The average human can hear sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz – and there’s plenty of frequencies in between that’ll hit you right where it … hertz.

If that pun’s not enough to get you angry, this week’s story should. We’re taking a trip through the worst sounds in the world.

If we still haven’t set your teeth on edge, then apparently there’s something else that will: a partner who’s smarter than you are. We know, we’re shocked too, but the research is in, and for most of us, there could be such a thing as ‘too smart’.

(And hey, happy WA Bike Month! One of this week’s articles is secretly about bikes – but you’ll have to read to the end to find out which one! 🚲)

But first, let’s meet the newest inductee into the hallowed grounds of the WA Science Hall of Fame.

Chimpanzees have no need for Google Maps: according to a new study from UWA, chimpanzees remember the surrounding landscape and use the most efficient route to find their next meal. Their memory is so precise that their selection of different routes closely match the best routes predicted by computer models.

And the Nobel Prize in Chemistry goes to … Professor Emmanuel Charpentier and Professor Jennifer Doudna! The pair developed CRISPR-Cas9 – a revolutionary tool used in genome editing. Between 1901 and 2020, the Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to 185 individuals, and only seven of them have been women.

Australia is officially part of the world’s largest science facility: in late September, Australia ratified the SKA Observatory Convention. Now, once the UK completes their ratification, the SKA Observatory will be created and final telescope designs will be approved.