Jupiter-bound JUICE spacecraft just got an 8,000 mph speed boost from Earth: 'This is great news for science'

• Scientists released an annual health check report warning that seven of Earth's nine life support systems have already been breached. • The report states that the planet is rapidly running out of time to reverse these damages.

• NASA announced a new telescope concept called PRIMA that is being considered for a launch in 2033. • The mission aims to study the origins of planets and galaxies by peering deeper into the infrared universe than the James Webb Space Telescope.

• Scientists mapped cat cancer genetics on a large scale on September 26, 2026, and discovered surprising similarities to human tumors. • The research identified genetic patterns in feline cancers that mirror those found in human oncology.

• Researchers discovered that spaceflight alters gut bacteria and slows digestion within weeks of leaving Earth. • The change causes bacteria to break down more protein as food moves more slowly through the intestines.

• NASA announced on Wednesday the selection of the PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) as the first telescope in a new Probe Explorers mission class. • The mission follows a recommendation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 2020 Decadal Survey to establish this specific category of exploration.

• Stanford scientists developed a treatment that blocks an aging-related protein to regrow lost cartilage and reverse arthritis in old mice. • The researchers used a 15-PGDH inhibitor, a type of drug that has already proven safe and active in Phase 1 clinical trials for muscle weakness.

• NASA is developing the PRIMA mission to build a high-capability space telescope more quickly and at a lower cost than traditional flagship projects. • The agency plans to reduce expenses by utilizing spare parts from the James Webb Space Telescope.

• Researchers published three distinct science breakthroughs on September 27, 2026, covering dam safety, antiviral defenses, and amoeba reproduction. • One study found that PFOS, a type of synthetic chemical, impairs the body's natural antiviral defense mechanisms.

• NASA has progressed the PRIMA mission into Phase B, focusing on creating essential technologies and designs for a new space telescope. • The PRIMA mission has a budget of $1.2 billion and aims to perform detailed far-infrared surveys of the universe, allowing scientists to study cosmic phenomena.

• NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for September 22, 2026, features a rare triple alignment of a plane, the Space Station, and the Sun. • The image captures a brief moment when the plane, the Space Station, and the Sun aligned in the sky, creating a unique visual effect.

• India's Mangalyaan orbiter successfully entered into orbit around Mars on September 24, 2014, marking the country's first interplanetary mission. • The mission was achieved at a fraction of the cost of a NASA Mars mission, making it a notable achievement in space engineering.