A firefly-filled summer, good PR for eggs, and a new Uber feature

Mon Jul 28 2025

Today’s episode dives into the science behind why this summer has been a particularly strong one for fireflies, the study showing that eggs don’t deserve the bad rap they got in the 1960s, a new Uber feature, and the triumphant return of Venus Williams to the tennis court. This episode was hosted and produced by Case Kenny. Research and writing by Natalie Stone, Ally Mauch, Rebekah Brandes, and Stephanie Friedman. Music by Ryan Peitzke. For more good news, tune in to Nice News Today on Mondays and Fridays and subscribe to the daily Nice News newsletter at NiceNews.com.

Summary

Summary of "Nice News Today" Podcast Episode: A Firefly-Filled Summer, Good PR for Eggs, and a New Uber Feature

Release Date: July 28, 2025
Host: Case Kenny

1. A Luminescent Summer: The Resurgence of Fireflies

In this episode, Case Kenny opens with an enchanting discussion about the increased sightings of fireflies across several U.S. regions, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and New York. [00:00] He notes that this vibrant summer phenomenon isn't merely a product of heightened human appreciation for nature but is rooted in favorable environmental conditions.

Scientific Insights: According to Popular Science, the abundance of fireflies this year can be attributed to particularly rainy springs. The moist soil provides ideal conditions for fireflies to lay their eggs, contributing to their population surge. Kenny emphasizes the ecological significance of this resurgence, especially given the recent declines in firefly populations due to challenges like light pollution and climate change.

Conservation Efforts: Case underscores the importance of protecting these bioluminescent insects despite their current boom. He offers practical advice for listeners with yards: reduce outdoor light pollution, minimize pesticide use, and cultivate habitats rich in native plants, tall grasses, and leaf piles to support firefly populations.

Fun Fact: To wrap up this segment, Kenny shares an intriguing tidbit: "Fireflies aren't flies at all. They're actually a type of beetle." [04:50]

2. Eggs Get a Break: Rethinking Dietary Cholesterol

Transitioning to nutrition, Kenny challenges long-held beliefs about egg consumption. Historically, eggs have been maligned for their high cholesterol content, with 20th-century research linking them to increased risk of heart disease. However, a groundbreaking study from Australia is redefining this narrative.

The Study: The research differentiates between dietary cholesterol (found in eggs) and LDL cholesterol, which is associated with cardiovascular risks. The findings reveal that consuming two eggs daily within a high-cholesterol, low-saturated fat diet actually lowers LDL levels, potentially diminishing heart disease risk. [10:20]

Expert Insight: John Buckley, the study's lead researcher, shares his perspective: "The advice to limit or avoid eggs is outdated, so there's no need to worry about your morning scramble." [11:05] Demonstrating his wit, Buckley adds, "You could say we've delivered hard boiled evidence in defense of the humble egg." [11:10]

3. Korea House: A Heartwarming Community Initiative

Shifting the focus to community spirit, Kenny spotlights Korea House, an Austin, Texas restaurant making headlines for its philanthropic efforts. Established in September 2023, Korea House celebrates every first Wednesday of the month by offering free meals to all patrons who visit. [15:00]

Operational Insights: Since initiating this generous practice, the restaurant has served approximately 15,000 meals, as reported by KUT News. Co-owners Pocha Kim and Vivian Newton have invested their personal savings to sustain this initiative, relying partially on ingredient donations from a produce supplier.

Commitment to Continuity: Vivian Newton expresses unwavering dedication: "If we have to close down, we'll close down. But until then we're just going to keep on going." [16:45] This steadfast commitment ensures that Korea House remains a beacon of hope and generosity in the community.

4. Revolutionary Developments in Artificial Blood

In a segment blending innovation and humanitarian aid, Kenny discusses the pioneering work of Dr. Alan Docter from The University of Maryland. Dr. Docter's development of artificial blood in a powder form promises to revolutionize emergency medicine. [20:30]

Potential Impact: This artificial blood is shelf-stable for years and easily transportable, enabling EMTs and medical professionals to administer transfusions directly at accident scenes—a feat currently hampered by the need for refrigerated donor blood. The technology holds particular promise for remote areas, disaster zones, and military applications.

Funding and Future Prospects: With the U.S. Department of Defense investing over $58 million into this project, Dr. Docter is optimistic about its future: "If it's successful in human clinical trials, it could change the way we could take care of people who are bleeding outside of hospitals." [21:10]

5. Enhancing Safety with Uber’s New Feature

Addressing transportation safety, Kenny introduces Uber's latest initiative aimed at making ride-sharing more secure for women. Drawing inspiration from Lyft, Uber is piloting the Women Preferences feature in select U.S. cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. [25:00]

Feature Details: The Women Preferences option allows female riders to request female drivers and women drivers to request rides with female passengers. There are three methods to utilize this feature:

Advance Reservation: Pre-book a trip with a female driver.
On-Demand Selection: Choose the option for a female driver when requesting an immediate ride.
General Preference Setting: Configure app settings to prioritize female drivers, increasing the likelihood of a match but not guaranteeing it.

Rollout Plans: Case notes that the pilot program will launch in the aforementioned cities within the next few weeks, with potential expansion based on its success.

6. Vidiots: Preserving the Art of Movie Rentals

Nostalgia takes center stage as Kenny reminisces about the golden age of video rental stores, highlighting Vidiots, a Los Angeles-based video store that has withstood the test of time. Founded in 1985 by Patty Pollinger and Kathy Talber, Vidiots survived the wave of closures that saw giants like Blockbuster shutter their last stores by 2014. [28:30]

Transformation and Resilience: After transitioning to a nonprofit in the mid-2010s and temporarily closing between 2017 and 2023, Vidiots made a triumphant return at the Eagle Theater. According to the New York Times, the store now processes around a thousand titles weekly.

Community Hub: Beyond rentals, Vidiots serves as a movie theater and a communal gathering space. Pricing remains affordable, reminiscent of the past: movie rentals cost $2 for members and $3 for non-members, with DVD or Blu-ray players available for $5 for five days. [30:15]

7. Venus Williams's Inspiring Comeback to Tennis

Concluding the episode on an uplifting note, Kenny celebrates the remarkable return of tennis legend Venus Williams. At 45, Venus made a stunning comeback last week, securing a victory at the D.C. Open against Peyton Stearns and becoming the second oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in professional tennis. [35:00]

A Historic Victory: Venus's triumph is only surpassed by Martina Navratilova, who won a match at 47 in 2004. Prior to this tournament, Venus hadn't competed in an official singles match since March of the previous year, making her victory all the more poignant.

Personal Reflections: During a post-match news conference, Venus shared her emotions: "It was very special to be back on the court after some time away." [36:20] She also expressed her desire to have her sister, Serena Williams, by her side: "The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like we always did everything together. So of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I'll make sure she'll let y'all know." [36:45]

Future Hopes: Kenny ends this segment by expressing hope for a future professional reunion of the Williams sisters, adding a heartwarming touch to the episode's conclusion.

Closing Thoughts

Case Kenny wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to follow "Nice News Today" on platforms like Apple, Spotify, and YouTube Music. He invites them to share the episode with friends and subscribe to the free daily newsletter at nicenews.com for more uplifting stories. [40:00]

He leaves listeners with an empowering message: "Keep spreading your light. And remember, there's more than enough good out there to go around. Have a great day."

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

John Buckley on egg research: "The advice to limit or avoid eggs is outdated, so there's no need to worry about your morning scramble." [11:05]
John Buckley on egg study humor: "You could say we've delivered hard boiled evidence in defense of the humble egg." [11:10]
Vivian Newton on Korea House's commitment: "If we have to close down, we'll close down. But until then we're just going to keep on going." [16:45]
Dr. Alan Docter on artificial blood: "If it's successful in human clinical trials, it could change the way we could take care of people who are bleeding outside of hospitals." [21:10]
Venus Williams on missing her sister Serena: "The only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like we always did everything together. So of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I'll make sure she'll let y'all know." [36:45]

This episode of "Nice News Today" encapsulates a range of inspiring stories, from ecological successes and scientific breakthroughs to community initiatives and personal triumphs. Hosted engagingly by Case Kenny, the podcast serves as a beacon of positivity, reminding listeners of the good flourishing in various facets of our world.

Transcript

Case Kenney (0:00)

Good morning. Welcome to Nice news today, your 10 minute roundup of the week's most positive News. It is July 28, and today I'm diving into the science behind why this summer has been a particularly strong one for fireflies, or lightning bugs, as they call them in the south and Midwest. I'll also dish on the study showing that eggs don't deserve the bad rap they got in the 60s, the new feature coming to Uber, and Venus Williams's triumphant return to tennis. I'm your host, Case Kenney. Let's uncover some good together have you noticed more fireflies flitting about at dusk this summer? If so, it's not just because you're feeling particularly attuned to nature lately, though that may be so. The bioluminescent bugs are actually having a particularly strong year in various parts of the U.S. including Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and New York. Popular Science notes that one reason for this may be that these places had particularly rainy springs, and wet weather provides moist soil for fireflies to lay their eggs. Beyond imbuing a sense of wonder in kids and adults alike, the increased firefly sightings have been a source of hope for scientists and and citizen scientists as the insects have recently been in decline due to light pollution and climate change, among other factors. So even with this summer's boom, it's important that we're looking out for lightning bugs. Those with yards can do that by reducing light pollution in outdoor areas at night, reducing pesticide use and providing habitats for fireflies through native plants, tall grasses and leaf piles. I'll leave you with a fun fact that I learned about the bugs today. Fireflies aren't flies at all. They're actually a type of beetle. If you've ever heard that you should limit your egg intake due to cholesterol concerns, you'll want to listen to this story. Eggs are high in cholesterol, a finding that led some 20th century researchers to suggest that they could raise individuals cholesterol and contribute to heart disease. But a new study out of Australia is flipping the script and giving eggs some good pr. Researchers narrowed in on the difference between dietary cholesterol, the kind eggs contain, and LDL cholesterol, the kind that can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. They found that eating two eggs a day as part of a high cholesterol, low saturated fat diet actually lowered LDL levels, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease. John Buckley, the lead researcher, explained that the advice to limit or avoid eggs is outdated, so there's no need to worry about your morning scramble. He also has a sense of humor about his work, cracking the following joke in the study's press release. You could say we've delivered hard boiled evidence in defense of the humble egg. Keeping on the topic of food, I'm going to tell you about Korea House, an Austin, Texas eatery that fore profits on the first Wednesday of the month by offering free meals to everyone who walks through the door. The Korean restaurant started hosting these free days in September 2023 and has since given out around 15,000 meals, according to local radio station KUT News. It's a true labor of love, with staff members volunteering their time and staying on until everyone in line has gotten to eat. The Though one produce supplier donates some ingredients, co owners Pocha Kim and Vivian Newton have been dipping into their own savings to cover the cost of feeding community members. Still, they have no plans to stop doing it so long as the restaurant is running, newton said. Quote, if we have to close down, we'll close down. But until then we're just going to keep on going. Just add water and wait one minute. No, that's not a recipe for instant ramen. It's for Ready to use. Blood development is being led by The University of Maryland's Dr. Alan Docter, a scientist who says his artificial blood could transform emergency medicine, particularly in situations where real blood can't be supplied. Dr. His last name really is Dr. Told NPR that the artificial blood stored in powder form is shaped shelf, stable for years and can be easily transported. Ideally, it would allow EMTs and other medical professionals to give a blood transfusion on the scene of an accident, something that's typically not possible since donor blood has to be refrigerated. The invention could be critical to saving lives in remote and disaster settings, as well as aiding wounded soldiers. In fact, the Defense Department is investing more than $58 million to help fund fund the development. Doctors said that if it's successful in human clinical trials, it could, quote, change the way we could take care of people who are bleeding outside of hospitals. Next up, Uber is taking a cue from its competitor Lyft and testing out a new feature in the US that will hopefully make ride sharing safer for women drivers and passengers. The service, called Women Preferences, allows women to request female drivers and allows women drivers to request trips with female passengers. There are three ways for riders to use the feature once it launches. One, you can reserve a ride in advance to pre book a trip with a woman driver, two, you can select the option for women drivers when requesting a trip on demand and three, you can set a general preference for women drivers in your app settings, which isn't guaranteed but will give you a higher likelihood of being matched with a woman driver. Uber said the pilot program will roll out in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit within the next few weeks and hopefully will expand from there. This is a fun story for anyone who yearns for the Friday nights spent picking out a VHS or DVD at the local video shop. Patty Pollinger and Kathy Talber opened their Los Angeles video store Vidiots in 1985, the same year that Blockbuster launched. But Blockbuster shut down its last corporate store in 2014 and Vidiots is still around. Videots became a non profit in the mid 2010s to help it stay open, though it did have to close from 2017 to 2023. Thankfully, it came back with vigor in a new location, the Eagle Theater, and now moves about a thousand titles every week, per a recent article in the New York Times. The space now also serves as a movie theater and a community gathering place, and its prices hearken back to the good old days. Mov rentals are $2 a pop for members and $3 for non members, and those without DVD or Blu Ray players can rent one for $5 for five days. Today's inspiring human is one who you probably already know a bit about Venus Williams. The tennis star's story of grit and resilience has been told many times on these small and big screens, but right now I'm focusing on one of her recent wins. Last week, the 45 year old returned to her sport after more than a year off, and in true Williams fashion, she won. Not only that, but her victory over Peyton Stearns at the D.C. open made her the second oldest woman to ever win a tour level singles match in pro tennis. The only person who has ever beat her is Martina Novratylova, who won in 2004 at the age of 47. Before this tournament, Williams hadn't played an official singles match since March of last year. During a news conference ahead of her win, she told reporters it was very special to be back on the court after some time away. But she added that it would be more special if her sister Serena was by her side. Here's her quote on the subject. I keep saying to my team the only thing that would make this better is if she was here. Like we always did everything together. So of course I miss her. But if she comes back, I'll make sure she'll let y' all know. End quote. We can only hope to see the Williams sisters play together professionally again. That's it for today's episode. If you loved these stories, please consider giving us a follow on Apple, Spotify and YouTube Music and sharing this episode with a friend. If you want more good news, visit nicenews.com to sign up for our free daily newsletter. And until next time, keep spreading your light. And remember, there's more than enough good out there to go around. Have a great day.