"Unveiling Ancient Ice in Kuiper Belt Objects"

New research suggests that the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth, also known as "Ultima Thule," may contain ancient ice, challenging previous models of Kuiper Belt object evolution. The findings could change our understanding of comets and explain explosive behavior observed in some of these bodies. The research team's model proposes that Kuiper Belt objects like Arrokoth maintain volatile ice for billions of years by forming a subsurface atmosphere that slows ice loss. This fresh approach to cometary interiors has implications for our understanding of the evolution of these important frozen remnants of the early solar system.