.

There is no 'hiatus'!