ATXplained

Mose Buchele takes a walk with our question-asker to learn the science behind this fall’s colorful trees. The post Why Is Austin’s Foliage So Amazing This Fall? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

What are the experiences that bind Austinites together? Send us your answer at ATXplained.org or call/text to 737-443-9466 or email us at austin@kut.org The post TELL US: When Can You Call Yourself A “Real” Austinite? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Basements are common in other parts of the country. So why not here? Is it the rock? The flooding? Nope. The post Why Are There So Few Homes With Basements Around Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

For decades, Aqua Fest was an annual celebration in Austin. Then, it stopped. One ATXplained listener wanted to know why. The post What Ever Happened To Austin’s Long-Running Aqua Fest? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Join us on Friday, September 21 at 7 p.m. at the Texas Union Theater on the UT campus. Details and tickets (they’re free) are right here. The post We’re Doing A Live Show! Come Be A Part Of It! appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

An Austin creek is home to a wild population of platyfish, known worldwide as colorful, affordable pet-store species. But they jumped the tank as early as 2004. The post How Did These Tropical Fish Wind Up Thriving In Austin’s Waller Creek? 🐠 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

You can canoe, kayak, paddleboard — but don’t get in the water. Why not? MORE HERE The post Why Are You Not Allowed To Swim In Lady Bird Lake? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

It’s a question that’s vexed people for years. But were there ever any bees? The post Is It Bee Cave Or Bee Caves? And Where Are The Bees? 🐝 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

At the end of Colorado Street on the north bank of Lady Bird Lake stands a six-story brick tower. So what’s it there for? The post What’s The History Behind That Bell Tower On Cesar Chavez? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Water tower? Government conspiracy? KUT’s Joseph Leahy investigates. The post What’s That Weird-Looking Tower Up On 51st Street? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

RM? FM? Do they even go to farms or ranches? You can read more here. The post What’s The Difference Between Ranch-To-Market And Farm-To-Market Roads? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Out by the Austin airport, there’s a tiny cemetery in a huge construction site. Who’s buried there? What will become of it? See more here. The post What’s The Story With This Tiny Cemetery In The Highway Median? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

You can’t not notice the trees that line the paths on Austin’s many hike and bike trails. But have you ever noticed a fair amount of them are numbered? The post What’s The Story Behind The Different Tags On Trees Around Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

It seems like they’re everywhere: Self-storage facilities. Why are there so many being built in Austin? The post Why Do So Many Self-Storage Places Keep Popping Up In Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The operators of the MoPac tolls lanes say the “goal” is 45 mph — so what happens if it doesn’t meet that goal? The post Can You Get A Refund If The MoPac Toll Lanes Aren’t Moving At 45 MPH? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

It looks like Austin…but the streets are all spelled wrong. Why? The post Why Is The Map On The Floor Of The Austin Airport Full Of Misspellings? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

You might have heard that twang beckoning you across the street. Meet the real-life person behind the walk signal. The post Who’s That Distinctly Texan Voice Behind The Crosswalk Signals Around Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

What really happens inside this government facility in Central Austin? The post Raiders of the Lost Archive: Is This Building Off Shoal Creek A Top-Secret Warehouse? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Colter Sonneville had a hunch that it might be legal to walk down the street with an open beer in most of Austin’s residential neighborhoods. It started when he noticed some big signs around Chicon and East Cesar Chavez streets. The post Is It Really Legal To Walk Down The Street With A Beer In Austin Neighborhoods? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

We got almost 200 recommendations when we asked for your favorite books about Austin and/or Texas. Here are but a few of the ones you sent in. The post Dan Is Moving To Austin. He Asked Us For Book Recommendations. You Had Plenty. appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

State and city efforts to preserve views of the Texas Capitol have led to some oddly-shaped buildings in downtown Austin. The post What Are Capitol View Corridors? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The story behind that annoying weekly test of the Emergency Alert System. The post How Do Emergency Alert Systems Work In Austin? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Interstate Highway 35 is many things to many people. It is a vital thoroughfare for commerce and shipping. It is also an economic and social barrier through much of Austin. And nearly from its construction, it has been a source of frustration for drivers stuck in its traffic. I-35 has inspired a number of questions […] The post Why Was I-35 Designed As A Double-Decker Through Central Austin?...

People have strong opinions about the custom. Some say it’s a heartwarming expression of holiday spirit; others consider it a flagrant violation of Texas’ anti-littering laws. But one thing no one really knows is how the tradition got started. See more here. The post Who Started Decorating The Loop 360 Christmas Trees? 🎄 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

There’s a new building in Austin that’s drawing a lot of attention. And there are a couple of doors — yes, doors — in that building that are getting some funny looks. Several people asked about them for our ATXplained project. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy investigated. The post What’s Up With The ‘Doors To Nowhere’ At Austin’s New Central Library? appeared first on KUT & KUTX...