Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio.

I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Given that they're absolutely everywhere these days,

it's hard to imagine that people

once thought lasers could never be made.

We look at how they've changed everything from manufacturing to medicine, and at the scientific

frontiers they're still shining light on.

And deep within dozens of water pollution monitoring centers in Poland, you'll find a bunch of clams.

Engineers have put them to a curiously good use.

First up, though.

On Sunday, after a marathon five-hour broadcast, Brazil's health regulator at last approved two coronavirus vaccines, one from Chinese pharma company Sinovac

and the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine from Britain.

Confere in Anvisa.

Confi in the vaccines that an visa certify.

And when they're at your alcance,

va and see vaccine.

The message from the regulator was direct.

Trust the vaccines that have been certified and get vaccinated when you can.

That's a rare bit of clarity from the government.

President Jair Bolsonaro has brushed off the pandemic and measures to control it from the start.

Brazil's COVID-19 death toll stands at more than

...