ATXplained

ATXplained > All Episodes

May 30, 2024

Black houses are so hot right now in Austin. But are they hotter? (archive episode)

By: Matt Largey

Does the color of your house make a difference in how energy efficient it is? We try to find out.


Episodes

September 19, 2024

How is Big Stacy Pool naturally heated?

It’s the hot to Barton Springs’ cold. Why is Big Stacy warm year-round?

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September 5, 2024

Were there ever alligators in Zilker Park?

A generation of Austinites’ memories all line up: several alligators right in Zilker Park in the 1980s. Is it some kind of mass delusion or could it be true?

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August 29, 2024

What’s the story behind this insert from a 1975 ZZ Top album?

In 1974, Austin was host to an epic — and epically messy — concert at UT’s Texas Memorial Stadium. This is the story from people who were there.

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August 22, 2024

Why is there a display about Jasper Johns on the side of a Jason’s Deli in San Marcos?

A mysterious poster about a famous artist with no connections to Texas — or Jason’s Deli — leads us on a hunt for who made the thing — and why on Earth they put it there.

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August 8, 2024

There used to be a pet cemetery in Pflugerville. What happened to the animals?

Where the pain stops and the good memories begin.

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July 25, 2024

Why do all the new skyscrapers in Austin look blue?

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the color of Austin’s contemporary skyline.

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July 11, 2024

Why do lifeguards at Austin’s pools blow their whistles like that? (archive episode)

It’s break time. Everyone out of the pool. But what’s that sound?

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June 27, 2024

Why are there so many empty stores on The Drag near UT Austin?

When you walk along The Drag, there’s not much to see in terms of businesses. Sure, there’s some hustle and bustle — students walking to and from class, cars rushing by — but many of the storefronts are empty.

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