The Strange Movement of 'Oumuamua: Hydrogen or Alien Technology?

TL;DR Summary
A new study suggests that the non-gravitational acceleration of the interstellar object 'Oumuamua could be explained by the ejection of H2 molecules from radiolytically produced H2O ice. The study proposes that the object was composed of molecular hydrogen ice, which was ejected due to cosmic ray bombardment, causing the acceleration. This theory is supported by previous observations of H2 in interstellar and extragalactic ices and the ejection of H2O, O2, H2, and H from water ice by ion bombardment.
Topics:science#astronomy#h2o-ice#interstellar-object#molecular-hydrogen-ice#non-gravitational-acceleration#oumuamua
- Acceleration of 1I/‘Oumuamua from radiolytically produced H2 in H2O ice Nature.com
- Interstellar object 'Oumuamua probably moved strangely due to gas, study says NPR
- Oumuamua Was a Comet After All, a Study Suggests The New York Times
- Mysterious Space Object 'Oumuamua Not Alien, Scientists Say The Wall Street Journal
- 'Oumuamua's Bizarre Acceleration May Have Been Caused by Hydrogen, Not Alien Technology Gizmodo
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