Editor’s Picks: August 9th 2021

<p>A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/08/07/the-promise-of-open-source-intelligence?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">open-source intelligence comes of age</a>, <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/08/07/why-regulators-should-treat-stablecoins-like-banks?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">why regulators should treat stablecoins like banks</a> (10:50) and how <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/predict-and-survive/21803319?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">predicting viral evolution may let vaccines be prepared in advance</a> (17:00).&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Please subscribe to <em>The Economist</em> for full access to print, digital and audio editions:</p><p><a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastoffer?utm_campaign=editors-picks&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/podcastoffer</a> </p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>