James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble discover 27 puzzling new objects orbiting the sun far beyond Neptune

• Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to discover that the ring system of the small solar system body Chariklo is changing. • Researchers noted that the ability to detect these changes provides a new window for understanding how these systems evolve.

• Researchers dredging off the coast of Iceland in 2006 collected and froze an ocean quahog clam that had lived for over 500 years. • A count of 507 annual shell rings determined the clam, nicknamed Ming, was born around 1499.

• A new study identifies a blind spot in how science measures breakthroughs, specifically regarding "multiples" where two teams make the same discovery simultaneously. • The research highlights historical examples of shared breakthroughs, such as Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace both discovering evolution.

• A study published in the journal Science estimates that rivers delivered approximately 263,000 tons of microplastics to the world's oceans in 2022. • Researchers found that extreme rainfall events accelerate the movement of plastic into rivers, especially in developing nations with high plastic use and weak waste management.

• Scientists believe they may be closer to detecting dark matter, a mysterious substance that has puzzled physicists for decades. • This substance is estimated to make up 85% of all matter in the universe but cannot be seen directly.

• Scientists analyzed a catalog of nearly 3,000 type Ia supernovas, which occur when white dwarf stars explode after absorbing too much matter from companion stars. • The study found evidence that dark energy may evolve over time rather than remaining fixed, challenging the standard model of cosmology.

• Major science authors including Carlo Rovelli, Xand van Tulleken, Maggie Aderin, and Jim Al-Khalili released new popular science books in September 2026. • The month's new releases also feature a new biography of physicist Stephen Hawking.

• Astronomers discovered a massive molecular cloud named Eos located approximately 307 light-years from the Sun. • Models indicate the cloud is undergoing photoevaporation, a process where radiation strips away gas, over a timescale of about 5.7 million years.

• The US Navy launched its first V-2 rocket from a ship at sea on September 6, 1947, as part of a ballistic missile test. • Although the specific test was unsuccessful, it proved that Navy ships could serve as floating launch pads for ballistic missiles.

• Physicists have discovered a tiny glitch in time itself, which may imply a fundamental uncertainty in measuring time, according to unconventional quantum theories. • The effect, supported by research from the Foundational Questions Institute, suggests that quantum collapse models could have surprising consequences for the nature of time and the precision of clocks.

• The Expedition 75 crew performed science hardware maintenance and spacesuit upkeep aboard the International Space Station on Thursday. • One crew member disconnected and stowed physics hardware used for crystal growth research inside the Destiny Microgravity Science Glovebox.